Steele by Kathi S. Barton Page A

work themselves out.” She drained her glass of water, her fourth since they’d sat down. “I’m really tired. Do you think we can be finished here?”
    She was leaving him. That was all his mind could figure out. She was going to leave him, and what would he do then? As they stood up to leave the dining room, he felt as if his feet were covered in lead, his body drenched in dread. Not because they were going to make love in the bed—and they would, he was sure—but because she was making plans to leave him. By the time they were at their door, he felt his anger toward what she was doing explode all over him.
    “You’re not leaving until I say you can.” She stared at him for a full five seconds before she laughed. “I’m not kidding. When I say I’m ready for you to leave me, then you can go. I don’t mind that you have a job, but you’ll not be leaving me to find another place to live.”
    “And that is it then? You’re in charge of this…this…whatever the hell this is, and I’m to simply do as you wish because you want it your way? How old are you? Ten? Because I’m pretty sure that’s how a ten-year-old would think. A spoiled little boy who isn’t going to get his way.” She stomped to him and he backed up. He could see the cat. She ran over her skin like she was going to take her at any second. “I’m not going to live with you any longer than I have to. You made the rules. You didn’t want me in your house any longer than necessary. You said that to me. And now that I’m doing what I want, you get your fucking panties in a twist over it? Well, fuck you.”
    “I’ve changed my mind. And I’m not spoiled.” But even to his ears he sounded like he was. “You don’t need a job and if you’d let me, I’d give you whatever clothing you want. I left you money to buy things, and Izzy said it was still on your dresser.”
    “You paid me like a whore.” He staggered back from her words. “You fucked me and left money on the dresser like I was nothing more than a common whore. What will I get for the fuck in the limo, Steele? A bracelet that I’ll never wear? Perhaps it was worth a bed and breakfast stay for the poor little whore. Is that why we’re here? As a payment?”
    “I didn’t mean it like that.” She moved away from him, and he reached for her. He had to make her understand. But the moment he touched her, an arch of electricity shot out from his fingers and knocked her back. Before he could get to her, Kari was gone and her cat, a big fucking panther, was snarling at him.
    “Kari? Please come back to me.” She snarled again, this time swiping her paw at him. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to piss you off. And I never meant to treat you like a whore. I only meant to give you some money to spend on yourself.”
    You fucking bastard. He fell backwards when she spoke to him in his mind. You only meant for me to spend it on myself? How is that any less like treating me like a whore?
    “You spoke to me.” He watched her. “Could you do this all along? Could you have spoken to me whenever you wanted?”
    So? He hurt. Steele had no idea why, but it hurt him that she’d shut herself off from him. He supposed no more than he had her. What do you care? I can talk to anyone I have sexual contact with. So don’t think you’re all that special.
    Steele stood up. He was crushed. His entire body was feeling the weight of her words, what they meant. He was nothing to her…less than nothing. And right then Steele knew that he loved her.
    “I’ve messed this up so badly.” The cat didn’t move, but she was no longer snarling at him. “I have…I’d very much like…. When you leave here, I won’t stop you from leaving. You’re right. I’m nothing but a bastard. Worse than a bastard, I’m my father.”
    He left her then…walked out the door without a backward look. He had no idea if she’d stay or not, and reached for his phone to call Chad. After making arrangements to