Isaac nodded, his chin brushing her hair. “I know you wouldn’t, but I don’t see how we can make something long-term work. I don’t have any plans to retire from the military or take a desk job anytime soon, and I would never ask you to give up your lab and business in San Fran to follow me around the world from base to base.”
Cosette sat there, slowly coming back down to reality. All the joy and sparkles of their kissing session faded like a burnt-out firework as she realized he had no intention of even trying to make this work in the long run. She was the one who had come on to him and kissed him. She was the one who’d impetuously claimed that she wanted to be with him forever, with unrealistic dreams to boot.
Her inexperience with men and relationships was rearing its ugly head again. Isaac had obviously enjoyed kissing her, and he’d been honorable about not doing it in the bedroom and risking anything untoward happening. He was a good man, one of the best, but it was painfully obvious that he couldn’t feel everything she felt if he could let ugly reality expose the impracticality of a future relationship. She wouldn’t even have brought up reality. She preferred to make promises, live in the clouds, and when they had to separate, they would deal with it somehow.
Standing, she forced a smile. “We’d better get some sleep.” She started toward her bedroom.
Isaac sprang up and followed her. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he pulled her back against his solid chest and held her there. After a few wonderful moments in his arms, she didn’t know how she’d resist him. They could kiss until he had to return to base. She wouldn’t say stupid things about forever. It wasn’t in her nature to worry anyway. But a future without Isaac? That sounded awful.
“I’m sorry, Cozy,” he whispered against her cheek. “I’m sorry that I don’t know how to make us work.”
Pain ripped through her. “It’ll be fine,” she lied through clenched teeth. “It’ll all work out. Good night.” Yanking free of his grip, she hurried into her bedroom and shut the door tight. She tried to keep her mind focused on their beautiful kissing session and all the compliments Isaac had given her, not the way the night had ended and his inability to even try to have a future.
When she realized that tears were sliding silently down her face, she gave up focusing on the positive and let herself have a good cry.