“So are you.”
“If things were different, we’d definitely start dating now.”
“But I thought—”
“And it would be a huge mistake, because we’d end up being each other’s rebound person, and it would completely screw up this beautiful thing we’ve got here.” She waved a finger back and forth between us.
My eyebrow cocked. “What do we have?”
“You helped me.” A bony hip pushed against mine. Then her voice softened. “Thanks for that.”
The forty-eight hours we’d known each other flew through my mind, from the first shot of those blue eyes to the dimple, the tattoo, last night in the car, her sleeping in my arms. I slid a dark lock off her cheek. “I hope I did.”
“I put my number in your phone,” she continued, stepping out of my arms. “Keep in touch, okay? Just as friends.”
I nodded. “Are you feeling better today?”
“No. But I feel different.”
I was going to say more, but the loud honking of the taxi horn broke up the moment. She reached down and grabbed her blue suede shoes then quickly stepped back to kiss my cheek before turning and dashing to the door. “You’re a great guy, Patrick. Don’t change because some stupid bitch screwed you over.”
A smile crossed my lips. “And it’s okay for you to start living again.”
She nodded and made an air-kiss before heading out. I stood there thinking about what had happened. Dangerously sweet.
Picking up my phone, I scrolled to her number and typed a text. Tell me if you ever need anything.
Her reply flashed back. Stop being so nice. Haven’t you learned?
I breathed a laugh. Bye, Peg.
Bye, Bingley.
Chapter 4 – Safety Off
Bank fraud was the last thing on my mind as I sat at my desk Monday morning. All I could think about was Kenny. Not like I wanted her, although it was nice having her in my bed and definitely nice getting laid. Somehow, despite what happened in the car, my feelings changed through what happened between us to something different and new—to me, at least.
Rubbing my forehead, I realized she’d seen straight through me, and she’d managed to drag the real me out—the guy who could love someone enough to get hurt. Badly. I’d intended to keep that guy good and locked down. Maybe permanently.
She’d said we helped each other, but at the moment I was feeling shaken, off my game. Like I wasn’t as hardened as I’d thought.
For Kenny and me, love had kicked both our asses, and in our own ways we’d shut it out, put up the walls, closed shop. I wasn’t ready to reopen for business, but she’d put a crack in my barrier.
Now she was headed back to everyone who’d told her not to follow her heart in the first place. I wanted to go back with her—not as her boyfriend, more to punch anyone in the face who might try to say I told you so. I wanted to protect her from that. I wanted to protect us both.
It was a strange arrangement to love somebody I didn’t want to screw—who wasn’t my sister. Thankfully, Derek stopped at my door, interrupting all the cognitive dissonance bullshit.
“We hitting the gym this afternoon?” He was slightly less formal today—still in the suit, but no tie.
“Sure.” I blinked back to my computer.
He stayed in my open door a beat longer. “Williams was impressed by your report Friday. If you’re interested, I can give you the Alliance account.”
“Thanks,” I nodded. “I’ll take it.”
“Now I’ve got to straighten out this shit on my desk.” He turned, and I heard him call Nikki in a tone that was sharper than usual. My brow lined. Even though she’d turned me down, Nikki was cool. I didn’t like how he talked to her.
God, I was a gooey mess today. I had to fucking get it together.