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“Yes.” I sighed.
“You like him. A lot.”
Yeah, I liked Barry a lot. There was a lot of him to like.
“He’s moving fast.” She gestured to the seat across from her at the table, and I sank into it. “Is that okay with you?”
Funny how she thought Barry was moving fast. According to him, he was moving slow.
Rachel covered my hand with hers. “Have you told him about Martin?”
“He knows about the abuse,” I said carefully.
“And he still kissed you. After what, two meetings?” Her eyes narrowed more. “Why aren’t you more freaked? What are you keeping from me?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged. “I actually asked him to kiss me.”
“Wow.” Her eyes rounded. “I want to meet him. Right away.”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Why not?” she asked.
“It’s new, Rach. I just want to see how it goes, if it goes anywhere, before I make introductions or that sort of thing.”
“Okay, I guess.” She bit down on her lip. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“I broke it off with Paul.”
“I remember, and that hurt you. You shut down and pulled back.” She squeezed my hand. “You never really told me why you broke it off.”
Redirecting, I said carefully, “You think I might be making a mistake.”
“I don’t know if you are or not. I just worry about you, Addy.”
I worried about me too. Collin, then Martin ... I didn’t have a good track record choosing men.
But this is Barry, I reminded myself. Way back when, he was Rachel’s choice for me.
“Hey, don’t go on dim mode again.” She captured a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “I want to see you like this, bright and glowing.” She peered deeply into my eyes. “I like that he makes you glow. That’s a good sign. Just don’t wait too long before you let me meet him, okay?”
Addy
“Why can’t we just stay at your apartment?” I asked Barry, standing in the entryway of his apartment after my workout the next morning.
“Because I want to spend time with you outside it, doing the things I usually do, and making you a part of it.” Barry narrowed his gorgeous brown, taupe, and copper-hued eyes at me. He stood only inches away from me, close enough that I could feel his body heat. “Is there some reason you don’t want to be seen with me?”
No. Yes. Oh shit.
“I’m all sweaty and gross. I should shower first.” Delay was the only tactic I could think of.
“You’re beautiful.” He swept his gaze over me, and his appreciation made my cheeks heat and other parts of me flutter. “But if you want to get cleaned up first, you can shower here.”
Get naked in Barry’s apartment? I got all tingly just thinking about it.
His lips curled. “I like this idea. Let me show you to my bedroom and the en-suite bath. I have a rainforest showerhead that I installed myself. The water pressure is wonderful. You’ll love it.”
I planted my feet and shook my head. Just thinking about being in his bedroom gave me heart palpitations. “I don’t have anything clean to wear.”
