freezing.”
“I’m kind of cold, too.” Why, she wondered, was she suddenly so insanely nervous around him when she’d managed to hold her own with him all day? Maybe it was because he knew her secrets now, and hearing what she’d been through had seemed to change something for him. But what? Anxious to end the introspection that was making her nuts, she settled on the other loveseat and decided to ask the one question that would take the focus off her. “So how’d it go with Abby?”
“Fine.”
Stephanie waited to see if he’d elaborate.
He ran his hand up and down the faded length of denim that covered his thigh. “We had a nice chat. I think I’m finally getting that it’s over with her.”
“Sorry.”
He zeroed in on her with those intense blue eyes. “Are you?”
Stunned by the direct question, she stared back at him. “I, um…”
“Tell me the truth. Are you really sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I asked first.”
Stephanie had no idea what she should say or do. Would it be wise to tell him the truth? That she was glad his relationship with Abby was officially over? Or should she tell him she had no interest in being his rebound girl? Was this her chance to have something more with him? Or was he just trying to get her to admit she liked him as more than a friend so he could let her down easily?
And why was she even contemplating “more” with him—whatever that would entail—when she had no business looking for more with any guy? She already had enough to deal with.
“No need to overthink it,” he said. “It’s a yes or no question. Are you really sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“
That’s
hardly a yes or no question.” In need of fortification, Stephanie yearned for a stiff drink. “The more important question is whether
you’re
sorry that you and Abby are done.”
“Of course I’m sorry. I had a good thing with her, and I was too stupid and self-absorbed to realize it until I didn’t have it anymore.”
“I think—” Stephanie stopped herself before she ventured into territory that qualified as none of her business.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Just say it, Steph. You’ve shared every other thought that’s popped into your head where I’m concerned.”
Oh no I haven’t
, she thought, affected once again by his casual use of her nickname. “It’s just …if she was ‘the one’ for you, the one you were meant to be with, don’t you think you would’ve noticed she was unhappy?”
“Probably,” he said with a grim set to his mouth. “It bothers me that she was unhappy enough to pack up and move back here after five years with me in LA—and I didn’t even
get it
until she was gone. And even then it took me another year to fully wake up and realize she was truly gone. By then, she was already engaged to Cal.”
“It bothers you that you hurt her like that.”
“Hell yes, it bothers me. I took her and our relationship totally for granted. I expected that once I pulled my head out of my ass, she’d still be there waiting like always. It was a bit of a shock to wake up a year ago and discover she wasn’t waiting around anymore for me to get a clue.”
“I suppose all you can do now is learn from it and move on. She hasn’t given you much choice about that.”
He studied his folded hands for a long moment before he shifted his potent gaze to her. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Which one?”
“Why aren’t you sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“Oh, that one.”
“Yes, that one.” The quirk of amusement that touched his sexy mouth told her he was enjoying putting her on the spot. “Everyone thinks you and I are together, you know.”
Stephanie nearly choked on her own spit. “Who’s everyone?”
“My brothers, Luke, Ned, Abby… They all said something about us dancing together last night and showing up at the party together
“I’m kind of cold, too.” Why, she wondered, was she suddenly so insanely nervous around him when she’d managed to hold her own with him all day? Maybe it was because he knew her secrets now, and hearing what she’d been through had seemed to change something for him. But what? Anxious to end the introspection that was making her nuts, she settled on the other loveseat and decided to ask the one question that would take the focus off her. “So how’d it go with Abby?”
“Fine.”
Stephanie waited to see if he’d elaborate.
He ran his hand up and down the faded length of denim that covered his thigh. “We had a nice chat. I think I’m finally getting that it’s over with her.”
“Sorry.”
He zeroed in on her with those intense blue eyes. “Are you?”
Stunned by the direct question, she stared back at him. “I, um…”
“Tell me the truth. Are you really sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I asked first.”
Stephanie had no idea what she should say or do. Would it be wise to tell him the truth? That she was glad his relationship with Abby was officially over? Or should she tell him she had no interest in being his rebound girl? Was this her chance to have something more with him? Or was he just trying to get her to admit she liked him as more than a friend so he could let her down easily?
And why was she even contemplating “more” with him—whatever that would entail—when she had no business looking for more with any guy? She already had enough to deal with.
“No need to overthink it,” he said. “It’s a yes or no question. Are you really sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“
That’s
hardly a yes or no question.” In need of fortification, Stephanie yearned for a stiff drink. “The more important question is whether
you’re
sorry that you and Abby are done.”
“Of course I’m sorry. I had a good thing with her, and I was too stupid and self-absorbed to realize it until I didn’t have it anymore.”
“I think—” Stephanie stopped herself before she ventured into territory that qualified as none of her business.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Just say it, Steph. You’ve shared every other thought that’s popped into your head where I’m concerned.”
Oh no I haven’t
, she thought, affected once again by his casual use of her nickname. “It’s just …if she was ‘the one’ for you, the one you were meant to be with, don’t you think you would’ve noticed she was unhappy?”
“Probably,” he said with a grim set to his mouth. “It bothers me that she was unhappy enough to pack up and move back here after five years with me in LA—and I didn’t even
get it
until she was gone. And even then it took me another year to fully wake up and realize she was truly gone. By then, she was already engaged to Cal.”
“It bothers you that you hurt her like that.”
“Hell yes, it bothers me. I took her and our relationship totally for granted. I expected that once I pulled my head out of my ass, she’d still be there waiting like always. It was a bit of a shock to wake up a year ago and discover she wasn’t waiting around anymore for me to get a clue.”
“I suppose all you can do now is learn from it and move on. She hasn’t given you much choice about that.”
He studied his folded hands for a long moment before he shifted his potent gaze to her. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Which one?”
“Why aren’t you sorry that Abby and I are done?”
“Oh, that one.”
“Yes, that one.” The quirk of amusement that touched his sexy mouth told her he was enjoying putting her on the spot. “Everyone thinks you and I are together, you know.”
Stephanie nearly choked on her own spit. “Who’s everyone?”
“My brothers, Luke, Ned, Abby… They all said something about us dancing together last night and showing up at the party together
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