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Her comment spurred him to action. Jaw rigid as though he ground his teeth into nubs, Tobias took slow, deliberate steps toward her. Joss backed up, the trembling inside her growing.
“I’m not afraid to be near you. Why would you think that?”
“You always seem…uncomfortable around me.”
He took in her quivering stance with a sweep of his gaze. “The same is true of you.”
“Only because you glare at me all the time.”
“With good reason. MaybeI’muncomfortable because I don’t like thinking of you as a sacrificial lamb willing to sell herself for a ring and a bank account to make Daddy happy.”
“Howdareyou!”
“Admit it. Harry wants a toehold in the Tulane family, and you’re his ticket. Am I wrong?”
Her back hit the wall. She swallowed at the abrupt end of her retreat and hated the expression of superiority on his face. “Is that why you’re friends with Garret? Becauseyou’reusing him?”
She knew in an instant she’d said the wrong thing, but it was too late to take the words back. Tobias closed the remaining distance between them, not stopping until he stood so close she could see the gold flecks in the burnt sienna in his eyes, such a beautiful amber. Garret was more handsome by far, but Tobias—
He braced a hand on the wall beside her head, his body blocking her escape. “He’s going to ask you to marry him soon, and it kills me to think that you might say yes just to make your father happy.”
The words came out an angry growl, and a sizzle of excitement raced down her spine. This was the man she’d seen in the teenager she’d known. Angry, driven to right injustices, determined to protect those he loved and valued as friends.Passionate.What would it be like to be the object of that passion?
Scalding heat rushed into her cheeks.
“You want to know what I think? I think you’ve avoided Garret for months because it’s starting to dawn on you that there’s more to life than always doing what your daddy says and being Garret’s eye candy. First it was charity work and finishing your art degree. You even used Garret’s work schedule as an excuse. Now it’s the gallery.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Garret and I are both busy and my life is none of your business. Why do you care?”
“Because he’s my friend. Because he never treated me like I was second best and I’d hate to see him wind up in a second-rate marriage.”
Staring at Tobias, she lost the ability to breathe.
Was it true? Heaven knew her father would overlook a lot of things, but he’d never forgive her if she ruined her future with Garret and the running of his precious hospital.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what’swrongwith me,” she said again. “Garret is…He’s wonderful. He’s smart and kind and giving. So handsome.” She held eye contact with him, pleading with him to understand. “But sometimes he drives mecrazy,” she admitted, her voice shaking. “He sings these godawful ditties that don’t make sense, and he always has a pen in his hand that he won’t stopclicking.And when he kisses me, it’s like he’s afraid I’m going to break. Iwon’tbreak. I’m not some kind of china doll too expensive to play with and I want—I wantmore!”
She stared up at him, horrified at what she’d said. And to Garret’s best friend? But Tobias listened to her every word. As if he heard her,really heard her.
Breathing hard, she dropped her gaze to his mouth and she didn’t stop to think of the consequences. Desire singed her veins, the same desire reflected in his eyes. In the flaring of his nostrils when he realized her intent. But he didn’t move away. No, as she flung herself against him and pressed her mouth over his, he groaned, but he didn’t back away.
A second, that’s all he gave her before he took control. Not a soft gentle kiss but one that rocked her head back with the force of it. She moaned when his tongue swept inside to stroke. It was rough and fast and just what she needed. She was bombarded from every direction. The taste and feel of him as he flattened her to the wall with his body, the ache in her breasts as they pressed against his chest. Through his open coat and clothes, her suit, she felt him and she liked it. The steely strength and heat, the rock-hard body she wanted to rub against.
All from a kiss? One that used teeth and tongue and created too much need, whip-fast pleasure that made her want to forget everything else. Her father and Garret and the ring she knew would be beautiful.
Lost, wanting to be taken wherever this led, wanting tofeelone last time before having to face the numbness of regular, everyday life, she kissed him back, seeking, finding a white-hot passion guaranteed to send her soaring. But at what cost?
The thought brought painful clarity, instantaneous regret. The raw wound inside her opened up as though split by a bolt of lightning. She jerked out of Tobias’s arms and slid sideways along the wall, watching as comprehension dawned on his face.
What had she done? Not only to herself but to Tobias? He was Garret’s bestfriend.And Garret—Oh, Garret.
Glaring at her, Tobias spat out a curse so full of disgust with her and the situation she’d created, the boundary they’d crossed, she flinched and closed her eyes, didn’t open them again until she heard him slam into the stairwell.
Her hand over her mouth, she leaned against the wall, rubbing to remove the feel of him, but only managing to taste him more.Stupidwas messing up a good thing, kissing her boyfriend’s best friend.
