“That’s intense.”
“Every day until my eighth birthday, I kept telling myself, ‘Today is the day Mommy is coming home’. When I turned eight, I realized she wasn’t coming back, and my heart broke all over again. If she was dead, I could let her go.”
“That was mature of you.”
“I don’t remember the deets, but I’m pretty sure the dead-mother idea might have been Z’s.”
He chuffed out a laugh.
“Life’s short, shit happens, people are mostly crazy,” she said.
“Which one did—what’s her name?”
“Liliana,” she replied.
“Which one is she?”
“Shit happens. But… she could be a total wacko.” Brit shuddered. “I don’t want to mess up my kids, like she did to me.”
He stared at her for what felt the longest time before running his fingers through her hair. His touch electrified her, the peace in his eyes anchored her, yet sent her soaring at the same time.
I really like him, but we’re not a good fit.
She wanted to caress his bristly cheeks and kiss him. But she did not. Resisting him was hard as hell.
“I like you, Britain, and I can’t stop how I feel.”
Oh, no. Don’t tell me that.
“Doyouwant children?” she asked.
He nodded, slowly. “I do.”
“I gotta keep this real, Joaquin. We aren’t a good match, you know, for the big things. The things that really matter.” She rose from the sofa. “It would be better if we kept things professional, don’t you think?”
Her heart was shattered. She was walking away from something that maybe, coulda been amazing. Reality sucked. They just weren’t right for the long haul.
“That’s not gonna fly for me,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m falling in love with you,” he replied.
Her heart soared, her guts twisted.
She spun around, glared at him.
How dare he mess with my head!
She fisted her hands on her hips. “You say you’re not emotionally available, then, you tell me you’re falling in love with me. I have nowhere to live. I just started a job where I’m ona three-month probationary period. I had the mentor from hell, now I’m working with you on a high-profile case where a killer is spelling out his message on the foreheads of his dead victims. I’m sorry I agreed to meet Liliana Skye or whatever the hell her name is. And I couldn’t care less about some sister I never knew. My head is about to explode!”
She stormed down the hall, shut the bedroom door, and beelined into the en suite bathroom. Just knowing there was a toilet nearby calmed her. Now, she could vomit in peace. To distract herself from the myriad of thoughts streaming through her head, she brushed her teeth.
When finished, she left the bathroom, changed into comfy PJs, and crawled into bed. She hated that Rebel was nearby, but unavailable. As she lay there, she wondered if it would have been better if he’d never told her how he felt.
Truth was, she was crazy attracted to him. Not just physically, but in all the ways. She’d never had luck in love, but what if… what if hewasn’ta bad choice?
She rolled over, pulled the sheet over her head.
