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“Everything.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not writing those letters. Not coming to see you after the concert.”
She eased her hand free.
“Sure, I get that you had other stuff going on. I guess I just thought if ever there came a time you and I were near each other again, we would make the effort to connect.”
“Ten years, Bailey. How did I even know if you’d still remember me?”
“Did you forget me?”
He blew out a breath, which was answer enough.
“I was wrong, all right. I’m sorry.”
He looked confused and angry. Good, she was feeling some of those herself right now.
“Leave it alone now, Joe. We’re tired, and I’m feeling a bit raw from today. I need to get some sleep.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“But I want to.”
“At least promise you’ll call if you wake upset—at any time. Better yet, tell Clod to go, and come home with me. I want to get my shirt back.”
She nearly gave in. The urge to feel his hands on her again was huge, but she had to be strong. She couldn’t allow herself to need him, not when she had no idea where she was going to end up. Now was the time, Bailey realized, to back away, and find out what her next step could be. Joe Trainer, Bailey knew, could really hurt her if she let him.
“I have to go, Joe. Clark is waiting.”
He pulled her close as she turned to leave, then kissed her. It was brief, but still... the man could kiss.
“I-I need to go.”
His sigh was loud.
“I hate the feeling that you’re leaving angry with me, which is pretty pathetic after what you’ve been through today, and the fact that Elijah’s family are mourning him right now. But I don’t feel rational around you, Bailey.”
“Joe—”
“You’re important to me, dammit!”
She didn’t know what to say to that.
“Do you understand that? Understand that you matter to me?” His face was serious, eyes focused on her.
“I can’t deal with this now, Joe. It’s all too much. I need to go.”
“Running never solved anything, Bailey. And it won’t solve this... what’s between us. Plus, there’s the fact that if you run, I will follow.”
“What?” Bailey had been in the process of turning away from him, but his words had her facing him again. His big body was tense, T-shirt stretched across his shoulders. The man had no right to be that hot.
“You heard me. I’m not letting you walk away from this, Bailey.”
“I-I don’t know what this is, Joe. We seem to either hurt or lo—like each other. Everything about us is volatile.”
“Because we need to spend time getting to know each other again. I don’t know what this is either, but I want to find out.”
“I have to g-go.” Bailey turned and ran down the steps. Exhaling as she reached the bottom. Clark was waiting in the car, engine running.
They drove in silence out of the drive while Bailey grappled with what Joe had just said.
