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“Life isn’t fair, Toni,” Maddox said. “And we like you. We like you very much.”
“And you like us, too. Don’t you?” Zane leaned in close again, and she almost expected him to kiss her.
God, please kiss me again. “I can’t make any promises that I will ever change my mind. It’s crazy, but it’s how I feel right now.”
They both smiled.
“Right now?” Zane nodded. “But maybe you’ll feel differently later.”
“I don’t know if I—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Shh. It’s okay. No expectations. You told us the truth.”
“Not all of it,” she confessed, and immediately wondered if that had been a mistake. Better to let the past stay in the past. That had been her dad’s motto about old issues that were impossible to fix. God, I miss him. He was the only man who had never let her down, the only man she had ever really trusted.
“What’s all of it?” Maddox asked.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not ready to tell you the rest of my story yet. I hate to sound like a broken record, but I may never be ready—to tell you everything or to go on a date with you.” Still being held by Zane, she looked from his rich, green eyes to Maddox’s, which were identical in color. “I just don’t want to—”
“It’s okay,” Zane said. “Maddox told you the truth about how he feels for you. Now listen to me, sweetheart, and let me tell you how I feel. I’m crazy about you. However long it takes for Maddox and me to convince you to go out with us…that’s how long we’ll keep asking. Good night.” He kissed her tenderly for a brief moment, leaving her wanting more.
When he released her, Maddox pressed his lips lightly to hers for a little kiss, creating more desire inside her. More than anything she wanted them to continue kissing her.
But Maddox stepped back, letting go of her lips, which were trembling like mad. “Good night, sweetheart.”
There was that word again. Sweetheart. Zane had called her that and now Maddox had, too. It made her feel so special and wanted.
Without another word, the Kavanaghs turned and walked back to the restaurant.
Toni got in her car and shut the door. Smiling, she brought her hands up to her cheeks, which were hot to the touch.
Maybe Izzy and Cami are right. One date. What harm can it be?
But an image of her ex appeared in her mind, and she closed her eyes tight.
No. I can’t. I’ll never give that power to anyone again. Not again.
She drove to her house, more conflicted than she’d ever been. Why was she being so ridiculous? Maddox and Zane were terrific guys. They’d given her no reason to doubt them. But neither had her ex. Even though in her heart she knew it was wrong to compare the past with the present or to compare Maddox and Zane’s actions to Peter’s, she couldn’t help herself.
Chapter Five
Toni hit the clicker to her garage door opener but nothing happened. Damn. She’d forgotten it still wasn’t working—like so many other things that needed attention at home. Too many things. Too many expensive things. Putting the boys through college was putting a strain on her budget, but it didn’t matter. Joel and Restin were her priority.
She got out of Angel, leaving her parked in the driveway for the time being. She’d have to open the garage door manually from the inside. But first, she wanted to be by her computer for the Skype call she was excited about.
Yes. Joel and Restin are my priority. Dating life can come after they graduate.
Tasha, her black lab, greeted her at the door.
“Hey, girl. Did you hold down the fort?” She put down her purse, kicked off her shoes, and walked to the computer desk in the living room. Before leaving for college her boys had encouraged her to turn their bedroom into an office but she’d refused. “You’ll be home during breaks and holidays. It’s your room until you are on your own.”
The little two-bedroom house had two mortgages but her name was on the deed. It was tough to get by and pay the two loans, the insurance, and taxes, but she managed. She knew what it meant to be homeless, and had vowed to never let that happen again.
She poured herself a glass of wine and settled down at her computer, but inside she was far from settled. Inside she was still reeling from Maddox and Zane’s kisses. She ran her fingers over her lips.
God, it had felt so good to be kissed. So very good. It had been so long since she’d felt that excitement. Probably since high school.
She clicked on the Skype icon and looked at the time in the upper right-hand corner of her screen. Ten minutes until her boys’ call. They were her life. They were what mattered most. So what if she had to sacrifice a chance at a real relationship? But was she only using her two boys as an excuse, like Izzy and Cami believed, to avoid getting hurt again? The more she thought about it the more twisted up she became.
