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“I want you, Tanya,” he says hoarsely. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any woman. To hell with everything else—we deserve this.”
His words inflame my desire to a fever pitch. How did we get to this point? All I know is that I want him with a bone-deep longing that threatens to consume me whole. But if I give in to that desire, that would be it for me. There would be no going back, and I might jeopardize my relationship with Diane forever. I take a step back.
“I…I need time to think,” I say.
A small smile curves his lips. “As you wish.”
“Brian, we made a mistake. What just happened can’t happen again.”
He frowns, propping himself up on one elbow. “What are you talking about? We’re two consenting adults who care about each other. Why shouldn’t we pursue this?”
“Because…” I trail off, unsure of how to tell him the truth without revealing that I’ve been deceiving him. I settle on a half-truth. “We don’t even know each other.”
“We know each other enough,” he says softly, stroking my cheek. “I know you’re smart, intelligent, and beautiful. What more is there?”
I close my eyes, torn between my desire for Brian and my loyalty to Diane. How did I get into this mess? When I open my eyes again, Brian is watching me with a concerned expression.
“I understand this is complicated, but we can work through it together,” he says. “I don’t want to lose you, Tanya. I don’t think you understand,” he says, softly, “I haven’t felt this way about someone in a long, long time.”
His heartfelt words make me ache with longing. I want nothing more than to get back into his arms, but I know that continuing this relationship would only end in heartbreak. The truth is, I haven’t felt this way about someone…ever.
“Look,” he says. “I understand your fears. You’re young. I might be too old for you.”
I cut him off. “No, Brian! It’s not that—”
In turn, he cuts me off. “But, Tanya,” he looks me in the eye. “How about you let me take you out for dinner? One dinner, that’s it. Tonight. How about we learn a bit about each other before we make a decision?”
His gaze is intense, and I feel my resolve weakening. The idea of spending more time with Brian is tempting, but I can’t ignore the fact that his daughter is my best friend.
“I don’t know…” I trail off, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Tanya, please.” Brian’s voice is soft as he pleads with me. “Just one dinner. If you still feel the same after that, I won’t push you anymore. I just want to get to know you, and for you to get to know me.”
I stare at him for a long moment, weighing up my options. I know it’s a bad idea, but I can’t resist the pull between us. Just one dinner, I tell myself. That’s all it is.
“Okay,” I say finally, surprising even myself. “One dinner. But nothing more than that, Brian.”
He grins, looking almost boyish in his excitement. “Thank you, Tanya. You won’t regret it, I promise.”
Chapter ten
Heart over Matter
Tanya
My fingers fumble with the zipper of my dress as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. It shouldn’t have happened and that should have been the end of it. What was I thinking, agreeing to go on a date with Brian? Not just any date, but an extravagant, lavish dinner at the city’s most expensive restaurant.
I groan, yanking the zipper up and smoothing the silky fabric over my hips. This is a mistake. I need to call Brian and cancel. Just as I reach for my phone, it buzzes with a new text. It’s him.
On my way. Looking forward to our date. Reservation all set at Chez Maurice at 8 pm. Is that still good? I’m all dressed. Ready to leave.
My stomach flips. He’s already about to leave. Calling to cancel now would be rude and hurtful. But if I don’t, how am I going to hide the fact that I’m best friends with his daughter? That I’ve known Diane since we were kids?
Another text comes in.
Also, what’s your address? My driver will come pick you up. I wanted to come myself, but my meeting ran over.
“Oh, man,” I whisper, raking a hand through my hair. There’s no backing out now. Not without crushing Brian, and he doesn’t deserve that after how sweet he’s been. With trembling fingers, I type my address and hit send before I can change my mind. Tonight is going to be a long, complicated night. But Brian doesn’t need to know that yet. All that matters now is putting on a smile, enjoying the lavish dinner he’s planned, and figuring out how to let him down easy. If I can. Because the truth is, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss we shared. And how safe I felt in his arms.
