pushing the horrendously shameful memories away. She’d alienated herself from her parents, her boyfriend and most of her friends in one awful day. Not to mention losing the scholarship.
Coming back to New Orleans was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she didn’t regret the move for a moment.
“And now that this weekend has morphed into the party that just won’t stop growing, this is a massive opportunity for Rainstorm Games,” she said. “And, hence, Colin. The added publicity is also good for my business.”
She took a deep breath and met Matt’s gaze again, forcing the words out. “I can’t pull off doing my job and sorting through—” she gestured her hand between the two of them “—this, whatever this is, at the same time.”
A hush descended in her bathroom, and the pause felt big enough to swallow her whole. In fact, she kind of wished it would.
Matt set the gauze on the counter and stepped closer, and her awareness of him increased to distracting levels. “You’re telling me that you’re going to let your guilt keep you from enjoying our time together?”
“It’s not guilt.”
God, she hated that word. She’d spent the first few years back in New Orleans drowning in a murky sea of remorse. She’d promised herself, promised, she’d have nothing more to do with the emotion. But still...
Matt cocked his head and continued to say nothing, and the burn in her belly brought a frown to her mouth.
Damn.
“Okay,” she said. “Maybe I do have some leftover guilt.”
She hated admitting that to herself, much less to Matt. It was bad enough her parents still brought up her moment of shame, reminding her of all she’d done. She’d been struggling for years to prove to her parents she’d successfully moved on. And how disappointing to realize she’d subjected herself to the same treatment, even if unconsciously done.
Callie sighed and rubbed her forehead. There were better ways to spend her time than to engage in endless self-flagellation.
“From what you told me, you’re partially responsible for bringing him and his wife together,” Matt said. “Shouldn’t a happy ending release you from your debt?”
“I can’t screw up this wedding and the promotional event—”
“You won’t,” he said, stepping so close she could see those beautiful flecks in his eyes.
“See?” Heart doing crazy somersaults in her chest, she pressed back against the cabinet. “I can’t think when I’m so distracted.”
He lifted a hand to her face. “First, I’ll be happy to provide lessons on how to remain focused despite distractions. I think the fact that I’m capable of holding this conversation with you...alone...in your condo...a bed just a room away, proves my point. Second, if I promise to let you get plenty of sleep tonight, will that convince you?”
The conflicting desires—the need to prove herself and the need to feel Matt’s hands on her again—went to war in her head again. If she cut out all the bare essentials, she could do this. Her gaze dropped to the T-shirt stretched across Matt’s chest, hugging the lean muscles beneath. How much sleep did one need, anyway?
“I think you sold me when you mentioned the lessons,” she said.
“Good.” The sexy smirk on his face just about did her in, and he stepped back. “Just so we’re clear, I’m going to clean up your cut and take you to bed. So if you still have a problem with that, you need to let me know now.”
How could he say those words so calmly? Especially with her pulse striving to achieve record rates? The man had stated his plans to take care of her injury and take her to bed, both declarations delivered with the same nonchalant tone as if the two activities were somehow on the same par with each other. She envied his ability to pull the coolly collected demeanor off.
She felt the need to throw him off guard, to keep him on his toes.
“Just so we’re clear... ” Now that the matter had been decided,
Coming back to New Orleans was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she didn’t regret the move for a moment.
“And now that this weekend has morphed into the party that just won’t stop growing, this is a massive opportunity for Rainstorm Games,” she said. “And, hence, Colin. The added publicity is also good for my business.”
She took a deep breath and met Matt’s gaze again, forcing the words out. “I can’t pull off doing my job and sorting through—” she gestured her hand between the two of them “—this, whatever this is, at the same time.”
A hush descended in her bathroom, and the pause felt big enough to swallow her whole. In fact, she kind of wished it would.
Matt set the gauze on the counter and stepped closer, and her awareness of him increased to distracting levels. “You’re telling me that you’re going to let your guilt keep you from enjoying our time together?”
“It’s not guilt.”
God, she hated that word. She’d spent the first few years back in New Orleans drowning in a murky sea of remorse. She’d promised herself, promised, she’d have nothing more to do with the emotion. But still...
Matt cocked his head and continued to say nothing, and the burn in her belly brought a frown to her mouth.
Damn.
“Okay,” she said. “Maybe I do have some leftover guilt.”
She hated admitting that to herself, much less to Matt. It was bad enough her parents still brought up her moment of shame, reminding her of all she’d done. She’d been struggling for years to prove to her parents she’d successfully moved on. And how disappointing to realize she’d subjected herself to the same treatment, even if unconsciously done.
Callie sighed and rubbed her forehead. There were better ways to spend her time than to engage in endless self-flagellation.
“From what you told me, you’re partially responsible for bringing him and his wife together,” Matt said. “Shouldn’t a happy ending release you from your debt?”
“I can’t screw up this wedding and the promotional event—”
“You won’t,” he said, stepping so close she could see those beautiful flecks in his eyes.
“See?” Heart doing crazy somersaults in her chest, she pressed back against the cabinet. “I can’t think when I’m so distracted.”
He lifted a hand to her face. “First, I’ll be happy to provide lessons on how to remain focused despite distractions. I think the fact that I’m capable of holding this conversation with you...alone...in your condo...a bed just a room away, proves my point. Second, if I promise to let you get plenty of sleep tonight, will that convince you?”
The conflicting desires—the need to prove herself and the need to feel Matt’s hands on her again—went to war in her head again. If she cut out all the bare essentials, she could do this. Her gaze dropped to the T-shirt stretched across Matt’s chest, hugging the lean muscles beneath. How much sleep did one need, anyway?
“I think you sold me when you mentioned the lessons,” she said.
“Good.” The sexy smirk on his face just about did her in, and he stepped back. “Just so we’re clear, I’m going to clean up your cut and take you to bed. So if you still have a problem with that, you need to let me know now.”
How could he say those words so calmly? Especially with her pulse striving to achieve record rates? The man had stated his plans to take care of her injury and take her to bed, both declarations delivered with the same nonchalant tone as if the two activities were somehow on the same par with each other. She envied his ability to pull the coolly collected demeanor off.
She felt the need to throw him off guard, to keep him on his toes.
“Just so we’re clear... ” Now that the matter had been decided,
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