They pulled up in front of her shop and she hopped out before Tripp had a chance to get her door for her. She fumbled with her keys, hyperaware of where Tripp was at every second. He’d pulled down the tailgate and had climbed into the back. When she had the door unlocked, she finally forced herself to turn to face him.
Tripp had moved the furniture to the edge of the truck. Now, he was reaching for the first one. She only allowed herself one glance as she pushed the door open and stepped back as far as she could to grant him access.
He took a few more trips and when he’d finally pushed the tailgate into position, she held her breath.
Would he leave? Tell her he’d see her later?
Why on earth did that thought make her feel so disappointed? Today had been a good day. She’d enjoyed his company far more than she should have.
Tripp shoved his hands into his pockets and moved toward her. The door to the shop was closed at her back and she leaned against it, watching him warily. When he reached her, she exhaled. Her lungs were burning but that was nothing to the swirling of emotions in her stomach.
“So…” she whispered.
“So,” he repeated.
Wendy bit her lip again to prevent herself from smiling but it was no good. She couldn’t go anywhere. As she was pressed up against the door, there would be no going inside unless Tripp stepped back. It wasn’t so bad. In this moment she could pretend that they were something… else. Something… more?
Tripp rocked back on his heels and peered off somewhere for a moment. “I think we should talk.”
Her throat closed up and her voice squeaked. “Talk?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I was wrong.”
This time her brows furrowed. “Wrong about what?”
Tripp’s searing eyes found hers and he shifted beneath her gaze. Was he nervous? He couldn’t be. This was Tripp. The guy who could convince any girl to go on a date with him. He was in his element when he flirted with women. There was no way he was nervous. Especially around her.
Wendy cleared her throat again and folded her arms. “What were you wrong about, Tripp?”
He didn’t answer right away. She nearly demanded that he speak his mind when he finally murmured, “I don’t want to be just friends.”
Her eyes flared wide. A flutter of excitement rippled through her chest, waking up all the deadened parts of her. He wasn’t saying what she thought he was saying, right? No. Tripp didn’t do serious relationships. That much had been made clear enough. Before she could point that out, Tripp closed the distance between them.
His hands came up to frame her face and he captured her lips with his. Her eyes closed on their own accord as she allowedherself to melt into this man who had managed to weasel himself into her good graces. He might not have been the kind of guy to check off all her boxes, but he came darn close. He was sweeter than she’d expected. He could make her laugh. He made her feelseen.
But there was still something holding her back. That nagging voice in the back of her head that told her she had to be so, so careful otherwise she wouldn’t survive.
Survival.
That was what she was fighting for.
Her lashes fluttered and her eyes opened when he pulled back slightly. His hands were still cupping her cheeks as he searched her eyes. They stared at one another for several long moments before he finally nodded to himself. It was as if he’d been testing a theory.
Wendy could already imagine what that theory was, and she didn’t agree with it at all. In order to prevent him from saying anything, she placed a finger to his lips. “I can’t do serious, Tripp. I just…” How could she tell him that it wasn’t the act of having a serious boyfriend that gave her pause. It was dating a man who could discard someone so easily and move onto the next. Her heart wouldn’t be able to take losing him if they let themselves get closer than they were in this moment.
A frown creased his brows, but he didn’t completely pull away.
She heaved a heavy breath and reached up to grasp his wrists. Pulling his hands from her face, she forced herself to look him in the eye. “I don’t mind seeing you—casually, of course. I like spending time with you.” And heaven knew their chemistry wasoff the charts. “I get the feeling we’re on the same page when it comes to that.”
A small nod was all he offered.
She smiled. “Then how about we switch it up a little? Friends… who kiss… sometimes.”
One side of his mouth quirked upward. “No strings attached.”
“Exactly.” Though, even as she said it, a churning sensation started in her gut. It wasn’t ideal, obviously. But it was the only thing that made sense when it came to keeping herself safe.
“Okay. I can do that.” He said it with such confidence, she wanted to get angry. But how could she? This was her idea. She refused to look at this as giving him exactly what he wanted.
