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They broke apart and Bridget stepped back. “I’m still unpacking.” She pointed to the boxes stacked in the room. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m good.” He followed her farther into the condo.
“Okay.” She stopped in front of the white linen sofa in the living room. “Have a seat.”
Isaiah did and ran his hands over his khaki shorts. His shirt was a lightweight white T-shirt but sweat ran down his back. “So…getting settled in?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She nodded. “I really like the condo. I don’t think I’ll look for a more permanent place anytime soon.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you like it here.” Maybe she wouldn’t be too angry when he told her that they shouldn’t get back together. “Look, Bridget, there’s something I want to say.”
“Shh…” She straddled his lap and pushed his shoulders back before he could say more. “Let’s talk later.”
Her lips covered his. He immediately wanted to push her back, but he hesitated. Maybe this was the final test he needed. If he still wanted her, he should feel something when they kissed. So he let her lead. When her tongue tested his lips for a deeper kiss, he opened, then waited for his reaction. When he’d kissed Angela, he’d forgotten everything around them. He’d had a hard time not pulling her harder against him. Angela’s kiss had made him crave her. Bridget’s kiss was familiar, but not nearly as exciting. Bridget’s kiss felt…wrong. The wrong fit for him. Guilt made his body cold.
He opened his eyes and met Bridget’s gaze. They broke apart quickly. She lifted her hand to her lips, then dropped it quickly. He understood the reflex. He wanted to wipe away the kiss, too.
“Does this feel…?” He tried to think of something to say.
“Awkward?” Bridget said, finishing his thought. She slid off his lap and scooted to the other side of the couch.
Another word would have been less harsh but he couldn’t think of anything better. “It’s been a while since we’ve been together.” The excuse sounded lame.
Bridget sighed and tugged on one of the corkscrew curls in her hair. “It has, but…we’ve never had chemistry problems before.”
“Before, we got together because it was convenient and short-term. This time it’s—”
“I don’t want to get married.” Bridget’s brown eyes widened and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Isaiah wanted to shout his relief. Probably not the best reaction. He nodded slowly. “I don’t, either.”
Bridget’s shoulders relaxed. “I thought you’d freak out.”
He turned to face her fully. “No. We’ve both changed since we last saw each other. Of course what we want has changed, too.”
“So you’re okay with us just dating instead of jumping straight to something more serious?” Her voice was hopeful.
Isaiah rubbed his chin. “Actually, I need to tell you something.”
Her eyebrows shot up. When she rubbed her shoulder, a nervous gesture of hers, the strap of her tank top slid off. “Why do you sound ominous?”
He took a deep breath and said what he needed to say. “There is someone else.”
Bridget had been reaching for him. She dropped her hand and jumped from the couch. Her hands slammed onto her hips and her glare sliced him to pieces. “Someone else?” she said, her tone low and angry. “You’re seeing someone else?”
Isaiah shifted forward on the couch. “You just said you didn’t want to get married.”
She nodded, but the anger in her eyes didn’t lessen. “Yeah, because it had been months since we saw each other and when you asked me to come here, you mentioned eventually getting married. Not because I’m seeing someone else. Why did you ask me to move here if you were seeing another woman?”
“I wasn’t seeing her when I asked you to move. We met after.” He kept his voice neutral. Bridget wasn’t one to go off and create a scene when she was angry, but he didn’t want to tempt her.
Her eyes narrowed. “Who is she?”
He had no reason to lie. “Her name is Angela.”
