“I didn’t think you would tell her, but it’s not like I made you sign an NDA. And now you might tell her in hopes she’d back you up on the rebound thing.
“I hadn’t thought of it, but?—”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Trace, I?—”
“I mean it. If you tell her I’ll squeal about that time you drank till you?—”
“Calm down, okay? I would never tell her about New Year’s Eve. If you want to, that’s up to you, but my lips are sealed.” He turned to face her long enough to make sure she knew he was serious. Then he gazed out through the windshield at the sleepy town, shut down for the night. “Besides, I already told her about the time I drank till I puked. It’s old news.”
“Damn. I’ve been saving that blackmail for years. Now I’ll have to dig up some other thing I can hold over you.”
“There’s New Year’s Eve.”
“No, there isn’t. We’d both come off as idiots.”
“I suppose. Now that I think about it, I’m glad you picked me to be your rebound guy. Anybody else would have been happy to go along with the program.”
“I just figured out why we can’t have sex.”
That brought his head around. Couldn’t help it. “Why?”
“If we broke up, and you seem positive we would, one of us would be the dumpee. I don’t want it to be me, but even more, I can’t let it be you.”
“Why not?”
“That would make you a three-time loser. I’d never forgive myself.” She unsnapped her seatbelt, picked up her briefcase and opened her door. “Thanks for the tour.”
“Hang on.” He flipped open his seatbelt buckle and reached for the door handle. “I’ll walk you to the?—”
“No, don’t.” She climbed down and flashed him another smile. “Let’s not take any chances.”
“Are we still on for meeting at the bookstore and heading to lunch afterward?” That plan suddenly became more important than it should.
“Wouldn’t miss it. Sleep tight.” She closed the door, crossed the sidewalk to her office and reached in her briefcase for her keys.
He told himself that sitting there until she made it inside was the gentlemanly thing to do. True enough, but he wasn’t feeling much like a gentleman.
Instead he fought a powerful urge to follow her inside and…. Yeah. Her logical decision to forgo sex because he might get hurt had lit a fire and he wanted her more than ever.
Made no sense. Or maybe it did. Her statement only proved who she was at her core, a loyal friend who had his back, always had.
Over the years she’d been steadfast in her support and concern for his welfare. She was an amazing woman, and he’d managed to convince her they shouldn’t ever make love.
Because they shouldn’t. It was the wrong move for many reasons, but damn, he still longed to make it.
CHAPTER SIX
The next morning Tracy spent an hour with Auntie Kat, who finally agreed she had no right to join the Polar Bear Club.
“But I’m going over there today, anyway. They’re the ones who chose to have their private club meeting at a place that’s open to the public.”
“I admire your grit. You couldn’t get me into that water hole this time of year.” Tracy would love to raid Auntie Kat’s closet. Today her Valentine outfit consisted of a white sweater with red hearts down each sleeve, lipstick red jeans and white fringed boots. “Well, maybe I’d try if I wore a wetsuit.”
“That defeats the purpose. It’s called contrast therapy—improves circulation and mental clarity. You constrict your blood vessels with freezing water and expand them in a sauna.”
“They’ve put a sauna out there? They need a permit for?—”
