Page 105 of Getting Down to Business

She needed to get things back to where they were safe.

By Friday, she’d convinced herself it was possible to go back to the way things had been when they were just roommates. They only needed a little distance.

No sex, no snuggling, no emotions. She could do this.

“Don’t get attached,” she told her reflection as she changed to go out. She didn’t allow herself to dwell on how she’d much rather slip on a pair of shorts and spend the evening on the sofa with Gray. She needed to do this.

Distance was the first step in getting control of her life, and her heart.

As if intent on demolishing her resolve, Gray came home.

“Honey, I’m home!” he called through the apartment with a happy tone. “It’s Friday!”

Alyssa stepped out of the bathroom in her heels.

“Holy shit!” he stammered as he looked her over. A smile took over his face as his gaze moved up and down her body.

“Guess what?” she said with a huge smile.

“What?”

“Leedom liked my budget proposal. They signed off on it today.”

“That’s awesome! I knew they’d like it. Let me change and I’ll be ready to go out—”

“Actually, I’m going out with Mia to celebrate.”

“Oh.” The disappointment on his face almost made her backtrack. She couldn’t. “Well, have fun.”

“I will. I need to get going.”

“Sure. Maybe we could go out tomorrow night?” he asked, his blue eyes searching her face.

“Yes. Tomorrow should work.” He only seemed slightly relieved.

“See you when I get home.”

Twice on the way down in the elevator, Alyssa almost went back up.

She shook her head and continued on to meet Mia.

She needed distance. This was healthy.

* * * *

Gray watched Alyssa walk out of the apartment as his chest tightened uncomfortably.

What could he do? He couldn’t chase her down and beg her to stay with him. Actually, he could have done that, but then he was certain she would have kept on going and not looked back.

Damn it! He wanted them to be close. It didn’t have to be such a horrible thing.

He understood why she was scared. The asshole to whom she’d been engaged had devastated her, but it didn’t mean Grayson would too. He didn’t know how to get out of Donnie’s shadow. Unless…

What if the whole just friends thing was her way of keeping him from pushing her into something she really didn’t want with him? Doubts flooded his mind, calling up those old insecurities as he went to change. Mandy hadn’t been satisfied with him.

He tossed his work clothes in the direction of the hamper and pulled out a T-shirt and sweatpants. He was planning to order in some Chinese and spend the night on the sofa in front of the television until Alyssa came home.

But then what? No matter what he did, he didn’t see a way to get out of this labyrinth of doubt and suspicion. He couldn’t prove he wouldn’t hurt her until she trusted him enough to get close and see he wouldn’t hurt her. It just went round and round with no way to get any further.