Page 262 of Sweet Temptation

The man was a protector, almost to a fault.

He’d done what she’d asked of him, to protect her, no matter how it inconvenienced him or even hurt him. I could see it—it did hurt him. It hurt to be used.

It hurt his pride and it probably hurt his faith in humanity. His belief that there were people who would truly love him without trying to take advantage of his innate goodness. His selflessness.

“You’re amazing, Ronan,” I told him.

“Don’t feel so amazing right now,” he confessed. “I feel like I’m fucking up the most romantic moment of your life.”

“You’re not.”

“I wish I’d told you sooner.”

“Just tell me now, so I can understand. You never felt the need to divorce her ass, so the awkward I’m-married-to-a-lesbian conversation didn’t have to come up on dates?”

“Well, I pretty much avoided that conversation on dates.”

“You don’t say.”

“The thing is… I just never got anywhere close enough in another relationship to even consider getting married again, so it never seemed urgent to press her for a divorce.”

“Until last year?”

“She asked me for a divorce last year. She met someone, and they wanted to get married.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope.”

“Please tell me you didn’t go to the wedding.”

“I didn’t. I don’t hold a grudge. But I didn’t go.”

“Glad to hear it. On both counts.”

He took both of my hands in his. “I’m not angry about any of that, Summer. There was a time, sure. But that’s history. I’m not heartbroken, either. I married her when I was too young to know who I was and what I needed. I know who I am now.”

“Good.”

“And the man I am is fucking crazy about you. That was obvious to me, right from the start. I didn’t even have a chance.”

I couldn’t help it; I grinned.

“I’ve never doubted that I could love you,” he went on. “The only doubt I ever had was about whether or not I could do my job and be in love with you at the same time.”

“Of course you can,” I said. “You’re doing it right now.”

“Fuck, I love you.”

He leaned in and kissed me. And when he deepened the kiss, I could’ve lost myself in it…

But I pulled away, grinning. “So. Now I know you were once married to a lesbian…”

He groaned.

“Though I suppose that’s off-limits for casual cocktail party conversation?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

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