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He gave me an understanding smile. “I can believe that.”
“But we do what we have to for our kids.”
“That we do.”
He grew quiet for a moment and then came around the counter, holding out a wineglass. After I took it, he captured my hand, laced his fingers with mine, and brought me to the couch. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Talk?” I laughed because the look in his eye said this was something serious, and I didn’t want to talk seriously. I preferred to get hot and bothered. I’d even let him nibble on my toes if we could avoid talking. “I can think of more fun things to do.”
“Yes, I can too, but I think we need to have this conversation.” I tried not to sigh out loud. I really did. It didn’t work, though. “Have a seat.”
I kicked off my sandals and curled my feet under me in the corner of his sofa. He sat toward the middle of the couch and studied me for a moment before he took a long sip from his glass. I didn’t want to have this conversation, so there was no way I would make it easier on him.
“I know you said that you didn’t want a relationship.”
“I did.”
“And I know you said that what we had would end when your kids arrived.”
“I did.”
He paused. “What if it didn’t?”
“Brad, there are reasons for why I said that.”
“What reasons?”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “I can’t be involved with someone right now. Not with having to deal with my kids, my job, coaching,andmy house.”
“But if you were involved with someone, they could help.Icould help.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“You are correct; I don’t know precisely what I am asking for. What I do know is that I like you. I like you a hell of a lot more than I ever thought I would for barely knowing you. I like helping you with things, and we get along better than I have ever gotten along with any woman before. We talk, we laugh, and I’m sure that if the situation arose, we’d cry together too.”
“Brad, my life is not easy. Emmy alone is not easy. I cannot bring you into my life because it’s not just you. You have two kids of your own to think about. It’s not like you’re divorced, and your kids live full time with your estranged spouse, and we’d only have to deal with four kids every other weekend and two weeks in the summer. I will not ask you to take on the stress and frustration that I have dealt with. Not when it will affect not only you, but us as a couple and your children. I won’t ask you to do that.”
“I’m offering, Nolan. You aren’t asking. I want to help.”
Frustration exploded in me, and I uncurled my feet and put them on the floor as I set my wineglass down. “You can’t help this, Brad. I don’t need or want the help with this.”
“Nolan, everyone needs help. I have my family to assist me, but who do you have? I want to fix that. I want to be there for you and your girls.”
I ground my teeth and slowly stood. Brad came to his feet as I skimmed my angry eyes around the room. They landed on my purse before I looked at him and spoke.
“I am not a house that needs fixing, Brad. My family does not need to be fixed. You cannotfixmy children, and I do not need a man in my life tohelpme. I can do itmyself.”
I spun and started to walk away as I fought the urge to cry. I got about two feet before a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.
“Nolan, damn it. Don’t you see how much I care for you? Don’t you see that I’ve fallen for you?”
I pulled my arm from his grasp. “Well, then I guess it’s you that needs fixing from your fall. I’m sorry, Brad, but I was honest with you at the start of all this, and I have not changed my mind.”
I left him gaping at me as I grabbed my purse and hightailed it out of the house.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bradley
