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When he’d cupped her jaw on Cora’s deck, had lifted her face, his lips drawing close to hers as they formed the wordsyou’re mine, she’d been shocked.
Riveted in place.
Jeremy tolerated her.
Jeremy was annoyed by her.
That he secretly liked her?
Finding that out had sent a thrill through her belly, had filled her with more excitement and happiness than she’d felt in all those years with Sam.
Then the terror had set in.
Then she’d run, just like she was running now.
Because if she stopped, if she gave in and they made a go of things and he…well, if he treated her like he was bound to treat her—
Breakable. Needing protection and safety.
Not an equal. Not a partner.
If she let him in and he didthat—
It wouldhurt.
And he was Jeremy. Taking care of people was his personality, in his DNA…it washim.She couldn’t ask him to change who he was, not for her.
So, anything between them was untenable.
It wouldn’t be fair foreitherof them.
Even if he made her feel something that she hadn’t in years.
Because it would, inevitably, blow up in their faces.
“I know he likes me,” she told Cora as they walked to Rafe’s car. “But I can’t get involved with someone like Jer. I know he’s your brother, and I don’t want to be a dick about it, but swear to Christ, we would be bad for each other.”
Cora stopped.
Which forced Teresa to stop, to look at her friend.
“Why do you say that?”
“I can’t be with someone who wants to control every aspect of my life,” she admitted. “Who needs to have his fingers in every piece of the proverbial pie, who wants to take over, who tries to handle my shit for me. I live my life for me, and I work hard, and Ican’thave someone taking that away from me.”
Cora’s hand came to hers, resting on top of it, squeezing lightly. “I understand, honey. Believe me”—a smile—“I do.”
“Yeah,” Teresa whispered, knowing that Cora, with six annoying older brothers herself, knew how important it was to do things on her own.
She’d fought for that.
She had it.
Because Rafe understood.
He hadn’t taken over. He’d stood by her side.
But Jeremy…hell, Jeremy still tried to drive Cora places, still reminded her to set her alarm and lock her doors and check in the back seat before she got into her car. He offered to talk to an annoying neighbor and take her car in for services and oil changes and…more.
