“Do you care where it is?” Charles asked.
“Just someplace safe.” Not that anyplace was totally safe, but there were areas with a high crime rate that she wanted to avoid.
“That’s simple. I’ll make a call and you can move in anytime you’re ready.”
She lifted her head and said, “What do you mean move in? You’re supposed to help me find another apartment that needs babysitting, with our without the pets.”
“When did I say that?”
“Last night. You offered to help me with an apartment.” She got it. He misunderstood and thought she wanted help finding one to rent. “Sorry. I should’ve been clearer. I can’t afford anything in the city. Not if I’m going to continue to help my parents. So I need a place where I can stay for free.”
Charles shook his head. “I said I’d help you with an apartment. If you’d rather pick it yourself, that’s fine. I’ll take care of the rest.”
She looked at him puzzled. “Are you offering to pay for my apartment?”
He nodded. “You can’t. I can. Very simple.”
She stood up and paced the room. Her blood was boiling. What kind of girl does he think I am? Walking around some more, she huffed then stopped. Facing him again she said, “You know I can’t pay you back, right?” He nodded again. That infuriated her and she paced again. Bullshit. That’s what this is. Accepting an apartment was going to be like being paid for . . . sex.
He might not have intended to, but he just made what they shared feel cheap. Walking over to her laptop, she closed it and said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go home now.”
Charles got up and asked, “Rosslyn, what’s the matter?”
“I can’t believe you need to ask.” Why didn’t he see anything wrong with what he’d said? Maybe he was so damn rich that money could be easily thrown around. Like Uncle Max does for his so called lady friends. Being around Liz, Rosslyn learned some very unappealing things about that side of her family. She was disgusted. If Charles was suggesting the same thing for her, he could kiss her Alexandria Bay ass. They might look all sweet and quiet up there, but they weren’t pushovers. And not for sale either.
“Rosslyn, I didn’t mean to upset you. Why don’t you sit down and we’ll talk this out?”
What she wanted was to back the conversation up about ten minutes and hit delete. But there was no backing out of this. No matter what he said, she’d feel the same way. Every time he bought her dinner or any gift, she’d associate it with this. Even if he hadn’t meant it the way it sounded, her heart was hurt. If I stay, I’m setting myself up for more. And I can’t keep up with him. Eventually she’d feel indebted to him and that was a bad place to be for any relationship.
“Charles, maybe tomorrow, but not tonight. I need to think right now.”
“Please, Rosslyn, don’t leave. Not like this,” Charles pleaded.
Everything within her wanted to let it go. But was that the right thing to do? No. Looking him square in the eyes, she said, “Charles, you asked me to give you one week. Today is exactly that. But we’re from different worlds. I can’t live in yours and you can’t live in mine. I think it’s best that we just say goodbye.”
It felt like a knife was digging into her heart, and she was the one planting it there. She didn’t need to call it off. She could go home and think about it. Maybe tomorrow it wouldn’t seem so bad. Yet Rosslyn let her emotions gain control and that was never a good thing.
Charles put his hands on her biceps and said, “You can’t be serious. This past week has been amazing. Actually so was the week before that. Don’t throw it away because I said something stupid.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks from both frustration and heartache. “Charles, I didn’t come to New York City to meet someone. I came to work. This is all too—”
“This is something unexpected, but it is still something good. Please, Rosslyn. I know you’re angry, but promise me you’ll sleep on it, and we can talk about it tomorrow.”
Her eyes stung and she didn’t know what to do. Twenty-four hours wasn’t going to change anything. But at least she could regain her composure. Nodding, she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow.” She pulled away and started for the door.
He was right beside her. “I know you’re angry, but I’m not letting you go home alone. It’s late. Don’t waste your breath arguing. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
She followed him down to the car and the ride home was in silence, mostly because she couldn’t bring herself to talk. Doing so might cause the waterworks to start. When they pulled up to her building she said, “Thank you.”
He reached out and held her hand. “Rosslyn, I know it might not seem like it, but I care very much about you. I’d like to pick you up tomorrow so we can talk, in person. Would that be okay?”
She was glad he wasn’t telling her but was asking her instead. Nodding she said, “Seven. But we don’t go to your house. Maybe coffee instead.” If he wasn’t going to agree to that, then he wasn’t seeing her.
“I’ll be here. Sweet dreams.”
Not likely.She left the car and headed to the apartment. As she opened the door, she felt drained. She hadn’t been back here so early in an entire week. The only one happy right now was Miss Snuggles who wouldn’t leave her alone.
Rosslyn stripped off the dress she’d worn for Charles and went into the bedroom. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. Odds were that was going to come after a lot more tears. Thankfully they wouldn’t go on forever.