Just like me.
I just need time to think. Time to understand what I’m doing here. What I can do.
Am I ready for a real relationship with a woman? One where I don’t leave first thing in the morning.
She drags her sweater on without dropping her coat so I can’t see even a hint of her beautiful pale skin. Her eyes stay down and she doesn’t say a word.
Neither of us do.
The air is fraught with feelings that neither of us want to say out loud and I just can’t deal with it.
“We better get going.” She scoots back over to her side of the cab, her knee banging hard on the gear shift and I wince and reach out for her but she flinches away from me and I drop my hand.
Without a word, I pull my own shirt and coat back on and put the truck in gear. The whirlwind of snow is now just a light dance of twirling flakes.
It takes what feels like forever but must not be very long at all before we’re pulling up in front of her little cottage. Neither of us move when I put the truck into park.
Finally, she opens the door and steps down on the running board. When she turns to me, I open my mouth to say something…anything, to stop her.
But instead I watch her climb out and I let her. I don’t do a damn thing. Just watch her shut the door and walk away through swirling flakes as cold as the ice encasing my heart.
Leaning back, I close my eyes and let everything wash over me. Anger at myself for being such a pussy, anger at the circumstances for bringing me the woman of my dreams and then anger at her for being so perfect for me.
The only thing I’m not sad about is that she’s the one. She’s perfect and if I wasn’t such a damn chicken I’d take off with her and marry her right this second.
CHAPTER 10
Aspen
My whole body aches. Anger whirls in my heart but it really shouldn’t. I was the fool that let myself get duped by his pretty face. He’s easy to figure out. Just like most other men. He’s in it for the physical release.
I’m not sure why he decided that he wanted to run before he got what he wanted, but maybe he decided I wasn’t worth it after my orgasm.
Tears prickle at my eyes and I fight not to stop right where I’m at and fall to the ground, bawling like a big baby.
His hands felt so good on my skin. His body was so strong, so perfect . I felt safe.
Now all I feel is stupid.
Something shifts in the shadows and my eyes narrow.What?
I barely get that thought out and he’s on me. The angry guy from the other night.
His hand wraps around my throat and he’s pulling me into the shadows, growling under his breath as my fight or flight kicks in and I kick and scream.
“Let me go! Dammit! Let me go!”
“Shut up,” he hisses under his breath. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want you to come with me and talk to Angel. She’ll listen to you.”
“I’m not talking to anybody when you’re kidnapping me,” I grunt, stabbing at his arm with my nails. He grunts but he doesn’t let go of me.
“Just settle down. I promise that I’ll let you go after you talk to Angel. She just needs to understand how much I need her.”
Wrenching away from his grasping hand, I race for the front of the house, turning to throw my purse at him. “Leave me alone, asshole! I don’t even know who the hell you’re talking about.”
His grasping hands reach out for me and I duck and dodge away from him. “She told me that she talked to you,” he growls through gritted teeth.
“Ever thought that maybe she’s lying to you?”
