“Yes. I’m not used to pointy heels like these.” She wiggled her lavender-painted toes.
“Nice pedicure,” he said.
She sighed and glared at him. “Please tell me you didn’t drag me out here to talk about my feet.”
He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he glanced at her. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. Finally he managed to speak. “I want to explain about Heather.”
“Now?” When he nodded, she added, “Can’t it wait?”
“No. It can’t. When I met her after work that night she came into the diner, she was hitting on me, full-court press.”
Were his cheeks turning red? Yes, they were definitely crimson.
“She wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I panicked and said I was seeing someone. You were the first person who came to mind.”
She was? She had always believed she was an afterthought in his life. But what a time for her to come first.
“It was dumb and cowardly of me, and I never should have put you in that position. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t do well when I’m caught off guard. Heather, finding out you bought #3, using the Peanut situation against you... even that time back in high school after we kissed in the closet. I blew it back then too.” He angled his body toward her, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows.
Dang. Even his forearms were sexy.
“Anita, I want to help you with the café,” he said. “Whatever you need me to do to help you get your business up and running, I’ll do it.”
Her mouth dropped open. This had to be a joke. “Did Erma talk to you?”
“No.” His brows slanted together. “Why?”
Then again, maybe it wasn’t a joke. “I don’t understand,” she said, confused. “Why do you want to help me?”
“You were there for me when Mom was sick—”
Now the truth had arrived. She should have expected this. “You don’t owe me, Tanner.” She got up from the bench, frustrated. A light breeze wafted over her bare shoulders, along with fatigue.
Here we go again.She could see the train wreck coming. He was breaching her defenses like he always did. Any minute she would start to hope that he finally saw her in a romantic way, only to find out he didn’t. Then she would be hurt for the umpteenth time.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered.
“Anita,” he said, coming up behind her.
Even his voice, low and sensual, was doing its magic. She couldn’t blame him. He didn’t know the effect he had on her. He was just being himself.
There was one way she could drive him away for sure.
Tell him the truth.Once he knew how she felt, then she would be free.
She turned around and faced him, meeting his eyes without faltering. Then she delivered the final blow. “Tanner Castillo... I love you.”
Chapter24
No, no, no, no. That wasn’t what she had planned to tell him. She hadn’t meant to use theLword. She’d only intended to say that she liked him as more than a friend. Even a hint of romantic talk would freak him out. More than anything, she wanted to snatch those words back.
But now he knew the real truth, the one she’d been dancing around all these years, unable to admit to herself. Her feelings for him weren’t puppy love or simple infatuation. They were real, painful, and pointless.
It didn’t help that Tanner wasn’t saying anything. She had expected him to at least show some shock. Or maybe awkwardly laugh and tell her that he had to get back to the reception. Instead he kept looking at her, his gaze holding hers, his eyes growing intense...
Oh my.
He took one step closer. “Did you say you love me?”
