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Except there didn’t seem to be anything manipulative about Brendan right now. Nothing controlled or calm; no mask on his handsome face. Just hope in his eyes, and need, and open emotion.
He stopped short in front of her, breathing hard and holding out the lilies. Sonia opened her mouth to make a joke, an accusation, a sarcastic comment.
Instead, her arms rose, and she hugged him, burying her face in his chest.
His hands came swiftly up her back to pull her into a tight embrace. He was gripping the bouquet behind her, but she could smell the flowers. He kept panting out the same word, shaking as he held her, until she realized it was her name.
And she was saying his in response,moaningit, like it was the only balm that could soothe her parched throat.
“I’m sorry, Bren.” The words were little more than breath. “I’m so sorry I shut you out.”
Panic surged inside her. This was not how this meeting was supposed to go. They were supposed to have a discussion. Hash things out. She was supposed to keep Brendan at arm’s length while she gave him a chance to explain.
But she couldn’t. Not when he felt so good — so right.
“Sonia,” he whispered. “I’m sorry too.”
“I know.”
“I swear that I always wanted to be completely truthful with you. I would have told you. It was just hard.”
“I know.”
“I like you so much and I didn’t want to risk things between us, because you’re—”
“Scary,” she finished.
His laugh rumbled against her cheek. “I was going to say ‘amazing.’ I’m not scared of you.”
“I’m scared ofyou,”she admitted. “I’m scared of us.”
“Don’t be.”
She raised her head to look at him. “Do you want to be together?”
His eyes narrowed. “Yes.Sonia, I want you like I’ve wanted no one else.”
“There are so many reasons why we won’t work,” she protested. Now that she was wrapped in his arms, her arguments began to spill over. “You want to go into politics. You’ll never completely be mine. I’ll have to share you with everyone else. You’ve got shit-slinging and scandals in your future.”
“Trust me, I’ve had enough scandal.”
“You’ll need a partner — awife,someday — who can be a political spouse. That’s a whole job in itself. Public speaking, appearances, schmoozing…all the things I can’t stand. You’ll want someone who will put your career before hers. I won’t do that, Bren.”
“I don’t want that.” Brendan’s voice was rough. “I want you.”
“You might change your mind.”
“I won’t.” He took her face in his hands. “Sonia, we both want influence. We want to make change. We can do that together. We’re even stronger as a couple than apart.” He laughed a little. “I know I’m stronger with you. I need you, Sonia. You make me want to be a better man.”
She felt dizzy. “I need you too,” she whispered. “But I also need to be alone sometimes. You don’t like being alone.”
“I’ll learn to deal with it.”
“You want people around all the time, and parties, andattention.”
Brendan snorted with laughter. “Your attention is more than enough for me. And I’ll go to parties when you decide you want alone time. It’s a win-win. You might even want to come once in a while.”
“It won’t be so simple.”
