Simply Sexy (Simply 5)

In her heart, she knew he hadn’t meant to hurt her, not when he’d left her at Emma’s party and not tonight. Ironically, writing about what men wanted was helping her sort out her relationship with Colin. Once she’d gotten past sex appeal, attraction and attitude, she had to ask herself what kept people together. And what immediately came to mind was understanding, something Colin needed.

Anger would only drive him away. Rina suspected losing his parents had left him unable to deal with his feelings, and so when things got out of control, he withdrew. As he had when his parents died, and as he had when his marriage went bad. Even Rina had seen him run more than once. Being around her family hadn’t been easy for him. She’d seen his clenched jaw and occasional restless pacing. Until he faced his past and his feelings, understanding was the only thing she could offer him now.

Unable to help herself or Colin, she decided to share her insight with her readers and sat down in front of the computer. With the upcoming new year, Rina hoped that more relationships would be strengthened than lost. That was the point of her column, after all. Too bad she, personally, couldn’t count on that optimistic outcome.

By the time she typed the last sentence and glanced up, over two hours had passed. She saved her document, then printed. Cathartic, as well as productive, this week’s column, entitled “Of One Mind: Getting Inside Your Man’s Head,” was ready for the presses.

She’d gone way beyond the first article that detailed superficial things like hair and makeup. Once a woman landed a man, those frills still counted, but the heart and soul had something at stake, too.

She stood and stretched her cramped muscles, feeling proud of a job well done. Except for Colin’s absence, life was very good right now and would be even better once she soaked in a nice warm, strawberry-scented bath. She pulled her hair on top of her head, changed into a robe, ran the water and was just about to climb into the tub, when the doorbell rang. Norton jumped up from the bathroom floor and ran for the front door.

Rina followed, assuming Frankie had come by to tell her about the date she’d accepted with a coworker. One thing Rina could say for her friend, she didn’t have a problem getting an initial date. Apparently, Rina’s bath would have to wait.

Commiserating about men couldn’t. But when she opened the door, instead of Frankie, she found a surprise visitor leaning against the door frame. “Colin!”

“Hi,” he said, then wedged his foot in the doorway.

Obviously he assumed she’d slam the door in his face. He couldn’t be more wrong.

She inhaled his masculine scent and memories of having him inside her body ricocheted through her. “Come on in.” She figured that was a start.

After shutting the door behind him, she turned to meet his gaze.

“Don’t hate me, Rina. I couldn’t handle that.” He laid a hand on her shoulder and his fingertips brushed the sensitive skin on her neck.

She shivered, his touch more sensual than apologetic. “I didn’t expect to see you again tonight. Or any other time this weekend, to be honest.”

Because her family would still be around, Rina had counted Colin out. The fact that he was here now gave her a ridiculous amount of hope for a woman who’d just admitted to herself that she accepted this man for the wanderer he was.

Exhaustion strained his expression and her heart went out to him. He ran a hand through his hair. “When I left the hospital, at first I needed to be alone. To get away from everyone and everything.”

His fingers tangled in the stray strands of her hair, causing her pulse to hammer wildly and her mouth to grow dry.

He led her inside and together they sat on the couch. Rina curled her legs beneath her.

“I wasn’t ready to deal with another family situation.”

He’d confirmed her hunch. One part of her liked knowing she understood him so well, another part was disappointed that he’d fallen back into old patterns.

“Especially another one where I was an outsider.” He held out his hand and waited.

He obviously wanted her understanding. She’d already promised herself she’d provide it, and now she knew why. She loved him. Flaws and all, she loved this man who found himself unable to handle emotion or commitment.

Secon

ds passed, in which the roar in her ears and the silent echo of the words was the only sound she heard. She loved him. Because of Colin, she’d come to understand her past and her marriage, and she knew not only what she wanted, but what she deserved out of life. Colin would never demand self-sacrifice.

He’d never ask her to give up the career she loved or the life she’d created. He might leave in the end, but he’d given her something precious to keep in her heart. He’d given her his understanding. In return, because she loved and accepted him, she’d reciprocate by letting him go.

She placed her palm inside his. The sizzling sexual tension sprang to life once more. Only this time she knew more than desire crackled between them. Because the heart she thought she’d protected belonged to him.

CHAPTER TEN

“WHAT HAPPENED at the hospital?” Rina asked.

Colin shrugged. He leaned back into the cushioned sofa and glanced up at the ceiling, his pain obvious. “Watching Corinne at Joe’s bedside made me…uncomfortable.”

“Why?” She needed details if she was going to help him through this. That he’d come to her now showed how much faith he placed in them. She didn’t want to let him down.