Page 86 of Slide

“I don’t care what you need.” She clenched her fists either side of her. “We have nothing to talk about, not anymore. Not a thing. We’ve already said everything we needed to.”

“Luce, please. Just give me a few minutes, and if you still feel the same way about me when I’m done, I’ll leave you alone. I won’t bother you again. I promise.”

She could feel herself weakening. She couldn’t afford to be weak. Not around this man, not with the way he affected her. There wasn’t anything he could say that would make a difference, not now. Yes, she loved him, deeply…desperately. But he’d hurt her. Oh, she’d walked right into it with her eyes wide open, but she wouldn’t—couldn’t—open herself up to that again. His apology, or whatever this was about, wasn’t something she would put herself through, not when it was only to appease his own guilt.

She shook her head. “No.”

His eyes drifted shut for a moment and when he looked at her again, the longing he aimed at her made it hard to breathe all of a sudden.

“Luce…please, baby.”

“She said no,” Joe said.

Lucy flinched at the word baby coming from Adam’s lips. The last time he’d called her that he’d been in her bed and she’d been in his arms. God, this hurt too much.

She didn’t miss the sympathy in her brother’s eyes, for both of them. And she hated that her impulsiveness, when he’d done everything in his power to keep her at arm’s length, had caused a rift between him and her brothers.

Adam’s jaw hardened, dark gaze sliding to Joe then back to her. His eyes searched hers, and just when she thought she might give in and throw herself at him, he dipped his chin, turned, and walked away.

She felt ill.

Joe touched her arm, but she didn’t want to talk or have her family’s sympathy right then. This whole mess was as much her fault as Adam’s. She went after a man she shouldn’t have. Let hope blind her to reality, when he’d told her he didn’t want anything more than physical.

Dropping her napkin, she excused herself and headed to the bathroom. The urge to leave was so damn strong. But her brothers, Shay, and Darcey were so happy for her and wanted to celebrate with her. She couldn’t leave.

The line for the restroom was short, so she was out way faster than she would have liked. She was headed back to the table when she heard her name over a microphone. Stopping in her tracks, she spun to the front of the restaurant. They sometimes had live music on the weekends, and there must have been something happening tonight because there was a mic on a stand in the middle—and standing behind it, looking uncomfortable as hell, was Adam. The man oozed confidence at all times, but not now. He looked embarrassed, cheeks flushed. He was fidgeting and his face was shiny with perspiration.

“Sing it, brother!” a voice called from the back. Joe’s voice.

Adam cleared his throat…then cleared it again. His eyes scanned the room until they found hers.

What was he doing?

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a book, her book, the one he’d been holding in her old room at Hugh and Shay’s wedding. His fingers trembled slightly as he flicked through until he found the page he wanted.

“I loved you first…” His deep voice echoed through the microphone as he began to recite one of her favorite poems by Christina Rossetti, deep and strong, with a roughness to his voice that set tingles off across her scalp. His fingers stopped shaking as he carried on, voice getting stronger as he read the rest, about two lovers trying to decide who loved the other more, then deciding that in love there were no weights and measures, no selfishness. That their love for one another made them stronger, made them one.

Lucy’s throat started to get tight, her eyes stinging as they filled with tears.

It was impossible to miss what he was telling her.

Adam loved her.

Finally, he finished, closed the book, and put it back in his pocket. He looked at her across the room, eyes dark with emotion, unwavering as they collided with hers.

“I love you, Lucy Colton. Shit, more than anything in this world, and I’m an idiot for letting you walk away. I let my fears get in the way.” He released a shaky breath. “I hurt you, sweetheart, and I hurt me, too. I thought I was doing the right thing, letting you go. But I was so damn wrong. I know I don’t deserve it, but please, baby…please, will you let me explain?”

Lucy was walking toward him before she knew her feet were moving. When she reached him she dove into his arms, knocking the mic over.

Adam caught her and buried his face against the side of her throat. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you.” He kissed her hair while the room went nuts, with people cheering and wolf-whistling, even her family at the back of the room. Joe was the loudest by far.

Adam lifted her higher and carried her out of the restaurant, around the side of the building to the quiet parking area, and pressed her against the cool brick wall.

“I can’t believe you just read me a poem in front of an entire restaurant,” she choked through her tears.

He cupped the side of her face tenderly, thumb sliding across her damp cheeks. “I’d do anything for you, Lucy. I’ve loved you…fuck, I’ve loved you for so damn long. Loved you so damn much that I thought letting you go was the best thing I could for you. That you deserve better than me. Maybe that’s still true, but I can’t…I just can’t stay away anymore.”

“I don’t want anyone but you. God, Adam, I’ve loved you since I was twelve years old.”