“Okay.” He didn’t argue.
“Our having sex again is a very bad idea.”
“Probably.”
She swapped the bowl in the microwave out for the one she held. “I don’t like you.”
“You’ve already said that.”
“I just wanted to make sure we were clear.”
“Why don’t you like me, Emily?”
“Because...” Because he’d broken her heart into a zillion pieces that had never completely fit back together no matter how she’d tried. Because he was so freaking perfect and she was just her. Because... “You’re my
ex-husband. I’m not supposed to like you.”
“Says who?”
“Says everyone.”
“Since when did you listen to what everyone says?” he challenged.
“Don’t act like you know me. I’ve changed a lot the past five years.”
His gaze skimmed over her from her face down her T-shirt, gym shorts, and then over her legs to her bare feet. It was all she could do to hold her toes still rather than shuffle her feet at his inspection.
“You haven’t changed that much.”
“Maybe not on the surface, but inside I’ve changed a lot.” The microwave dinged, indicating the bowl was heated, but she didn’t remove it, just stared at him, refusing to let her gaze waver. “I’m not an innocent kid anymore that it’s easy for some smooth-talking man to come along and take advantage of.”
“Is that how you saw me back then? As a smooth-talking man who took advantage of your innocence?”
Did she? Not really. “You were definitely more experienced in the ways of life than I was.”
“A rock was more experienced in the ways of life than you were.”
She wasn’t sure if she should be offended or not.
“Good thing I decided to go out and get a life.” She turned, took the bowl out of the microwave, grateful the dish was still warm. “I’ll let you take out however much you want. You may need to throw your plate back into the microwave for a few minutes, though.”
“Why did you open your apartment door, Emily? For sex?”
Why did he think she’d opened the door?
“We have nothing in common, have no desire to build a future together, no history we want to repeat. The only thing we have between us is good sex. Of course sex is why I opened my apartment door. Now, hurry up and finish your food so you can leave. I’m tired and scheduled to work tomorrow.”
Her words sounded so logical, so like she believed them. If only she did. If only when she looked at him she didn’t long for things that would never be.
CHAPTER NINE
CASSIE WAS STILL in a medication-induced coma when Emily took report the following morning. She was grateful the child didn’t seem to be in pain or suffering. Her poor mother, on the other hand, was a wreck when Emily checked on the girl.
“When will she wake up?” the woman asked from where she sat next to Cassie’s bed.
“That depends on a lot of things. For right now, Dr. Cain believes it’s in her best interest to keep her unconscious to give her more time to recover from her procedure.”
“She’s not going to know anything, is she?”