“They’re not judgmental assholes, and Kris was just blindsided because you have no secrets. She literally just told me this.”
Tori blinked and seemed to hesitate. Then she shook her head. “But what if you want to be a partner at the firm someday? Or maybe even a judge. I’m not the type of woman you want to be shackled to.”
“You are. Please, get those crazy thoughts out of your head and stop treating yourself like you’re the shit on the bottom of my shoe.”
She flinched and looked away. “James, correct me if I’m wrong, but until me, the only woman you’d ever been with was Hannah.”
“That has nothing to do with it.”
“Can’t you just admit that it’s entirely possible you’re just rebounding with me?”
“Tori, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.”
She froze, and he could see it then. The flicker of hope in her eyes. Before it was quickly snuffed out.
“No, you aren’t. Maybe I’m different and exciting, and that’s giving you all kinds of endorphins you haven’t had in a while. But it’s not love.”
He let her words sink in and really thought about them for a moment before deciding they were total crap. But she must’ve taken his hesitation for agreement.
“I’m going to go now.” She rose from the couch. “I’m so sorry about everything with Ryan and causing all this drama with your family.”
She was apologizing? Why the hell was she apologizing?
“Tori.” He caught her arm when she moved to walk past him. “Wait.”
“What more is there to say?”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, because that’s what he needed to say. To show her everything that they had to fight for.
For a moment, he began to fear she’d completely given up. Her body was still in his embrace, but she didn’t kiss him back.
And then she made the softest sigh before she responded. She leaned into him, her tongue finding his and slowly stroking. Responding to him like she never wanted to stop.
Then she did. She broke the kiss and stepped back, pressing her hands against his chest.
“Thank you for that sendoff. I’ll treasure it.”
His heart splintered, and panic seared through him.
“Tori, please don’t leave.”
“You’re going to do amazing things in life, James.” Her voice broke slightly. “I just won’t be the woman beside you when you do.”
And then she walked out.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Why hadn’t shequit her job before breaking up with James?
Oh right, because of the whole paycheck thing.
Tori took another sip of coffee, hoping that it would miraculously heal the heartache and discomfort of working in the same office as him.
Nothing helped, though. There was no magic pill to make her stop loving him overnight. But, damn, she could imagine the potential profits if there had been one.
Next life goals.
What hurt the most was he hadn’t acknowledged her at the office since the breakup. Not even a wave when he’d walked by the HR department.