AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His frown deepened. Was it a blessing or a curse that Naomi knew him so well? “This isn’t about Sasha,” he ground out.
“Oh, please. It’s always about Sasha. That miserable excuse for a woman was never right for you, and,” she said, lifting one eyebrow meaningfully, “if you’ll remember, I told you that at the time.”
“Yeah. I remember.” His expression soured. “Thanks for the I told you so.”
“No problem.” She scooted off the bed, stalked to the window and stared out at the deepening twilight.
The growing darkness seeped into the room as well, shadows filling every corner. Toby’s gaze followed the line of Naomi’s back and down to the curve of her behind. The woman had a great behind. Then, when she turned to look back at him, she was profiled and her breasts were high and full, the rounded outline of the baby on full display. She was beautiful. Even the fire in her eye couldn’t dim his reaction to the woman.
Then she started talking. “Sasha leaving was the best thing to happen to you.”
He gritted his teeth. “This isn’t about Sasha.”
“It’s all about her,” Naomi continued. “Has been since the day she walked out with her pretty-boy country singer. She’s gone, Toby, but you’re still caught up in that drama.”
He sat up and leaned against the headboard, the sheet pooling at his hips. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You.” Naomi walked back to the side of the bed and glared down at him. “She’s moved on, Toby, but you’re still running your life by what happened to you with her.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Really? You haven’t been involved in a single relationship since she left.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Why?”
“Not interested.”
“Liar.” Now she frowned at him. “At least be honest and admit that you won’t let yourself trust anyone anymore.”
“I trust you,” he pointed out. And why did he suddenly feel as though he had to defend himself?
She sighed as if disappointed, but damned if he knew what the problem was.
“Toby, you’re cheating yourself out of maybe finding something amazing, all because Sasha convinced you that feelings weren’t to be trusted.” She bent down and tapped her index finger against his chest. “Well, you’re wrong to give her so much power.”
“How did this get to be about Sasha?” he asked, shoving himself off the bed to stare down at her. “She doesn’t run my life. Never has. Never will. I stopped thinking about her the day she left Royal. I live my life the way I want to, Naomi.”
“You’re probably the most stubborn man I’ve ever met.”
“Thanks.”
“Not really a compliment.” She sighed a little and chewed at her bottom lip.
He dropped both hands to her hips and pulled her in closer. She had to tip her head back to meet his eyes, but she did. “I trust you. That’s good enough for me.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding, watching his eyes. “I just don’t want you to be sorry one day for marrying me and cheating yourself out of love somewhere down the line.”
“We’re getting married, Naomi.” He smiled softly. “And hell, if we get sex, too, all the better.”
Her returning smile wasn’t wide, but it was there. “Yeah, that works for me, too.”
“I do love you, Naomi. Always will. I just don’t want you to think of what we have as more than what we have.”
“Got it. You’re not in love with me.”
“Right.” He didn’t know what the hell he was feeling at the moment, but it wasn’t the kind of love that people built dreams around. He knew that much.
“Fine. Don’t worry about it.” She shook her hair back and said, “Oh, stop looking like you’re kicking a puppy. I’m a big girl, Toby. I walked into this with eyes wide open, and I didn’t ask for undying declarations of romantic love.”
No, she hadn’t, he realized. In fact, she was acting like what had happened between them was no big deal. And he didn’t know how he felt about that. Damn it, Naomi had a way of turning everything around on him so that Toby didn’t know whether he was coming or going, and she’d just managed it again. Was he worried about nothing?
