“I toldyou not to come over here without me.”
Tripp ignored Jacob’s call as he darted after Wendy. He’d hovered on the outskirts of their little group, watching her, drinking her in. She looked as beautiful as ever and he had a whole speech prepared for her.
He was going to win her over if it took the whole dang night to do it. Only, he hadn’t counted on the fact that she was still very much in flight mode.
Well, this was going to end here and now.
Wendy was going to be done running.
She was fast, but he was faster. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was tall and broad. People caught sight of him barreling through a crowd and they parted like the Red Sea.
Wendy collided with more than one person, her muttered apologies reaching him as he closed in on her. She was headed for the structure where they kept the baked goods in an air-conditioned space. The building also housed the restrooms and if she got into one of them, there would be no going in after her.
Granted, she’d be trapped. Did she realize she’d have to inevitably face him? Some part of him hoped deep down that she did—that she was subconsciously making decisions that would have their paths colliding.
Unfortunately for her, he wasn’t going to let it get that far. Tripp was done waiting. He was done being the guy who only dated the girls who threw themselves at him. This might not have been the first time he chased a girl, but it would definitely be the last because he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
They had a connection. They both knew it. Wendy just needed to come to terms with it.
Tripp closed the distance just short of entering the building. His hand wrapped around her forearm and he tugged her aside and away from the crowds of people. There was a hall off the one where the bathrooms were situated. It was unused at the moment, leading to office spaces when this building was utilized for other events.
With little effort, Tripp caged Wendy against the wall. They were both breathing heavily. Her eyes were wide and wild as she took him in. Her skin flushed and tinged with a glowing sort of pink.
Dang, he was in love with this woman. Being this close to her after being starved of her presence was doing things to him he wasn’t prepared for. Like going rogue when he’d been prepared to profess his love for her. “Why are you trying to be set up with someone else?” There was a bite to his words, and he immediately regretted them when she flinched.
But then Wendy blinked and her lips parted with surprise. “How did you…” Then her eyes narrowed. “Jacob,” she muttered. “He told you, didn’t he?”
Tripp’s palms rested against the cool brick on either side of her head as he stared down at her. He could steal a kiss, he was so close. Her perfume intoxicated him and it took a great deal of effort not to pull her into his arms. That was why he forced himself to keep his hands glued to the wall. If he touched her for even a moment, he’d lose every ounce of control he’d managed to grasp onto during their chase.
“Answer the question,” he said with a level voice he couldn’t help but be proud of. “What’s going on? We were in a good place. We were?—”
“There wasn’t awe, now was there?” Wendy spewed the words at him. They were likely meant to sting, but he could hear the pain in them. She was hurting.
Why?
Tripp searched her eyes, frowning.
“We were never together,” Wendy continued, closing her eyes for a brief moment. “And that’s fine. That’s what we agreed on. But that also means we don’t owe the other any explanations, either.” When she opened her eyes, they were full of turmoil. Anger. Pain. Uncertainty.
He couldn’t help it. He brought one hand down to cup her cheek. “Hey,” he whispered.
She tore away from his touch and it took every ounce of energy he had left not to get offended and lash out. Thoughts of how hurt he’d been over Olivia briefly flickered through his mind. Hehadn’t loved her and yet when he’d realized that she’d never care for him the way she cared for her now husband, it had hurt. Then hearing about Vallerie’s engagement. Months ago, that news would have thrown him for a loop.
He'd thought he wasn’t built for long-term relationships.
Now, he knew better. He wasn’t built for anyone but Wendy.
“That’s a lie,” he muttered.
Wendy’s sharp gaze pinned him. “What?”
“You can say that we were never together and sure, maybe that was how you felt. But for me? Nothing could be further from the truth.” He let his words sink in for a few moments before he continued. “There is no one else, Wendy. Not for me.”
She blinked at him several times and for a moment he thought he’d broken through to her on some deeper level. But then she scoffed a laugh and attempted to push him backward. It was half-hearted and he didn’t budge. But it wasn’t her physical touch that knocked him off balance. Emotionally, he’d been knocked to his backside. “Seriously, Tripp?” She said it with derision. “Just last week you were out with another woman.” At his pained, slack-jawed expression, her eyes seemed to soften. “It’s fine, Tripp. I’m not mad.”
He wanted to scoff at that. Of course she was mad. Why was she lying?
Wendy’s hands dropped back to her sides when she realized that her palms were still against his chest. She sighed. “We agreed on terms and I just…”
