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.“Tess, what’s this really about? Are you scared because I said that I love to be with you? Or because you mentioned something about your past? I don’t care about your past.Why would I care that you grew up in a housing project? Or hung out at the Boys and Girls Club?”“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said softly, straightening her sweater.“Then we won’t.But just so you know, I think you’re feeling ashamed by things that aren’t under our control.We don’t pick where we’re born or who our parents are.” His voice was raised now but he didn’t care.He’d do whatever it took to crack that stubborn shell she wore around her like a shield.“It’s easy for you to say.You haven’t lived like I did.You need to understand, Slaid—you’re in over your head,” she said flatly.“I can’t give you what you want.”That bugged him.“How do you even know what I want?”“You’ve told me you’re a traditional relationship kind of guy.That will never happen with me.I’m over here pretending that it could, but I’m like a kid playing house.It’s just a game.It’s wrong to let you get involved.”That pissed him off, too.“Let me get involved? I’m a grown-up, Tess.I’ll decide who I get involved with and how much.”She stood up, looking pale and pissed.She walked to the entryway and picked up her coat and bag.“I’m going to head home now.”He didn’t know what to say, so he just grabbed his coat and walked her to her Jeep.They stood at the vehicle’s door, and the silence seemed to breathe between them.When she reached for the door, he put a gentle hand on her arm, determined to try once more to reach her.“I had a great time earlier tonight.Let’s not end it on a bad note.”“Oh, it’s not bad,” she said with a brightness he now recognized as fake—and was thoroughly sick of.“It’s just like you said—we had a nice time.”“Stop pretending everything is fine for once.If it was, you wouldn’t be running out the door.”“Look, it’s obvious that we really like each other—but want different things.”“What do you want? Because a few minutes ago I was pretty sure you wanted me.”“I want things simple, Slaid.I’ve been telling you since I got here.I don’t have heart-to-heart talks.And I don’t do relationships.”“Seems as if we already have a relationship.”“We have a crazy chemistry.That’s different than a relationship.”He’d had it.His mind was reeling with his desire for her and the knowledge he felt so deep down that they could be great together.“So that’s it.We have one accidental mention of your past and you run out of here and go hide in that little house of yours? Ignore what’s between us? I thought you were braver than this.”She stiffened.“I’m brave enough to face the truth, Slaid.That you see what you want to see in me.You think you can get me to conform to the life you think everyone should have, to live up to your ideals of how you think a relationship should work.But I can’t.So let’s stop this now, before someone gets hurt.”“You’re walking away because you’re scared.”“I’m walking away because I’m smart.” She leaned in and kissed him, her mouth bold on his, her touch sending nerves rippling.“Good night, Slaid.”He didn’t answer.The only words in his head were don’t go, and no way would he be that pathetic.His fists clenched, coiled in frustration, as she climbed into the Jeep and drove off.Slaid walked back to his house, slamming his fist on the door as he opened it.He looked around the room, at the dishes stacked in the kitchen, at the couch in disarray, at the clock on the wall.It was only nine o’clock—not too late.He refused to sit here and think about what he’d just lost.Devin was gone and he was free to do what he pleased.He grabbed his keys and drove to town, parking in front of The High Country Sports Bar on Main Street.From the sidewalk he heard a band playing inside.He pushed his way through the front door, into the chaos, in search of a beer, a game of pool, a conversation—anything to get his thoughts off Tess Cole.CHAPTER SEVENTEENTESS SAT ON the bench in the small front garden of her cottage.She was wrapped in her teal parka, her computer on her lap, hot tea in a travel mug next to her.The air was crisp, but the thin layer of afternoon sunshine hitting the front of the house had enticed her outside.She couldn’t stay cooped up a minute longer.The sunshine here might be twenty degrees cooler than at home, but it still felt good on her skin.She glanced at the document she had open, trying to concentrate.But for the past week, concentration had been almost impossible.Thank you, Slaid Jacobs, she thought bitterly.But he wasn’t really the problem.Her idiot brain was the problem [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.