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“I know enough.”
“Hmm.”
Sawyer wasn’t wrong, which was the worst part about all of this. He’d clearly seen through Tom and figured out in one day what had taken me a year to realize.
If Tom had begged me to stay in Hartford, I wouldn’t have. But at least I’d have known he wanted me. I certainly hadn’t expected him to follow me here, or even suggest such a thing. Which now that I thought about it, seemed like an obvious sign it wasn’t working.
But all of that was for me to figure out later. At the moment, I stood toe to toe with my obscenely attractive neighbor who was saying disparaging things about Tom and my stubborn side didn’t want to admit he was right. My hormonal side wanted him to push me up against the wall and kiss me like there was no tomorrow. But that wasn’t realistic.
“I think you need to reassess this relationship of yours,” he said after a minute of intense staring.
“That’s really not any of your business.”
“Oh, it’s not?”
“Is it? I don’t recall you ever staking a claim.”
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed as he took another step closer.
“Well, I don’t see you rushing to disagree with me.”
I threw my hands up and backed away. “There it is. You changed the subject, how convenient.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do, Hannah? You’re taken. I can hardly admit it now.”
My eyes flew to his. “Admit what?”
He stared back at me, his eyes imploring me to understand. About a million words passed between us. I could feel it in my bones. I didn’t need him to say it first. I realized that now.
I took a deep breath. “I broke up with Tom before I got to Moon Harbor. I’ve known for a while now that it wasn’t working. Should have done it a year ago, but I was too scared of change, or afraid to…” I stopped myself from trying to justify it. “Anyway, his coming here was a total shock. I didn’t invite him. He’s spent the last year ignoring me, consumed by work. I never expected him to care about the breakup, let alone follow me here.”
Sawyer was quiet. I knew what I wanted him to say, but wasn’t going to force it. Just because I was single now didn’t mean anything. In fact, it could push him away faster, scare him off. Maybe the idea of my having a boyfriend allowed him to feel there was a barrier between us. And he didn’t have to be the one to construct it.
But then he closed the gap between us. Our bodies touched, our breaths mingled, as he leaned his head down. His hand came up to rest on the side of my neck, his thumb caressing my chin so softly I thought I might have imagined it.
But that’s all he did. He didn’t move even a millimeter closer. He didn’t utter a single word. I was overthinking. I knew it. But his silence was driving me crazy and I couldn’t take it anymore.
I pulled away, taking a step back, watching his hand linger in the air, my skin icy from his absence.
“If you don’t have anything to say about that, then you can leave. I’ll deal with Tom when he gets back.”
“Doc…”
I turned and crossed the room, busying my hands with folding up the blanket on the sofa. “Don’t worry about it. Really.” I smiled, acutely aware I probably looked like a clown. “I can handle him.” I knew that’s not what this was about, but two could play at this avoidance game.
Sawyer’s heavy footsteps approached, but before he could reach me, the door opened. Tom was back. How lovely.
“Found a charger at the grocery store. Did you know they don’t have any kind of mall around here? Luckily they let me use an outlet for a few minutes to get this up and running.”
Tom breezed in, scrolling through his newly-charged phone and completely oblivious to the strangled tension in the room.God, how had I put up with him for so long?
“See you later,” I said, encouraging Sawyer to leave, because if I had to put up with both of them in the same room for too long, my head might explode.
Sawyer stared daggers at Tom, who hadn’t even spared him a glance. When he turned back to me, his face was just as menacing. But in an entirely different way.
His eyes looked me up and down, and there was no mistaking his thoughts now. Of course, I’d try to justify it to myself. Not believe it until he truly took action or used his words. But there was no mistaking it.
With one carnal look, Sawyer Banks claimed me.
