“To apologize,” I said softly.
Her breath hitched as her green eyes softened. “You didn’t know?”
“My mother called,” I said. “She told me just now.”
The softness in her eyes faded. “And now you feel sorry for me.” She frowned. “I don’t need your pity. I don’t need anything from you.”
I closed the distance to where she was standing. “And yet, here you are.”
Fifteen
Allie
Heat, warmth, desire—all the reactions to him standing so close. My fingers clutched the towel, and I tried to concentrate on how soft and fluffy it was instead of on the man standing right in front of me making me want nothing more than to take one step forward, into his arms.
I lifted my eyes to his face, his perfect face. I knew how every plane and angle felt under my fingers. I knew the taste of his lips, their firmness, their softness, their skill at taking me to almost unbearable heights of pleasure. Steam rose from the pool, and inside me, desire burned, making my nipples harden.
“I didn’t come here for you,” I whispered.
His eyes lowered to my lips, and he expelled a soft breath. “Of course. Damn if I don’t know how little my presence or absence means to you.”
You have no idea. I wished I could say the words, but to what end? He had moved on a long time ago, and once we faced the potential nightmare of our divorce proceedings, we would become strangers again, just like we had been before that magical night when we met.
“I don’t pity you,” he continued, his voice gentle.
“Then why do you care?”
He shook his head. “I just…” His blue eyes held mine for a long moment. “I want you to get better. For now, I can’t leave, but I don’t want you worrying about me being a dick to you while I’m here.”
“I’ve been a dick too,” I admitted.
He chuckled then lifted his hand as if to smooth some of my hair out of my face. My breath hitched, and I waited, wanting that touch more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life, but he stopped. His hand hung in the air for a moment then he brought it down and thrust it in his pocket. He stepped back from me, and I almost followed him.
“I’ll stay out of your way,” he muttered roughly before walking away.
I waited till the door closed behind him before I pulled in a long breath. I was shaking as I walked over to one of the benches beside the pool and lowered myself.
Was the privacy really worth this emotional upheaval? I was hot, aroused, and just a little more temptation away from throwing myself at Braden.
And then
I’d have to deal with the utter heartbreak that would follow his abandonment all over again.
It had already happened once before. It was another memory I tried to keep suppressed—his father’s funeral and the pain that came with it.
I couldn’t let the same thing happen now, no matter how much I wanted him.
Still shaking, I toweled my hair and put on a robe, going up to my room and hoping to God he would do as he promised and stay away from me.
Sixteen
Braden
Why do you care?
I heard the question again in my head as I walked away from her, needing her, aroused in a way only she could inspire without even so much as a touch.
My body was straining, my fingers aching to touch her. I wanted nothing more than to crush my lips to hers.