Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest 1)

“I thought we had a relationship.” He pinned her with his dark, steady gaze, and her pulse rate tripled.

He was angry and she had no idea why. “Umm, we do?”

“Not sure?” he clipped out.

“Of course I am! What I’m not sure about is your mood and what’s causing it.”

“I’m getting there. So we’re in a relationship.”

She nodded, suddenly too warm in her own skin.

“Yet you not only heard from Daniella, you went to meet her, ended up pulling a gun on her boyfriend, and I had to hear about it from my brother and sister?” he asked, his voice rising.

Despite his anger, she wasn’t the least bit put off. She knew no matter how upset he became, he’d never hurt her. She was more intrigued by this sudden wave of emotion he was turning her way.

“You weren’t on duty last night or today, so you heard it from them?” she asked, trying to understand.

“At dinner with my parents, yeah. So why didn’t you tell me when I called this morning?”

“Because you woke me and I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly!”

“I can understand that, but after you woke up? All day when you weren’t feeling well, when you were upset, it never dawned on you to give me a call? Let me comfort you?”

“Wait. You’re hurt that I didn’t tell you I’d finally heard from Daniella?” This seemed so out of character for him, she didn’t know what to say.

He looked at her, stupefied. “Hello? Of course I’m hurt! If I heard from my father and didn’t call you, wouldn’t you be?” he asked, the storm passing from his eyes, replaced by a calming, more wounded look that touched her deeply.

She swallowed hard. “I thought about calling you. On the way there.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Then why didn’t you?”

Oh, this was going to be hard. Honesty always was, but he deserved the truth. “Want to sit?” she asked.

He tipped his head to the side, his cocky stance answering for him.

“Guess not. I wanted to call and that’s why I didn’t.”

“Which makes no sense.”

“Maybe not to you. But when we started this”—she gestured between them—“I said you were going to break my heart, remember?”

He nodded, wariness in his dark eyes.

“Do you remember what you said?”

Awareness dawned in his expression, and she noted the exact moment when he recalled his statement.

“I said no hearts involved.” His voice sounded scratchy and rough.

Good, since those words were like sandpaper on her already bruised heart. “I knew if I was going to let myself get involved with you, I’d have to keep up my walls. But you’re an intense guy, and what’s between us is too.”

He let out a harsh laugh. “Tell me about it,” he muttered.

She smiled. “Yeah. Those walls crumble pretty quickly when you’re around. The thing is, if I’m going to survive you leaving—whenever that is—I have to keep living my life without relying on you.”

“And letting me know what’s going on with you is relying on me too much?” He spread his hands wide, not getting it.

“That’s right. It is.” Already the condo that had always felt like home seemed emptier when he wasn’t here. “I can’t let myself get used to calling you and sharing the little things when soon enough you’ll be gone and I’ll be on my own again.” Just the thought had her shivering.