She swallowed. “I just talked with Mrs. Teager. I didn’t brainwash her.”
He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath. Then he pulled his arms back and let go. “Why? Why is talking so hard and desire so easy? I think we could just have the most fuckingsatisfying sexual relationship of our lives for a few weeks if only we didn’t open our damn mouths.”
She smiled weakly. “Connor, Mrs. Teager is hurt. And insecure. And obviously still in love with her husband.”
“So what?” he whispered, sounding exhausted. “Love that only hurts isn’t love worth saving.”
“But she has to figure that out for herself. You can’t choose who you fall in love with or who you’re attracted to. Look at us. But if Mrs. Teager wants to think about it because she believes her husband is the love of her life and wants a few more weeks before she decides, that’s her right.”
He slowly wrapped a strand of her hair around his index finger before he let go and pulled on his shirt. Buttoned his trousers. Stuffed his tie in his pocket.
“There’s a difference between right and correct, Rachel,” he replied gloomily. “Between what's allowed and what must be.” He lowered his gaze and closed his eyes. His breathing was still labored, and she already missed his warmth, his touch, the feeling that everything would be okay. “So, yes, it’s her right to delay, and obviously, you can tell her what you think. But it’s not right that she’s doing it — and shit, you really didn’t have to.”
Rachel’s eyes burned. She quickly rose and grabbed his arm before he could open the door. “Connor, wait. It wasn’t my intention...”
“No matter how good an intention is, sometimes it’s the outcome that counts,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “No one ever intends to get divorced! And when people say they had no choice but to fall in love with their partner...or to cheat... Fuck.” He ran a hand over his face. “My mom always said that. That you can’t choose your soul mate. That she and Dad belonged together, come what may. That you have to make sacrifices in marriage, and that she had no choice. But if there’s anyone you should consciously choose after plenty of thought, it’s yourdamn partner, the one you want to spend the rest of your life with! My mother made the wrong choice, and Mrs. Teager made the wrong choice. And I’m not going to make the same mistake she did. So...yeah, you’re right. We can’t keep doing this. And if I have to prove you wrong, I’m going to find the perfect woman for me who has nothing to do with Match Me! So just stay away from me, Rachel. Then we’ll have no problem. Three more dates and we’ll never have to see each other again.”
“You came to me,” she stated in disbelief.
“I know,” he replied tonelessly, opening the door a crack. “But you’re the one who has to stop this!”
“Stopwhat?”
“Building a vacation home in my head and under my skin!” he said sharply, and the next moment, the door slammed shut.
Rachel remained where she was, staring at the spot where Connor had just been.
Had he just called her...the wrong choice?
And why the hell did it bother her so much when she knew he was right? He was her wrong choice too.
She pressed her lips together and dressed. The room had become strangely cold without Connor, so she threw on a jacket as well.
It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.
The sex was amazing. It didn’t change anything, just because the man really excited her.
Their bet was still on. She wanted to find her dream man and Connor was just getting in the way. She had a third candidate who had already invited her to mini-golf...and she would send Connor the time and place. He’d claimed it was only fair that the same conditions applied to both of them. And she had absolutely no problem with that.
Chapter Eleven
If you don’t understand emotions, don’t torture yourself, just don’t think about it!
Tips and tricks for every situation from divorce lawyer Connor Stone
Wow. You capitalize the D in displacement, right? - Rachel
Why exactly are you coming to see me?”
“Do I need a reason to visit my big brother?”
Connor leaned back in his office chair. “I’d say yes.”
Alec chuckled softly on the other end of the phone. “Hmm, hearing that, I could almost mistakenly assume you don’t want me around at all.”
Connor narrowed his eyes, stood, and closed the office door. If Cian overheard this conversation, he’d spend the rest of the day lecturing Connor about the importance of family.
Connorknewhow important family was. And it wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Alec or that he didn’t miss Mallory and Allison, buteverytime he saw his siblings, he was overcome with all-encompassing guilt. Rachel had been right about every damn thing, and he’d been angry that she’d identified every single sore spot. God, how could a woman know him so well without him saying a word about himself?
