THE AMERICAN PATIENT

Chapter Seven – Stay?

"No!.. Robert please stay!" She stood and grabbed his hand. "I thought we were talking?"

He looked down at her restraining hand on his. "That's the point though, Lizzie – you're not talking!" he snarled at her, regretting it instantly as she looked back to the floor.

Robert dropped his voice to a soft whisper as he lifted her chin and pulled her face to less than an inch away from his. "Tell me why I should stay Elizabeth."

She looked into his eyes and saw the frustration and uncertainty that dwelled there. She knew he needed a gesture, a sign, something, or he would leave. But she was confused herself...

"I don't know what to say Robert. I can't tell you why or what I'm feeling because I don't know myself. All I do know right at this moment is that I DON'T want you to go."

He watched tears begin to glisten in her eyes, as she struggled to come to terms with whatever emotions were threatening to take charge of her body. He hated to see her upset and it ripped at his heart to think that he was the cause of it. Moving his hand away from her chin he cupped her cheek; a gesture she had once balked at and ran from him. But now she didn't run. What she did was close her eyes and turn her cheek into his touch, and unwittingly gave Robert his reason to stay. He pulled her towards him and kissed her tenderly on the other cheek before dropping his hand and whispering.

"G'night Elizabeth."

She opened her eyes in panic, but relaxed when he walked past her and went, not to the door but up the stairs.

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Elizabeth watched his retreating form as he climbed the stairs. Only when he'd disappeared from view did she let out the sigh of relief she'd been holding. She slumped down onto the couch and put her head in her hands. She felt like crying but did not know why. Why was it so important to her that he stay? Why had she felt that a part of her would have been lost if he had walked out of the door? Was she so lonely since Marks passing that she was looking to him for comfort, grabbing at him for...for what? She glanced up and noticed his sweatshirt draped over the arm and picked it up. She lifted it to her face and breathed in the sweet scent of his cologne before burrying her face into it.

She thought she was over Mark, she felt certain of it. She'd gone with Edward as a result, who had treated her with utter contempt knowing that he was her first since Mark. She had trusted him, given herself to him and he had simply used and betrayed her. Was she afraid of being hurt like that again?

But Robert would never treat her like that, and she knew now that he cared for her, loved her even. She had seen it in his eyes, there was no denying it. But was she looking to him as a safety net or did she want him, the man? She was attracted to him physically, always had been, but his arrogant, bullish personality had put her off. But spending this time with him here, she was beginning to look beyond that front he presented, and she had to admit she liked what she found. Robert was actually one of the good guys' she realised now, which is why she would have to be sure of herself, sure of her motives. She would not hurt him like Edward had her. He deserved absolute honesty and until she could give him that, well she just didn't know.

Feeling confused and utterly exhausted she stood up wearily. She locked up the house, tossing his shirt into the laundry before wearily climbing the stairs. Undressing, she sank into bed where she slept fitfully at best.

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Robert lay awake staring at the ceiling, fighting the sleep that tried to claim him. He was feeling confused. Not by his feelings; he had been aware of them for years now. No, Elizabeth confused him. She was obviously struggling with some revelation that she might have feelings for him, and had not a clue how to deal with them.

He felt certain she was attracted to him. You don't flirt like they had over the years if you're not. But she had never once shown an interest in him. She had never asked off his family, his hopes and fears, never once asked a damn thing! So why now was she showing an interest in him? What had changed? Had he, had her? Too many questions...a fog descended over his eyes as sleep took him.

TBC