“Tess, what’s this really about? Are you scared because I said that I love to be with you? Or because you mentioned something about your past? I don’t care about your past.Why would I care that you grew up in a housing project? Or hung out at the Boys and Girls Club?”“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said softly, straightening her sweater.“Then we won’t.But just so you know, I think you’re feeling ashamed by things that aren’t under our control.We don’t pick where we’re born or who our parents are.” His voice was raised now but he didn’t care.He’d do whatever it took to crack that stubborn shell she wore around her like a shield.“It’s easy for you to say.You haven’t lived like I did.You need to understand, Slaid—you’re in over your head,” she said flatly.“I can’t give you what you want.”That bugged him.“How do you even know what I want?”“You’ve told me you’re a traditional relationship kind of guy.That will never happen with me.I’m over here pretending that it could, but I’m like a kid playing house.It’s just a game.It’s wrong to let you get involved.”That pissed him off, too.“Let me get involved? I’m a grown-up, Tess.I’ll decide who I get involved with and how much.”She stood up, looking pale and pissed.She walked to the entryway and picked up her coat and bag.“I’m going to head home now.”He didn’t know what to say, so he just grabbed his coat and walked her to her Jeep.They stood at the vehicle’s door, and the silence seemed to breathe between them.When she reached for the door, he put a gentle hand on her arm, determined to try once more to reach her.“I had a great time earlier tonight.Let’s not end it on a bad note.”“Oh, it’s not bad,” she said with a brightness he now recognized as fake—and was thoroughly sick of.“It’s just like you said—we had a nice time.”“Stop pretending everything is fine for once.If it was, you wouldn’t be running out the door.”“Look, it’s obvious that we really like each other—but want different things.”“What do you want? Because a few minutes ago I was pretty sure you wanted me.”“I want things simple, Slaid.I’ve been telling you since I got here.I don’t have heart-to-heart talks.And I don’t do relationships.”“Seems as if we already have a relationship.”“We have a crazy chemistry.That’s different than a relationship.”He’d had it.His mind was reeling with his desire for her and the knowledge he felt so deep down that they could be great together.“So that’s it.We have one accidental mention of your past and you run out of here and go hide in that little house of yours? Ignore what’s between us? I thought you were braver than this.”She stiffened.“I’m brave enough to face the truth, Slaid.That you see what you want to see in me.You think you can get me to conform to the life you think everyone should have, to live up to your ideals of how you think a relationship should work.But I can’t.So let’s stop this now, before someone gets hurt.”“You’re walking away because you’re scared.”“I’m walking away because I’m smart.” She leaned in and kissed him, her mouth bold on his, her touch sending nerves rippling.“Good night, Slaid.”He didn’t answer.The only words in his head were don’t go, and no way would he be that pathetic.His fists clenched, coiled in frustration, as she climbed into the Jeep and drove off.Slaid walked back to his house, slamming his fist on the door as he opened it.He looked around the room, at the dishes stacked in the kitchen, at the couch in disarray, at the clock on the wall.It was only nine o’clock—not too late.He refused to sit here and think about what he’d just lost.Devin was gone and he was free to do what he pleased.He grabbed his keys and drove to town, parking in front of The High Country Sports Bar on Main Street.From the sidewalk he heard a band playing inside.He pushed his way through the front door, into the chaos, in search of a beer, a game of pool, a conversation—anything to get his thoughts off Tess Cole.CHAPTER SEVENTEENTESS SAT ON the bench in the small front garden of her cottage.She was wrapped in her teal parka, her computer on her lap, hot tea in a travel mug next to her.The air was crisp, but the thin layer of afternoon sunshine hitting the front of the house had enticed her outside.She couldn’t stay cooped up a minute longer.The sunshine here might be twenty degrees cooler than at home, but it still felt good on her skin.She glanced at the document she had open, trying to concentrate.But for the past week, concentration had been almost impossible.Thank you, Slaid Jacobs, she thought bitterly.But he wasn’t really the problem.Her idiot brain was the problem [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]