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Hurt shimmered in Holly’s eyes. “Sure, friends is good.”

“Great!” It didn’t feel great. Avel wanted to leap across the table and kiss Holly until she begged him for more.

“So, friends?” Holly cleared her throat. “What does that mean?”

“We talk about stuff. Like that guy from yesterday.” That felt about as smooth as a stuck ramp lever, but he had to know more about her relationship with Lieutenant Busby.

Holly’s eyes narrowed. “What about him?”

“He seemed to know you well.”

“He does. Well, he did.” Holly’s shoulders slumped. “That’s Eric, the guy I told you about.”

Avel’s head pounded as rage flooded through him. That was the guy who’d screwed Holly up? No wonder she’d freaked when she’d seen him.

Every muscle in his body tightened, but somehow, he kept his cool. “I didn’t know.”

“Because you didn’t give me a chance to talk. You turned away again. I tried to tell you I wasn’t interested in Eric, but you made out that you didn’t care. Maybe you don’t.”

Stars! He was such an idiot. Avel had walked away from Holly when she needed him. “You won’t be seeing him again?”

“Not if he was the last guy in the star system.” Holly lifted her chin. “I’m never having anything to do with Eric again.”

Avel chuckled, relief coursing through him. His plan would work. It would be an easy offer for Holly to accept. “You deserve so much better than him.”

She smiled cautiously. “I think so too.”

Avel wished he was good enough for Holly. He’d love to wake up to that smile every morning. That would be someone else’s treat, but he’d never forget how her smile made him feel warm inside.

“I’ve got a proposal for you,” he said.

Holly tilted her head. “That’s funny. I’ve got one for you. I thought pastries and coffee might soften you up to my idea.”

“You have? What’s yours?”

Holly took a sip of coffee, her expression growing serious. “I went through my finances and checked the money I made from the food fair. I can repay you the loan in a single lump sum.”

Avel frowned. “You can?”

“If you’re okay with it, I can let you have it today. All my debt will be cleared. Great, right?”

He jerked back in his seat. “You’ll pay it all back today?” This wasn’t what he’d had in mind. Avel wanted to give Holly a gift, and she was taking that away from him.

“I’ll be a bit tight for the next few weeks, but as soon as I start selling my chocolates, the money will come in. It’s only fair that I repay you as soon as I can. After all, isn’t that what friends do?”

Avel didn’t want this. Once she repaid her debt, there’d be no reason to keep seeing each other. Not that he intended to keep seeing Holly. Damn, his mind was a mess. Why did she do this to him? Every time they got close, his resolve wobbled, and he tried to think of a reason to keep seeing her.

“What do you think?” Holly asked. “Do we have a deal?”

Avel scraped a hand down his face. What the fuck was he supposed to do now?

Chapter 19

Holly shifted in her seat, waiting for Avel’s reply. She could see he was surprised by her offer, but she’d thought about this long and hard the previous night. This was best for both of them. He’d been clear that they shouldn’t mix business and pleasure. And his offer of friendship had just confirmed that.

It was a hard thing to do, walk away from him, but after her talk with Sally, she knew love wasn’t for her. Not with Avel. Holly agreed that her past should no longer mess with her present or her future, but if she opened herself to Avel, that was another complication.

How could she be certain he wouldn’t change his mind and blow her off like he did yesterday? It wasn’t a gamble she was willing to take.