“You’re not my second. Why would you think that?”
“If you were playing pro football and didn’t have a dodgy knee, we both know you wouldn’t look twice at me.” I reach the door of the tea shop and realise I don’t have a key. I don’t exactly know why I rushed back here to get away from him, only to be cooped up with him again.
“That’s bullshit.” He clutches the key in his hand, staring at me with a clenched jaw. “Talk about the pot calling the kettle.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re going back to London, back to your city life, where you won’t think twice about me. We both know if you weren’t here by force, you wouldn’t have given me the time of day.” He unlocks the door and opens it for me to step inside. “Your highness.”
My eyes squint at him as I step over the threshold. I slip off my sandals with my back to him so he doesn’t see the swell of tears in my eyes. “I wanted you, asshole.” My voice wobbles as I make my way through the shop and up the stairs.
Gray’s hot on my heels. “You wanted me too? When?”
The dam breaks and tears drip onto my cheek. I run into the bathroom and lock the door so he doesn’t see me. It’s bad enough that I let my guard down. I won’t have another bloke treat me as his second ever again. It seems guys just settle with me. I know my worth.
And to think during that kiss, I was considering staying for him, giving up everything I have. For once, I want a guy who puts me first, before his career.
GRAY
“Cam.” I try the handle on the bathroom door. “Cam, open up. When did you want me?”
“I always wanted you, Gray. You would have known that if you weren’t so self-centred.” She sniffles.
“Are you crying? Open the door.” I rattle the handle. “Cam, if you don’t open this door, I’ll break it down.” Damn, I’m not having her crying. I rub the ache in my chest. My body tenses with the need to hold her.
She opens the door and barges past me, through the living room and into her bedroom. Or my bedroom. I follow, but she shuts the door in my face.
“Cam. Don’t shut me out. Are you mad because I told Noel to keep his hands off you? Just why do you think I did that? Telling him you were like a sister was the only thing I could say to make you off limits to him.”
She opens the door; her face all red and puffy. “That’s not what I’m upset about. I’m sick of guys settling for me when everything else fails.” She shuts the door again.
I lean on the wood. Every muscle in my body wants to tear down the barrier between us. I need to have her in my arms again, feel her lips, find my girl through this wall she’s built around herself. I saw a glimpse of the girl I fell in love with tonight, my girl who loves Christmas, sunshine, and flowers. “Cam, I wanted to ask you out so many times, but you lived in England and I lived… I was at college, and I had plans. It wasn’t fair to you, and I never thought you’d say yes to a long distance thing.”
“It doesn’t matter. Like you said, I’m going home in a few weeks.”
I rest my head against the wooden door. This woman infuriates me. I hate to love her, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Even for the last ten years I’ve tried to get her out of my mind, but somehow she worms her way back in. Maybe this is for the best. I thought I could get her to stay, but she’s still adamant she’s leaving.
She’s protecting her heart, and I need to protect mine. Getting involved with her, for her to just leave, will ruin me. I’d hoped we could take our relationship to the next level tonight, but looks like I’m on the fucking sofa again.
Slouching back to the couch, I grab the remote for the TV to take my mind off of her. Then flop down, stretch out my leg, tucking a pillow under my knee. With one arm behind my head, I flick through the channels, but don’t register anything, it’s just background noise when she’s front and centre of my brain.
A million what ifs go through my mind, but I know if we had got together back then, we wouldn’t have lasted. We were too young. She would have still chosen a career, and I would have still been left behind.
Back then, my only skill was scoring a touchdown. Now the only skill I have is making the right blend of tea. What a fucking loser.
If I follow her to England, what could I bring to our relationship with no job and no education? This tearoom is all I have. The only thing I’m good at. We make a good team. Why can’t she see that? She could stay here and do her web thing. I can run the tea shop. I just want her to be my partner in life, not in business. Let’s face it, she’s proved she’s more trouble than she’s worth with all her meddling.
A smile tugs at my lips. I turn the TV off and stare at the ceiling, replaying the events of tonight. My chest stutters as I think about that kiss, and my dick thickens in my shorts. My hands cupping her big ass and my face buried between her mounds was everything my teenage self desired. She was my summer girl. The one thing I loved besides playing football. We grew up together. Our mothers were best friends, so naturally we spent all our time together since we were kids.
When her mother passed, I should have gone to her. I know I fucked up, but she was with some other guy. I can’t re-write the past, but I can go to her now.
Fuck this. I jump off the couch and stalk over to her room. Time to take back what’s mine.
* * *
I’m prepared to bust the door down, but I’m surprised to find it unlocked as I pull the handle down. She faces the window, curled up on the bed. A sniffle is the only sound in the room, other than my pounding chest. Dipping the mattress, I nestle behind her, inhaling her honeysuckle scent. My arm slips around her waist, her body tenses.
“I’m not leaving things like this between us. I don’t want to fight with you. Your great-aunt always said never go to bed angry.”
