Red Red Wine (Tastes of Seduction) by Jess Dee

letting every iota of her disdain shine through her eyes.
    Declan collapsed onto the couch. He placed his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands, and shook his head in defeat. “Christ, Tor, I’m so sorry. For everything.” The hoarseness in his tone told her that sorrow was very real. “I fucked up.”
    Yeah, he had. Monumentally.
    “In a really big way,” he said, mirroring her thoughts. “I’m sorry.” He lifted his head to look at her. “I should have told you. Should have spoken to you about this before now.”
    Gee, ya think? Keeping her expression impassive, Tori nodded.
    “I hate that you stumbled on the truth. That was never meant to happen. I swear, I was going to tell you tonight.” He waved his hand over his shoulder. “Last night. I’d planned to lay it on the table and discuss everything with you. Finally be honest.”
    Tori squared her shoulders. “Can we get to the point? It’s late. I’m tired. You don’t want to be here, and I don’t want you here.” Not anymore, anyway. Less than twelve hours ago, she couldn’t wait to see him. “Tell me what you would have said and then let me get some sleep, okay?” Was that her voice? That distant tone that implied she couldn’t care less what he had to say? It was a miracle she’d been able to draw enough breath to speak at all, never mind keep her cool so magnificently.
    “Of course.” Declan nodded in concession. “I was going to tell you it was over. I was going to call off the wedding.”
    She smiled thinly. “And your timing would have been impeccable, wouldn’t it? A few days before the wedding. When the entire family had already gathered at the hotel to help us celebrate.”
    “My timing is fucked up.” To Declan’s credit, he didn’t look away. He held her gaze while he spoke, letting her see the shame and the regret in his eyes. “I should have spoken up earlier. Voiced my doubts weeks ago when I started having them. I didn’t, and that’s my bad.”
    Tremors shook Tori’s stomach. “Doubts?” Of course he’d had them, or he’d never have pulled out of the marriage. Still, knowing he’d had them and hearing him voice them were very different.
    “About us. Concerns that we weren’t strong enough to make it in the long run.” Declan clicked his jaw, something he did when he was stressed. Tori had always found the habit endearing. Now it just irritated her. “Here’s the thing, Tor. I love you. I probably always will, but… But I’m not in love with you. And much as I wish I saw a future together, I don’t. Not a happy future.”
    Anger flashed through her, scalding her insides. “Yet six months ago you asked me to marry you. Told me you’d never been happier or more content. Told me we could accomplish whatever we wanted in life, so long as we did it together.” And she’d believed him, fool that she was.
    “I was wrong. Christ knows, I wish I wasn’t…” He shrugged helplessly. “We’re too different. We want different things in life. You’re a homebody, happy to spend all your time with your friends and your family, happy with your work and the kids you teach, satisfied with everything you’ve achieved. And that’s great. For you. But me?” He shook his head. “Jesus, I hate my goddamned family. Every one of them. Spending time with them makes my skin crawl. I hate being at home, knowing there are opportunities to be had out there. And my work? Fuck knows, I’m never satisfied with anything I’ve done. I just want to achieve more, more, more.”
    “Differences aren’t a bad thing, Declan. If we were too similar, we’d bore each other to death.”
    Really, Tori? You’re arguing with him? What on earth was she hoping to achieve?
    She knew. She wanted to prove him wrong, so he’d realize he was giving up the best damn thing that had ever happened to him. Not so they’d get back together. No, Declan had ruined any chance of that ever happening. This was her vain attempt at preserving