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“No, I shouldn’t,” he argued.
She sat up, away from the comfort of his touch. “I’m too tired for round two.” She was, she was exhausted. Not just her body but her heart, too. “You told Bianca I’m okay so—”
“She wasn’t the only one worried, Cady. I was worried about you.” His words were hoarse. “I volunteered to come.” He pushed himself up to sit at her side.
She turned to face him, her eyes locking with his. “You did? You were?”
He nodded, pressing his hand to her cheek. “Hell, yes.”
His touch was distracting and so were his words. “Mr. Hembrecht asked me to dinner Friday—”
“Why?”
“He wants to discuss work.” She paused, but he didn’t say anything so she went on. “My car overheated—”
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked, frowning at her.
She shook her head. “It’s not your job to take care of me. I take care of myself.”
She saw him swallow, saw the slight flare of his nostrils.
“By the time the tow truck got there, I was hungry, so I walked to Chris’s for a burger—”
“Best onion rings in town,” he interjected. “But you shouldn’t be walking around town in the middle of the night, Cady—”
“I ate, had a few beers and watched a few fights.” Why was he looking at her like that? “I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”
“You’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
She was all too vulnerable to this man. Her body hummed with awareness, but her heart was resistant. She couldn’t forget that things were different now. And once he left, she would be crushed all over again. “It’s late. You need to go.”
“Cady, I need to say something.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for what happened.”
She nodded, fighting the instinct to lean into his hand. “This was apology sex?” she quipped, hoping to defuse the tension.
“This is because I can’t keep my hands off you,” his voice rumbled, sending chills along her already supersensitive skin.
“We’ll have to work on that.”
He looked at her for a long time, his gaze exploring every inch of her face. “I’m sorry. I was trying to do what was best for them, for all of us.” He shook his head. “Turns out I don’t know shit. Zach is at Bianca’s right now. I made him come with me to pick up the dress.”
“Why?” she asked, stunned.
“She wouldn’t answer his calls. And they need to talk.” He stroked her cheek again, leaving a trail of fire. “I apologized to Bianca. Now I’m apologizing to you—for hurting you and jeopardizing your friendship.”
She stood up, wrapping herself in the throw draped over the back of the couch. She needed distance between them so she could keep a clear mind. “I trusted you. I don’t do that easily,” she managed. “But I forgive you. I know you love your brother and want what’s best for him. Even if I no longer agree with what we did.” She paused. “Did you know GG married her husband a week after meeting him?”
He shook his head, his eyes searching hers.
“Next to that, Zach and Bianca’s engagement doesn’t seem so rushed,” she murmured. Her family might not understand what love and commitment meant, but she was beginning to. It didn’t matter where she was, in the boardroom or staring at her computer screen, Patton was always on her mind. She wanted him safe. She wanted him happy. Even if he didn’t love her. If this was what Bianca felt—what Zach felt—she wasn’t going to stop them. She drew in a wavering breath. “So maybe it’s possible?”
“That they love each other?” His voice was gruff.
She knew it was possible. It had to be, how else could she feel this way? She loved Patton completely. As scary as that was, it was true. “I...I won’t deprive them of happiness. If they decide they want to go through with it, I’ll support them.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
She blinked, waiting. “Just like that?”
