Page 47 of Tender Temptation

”Ican’t, Ivy.” His eyes fill with tears as he picks up the sheet and wraps it around me. “I don’t want to touch you.I don’t want you. Being with you makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong. I can’t keep feeling this way. It’s too much.”

Undeterred, I grab his hand and press it to my breast. “Stop. Look atme. Look at who Iam, not my age. We can make this work.Please, Cillian. Don’t give up on us.”

“Stop!“ He pulls his hand away, his voice breaking with emotion. “Please. I do not want to hurt you any more than necessary, but I need you to get dressed and go.I. Don’t. Want. You.”

Stunned, I stumble back. His words finally register and hit me like a physical blow. Sobbing and humiliated, I gather my clothes, hastily dress and run for the door. Cillian watches me from the kitchen, but he makes no move to stop me.

I reach the elevator and glance back one last time, hoping for a miracle, but his back is turned.

Then I know. It’s over. My lies have ruined the best thing I’ll ever have.

Bawling my eyes out in the elevator on the way down, my heart aches with the finality of it all. The door closes, cuttingoff my view of him, and I collapse against the wall. The love we shared, the future we could have shared…it’s all gone. I have no idea how I’ll move on. I willneverforget him. How could I? I’ll always carry a piece of him with me. Losing him will haunt me forever because I can’t imagine loving anyone like I love Cillian.

Now, I’m left with nothing but the pain of what could have been.

What am I going to do?

The ride down feels like an eternity. Once I reach the lobby, though, my upbringing kicks in. I force myself to stand tall and wipe away my tears. It’s time to be strong. For myself. For the future I must face without the man I love.

As I step outside, the noise and bustle of people around me barely registers. On my way back to the car, I replay our emotional breakup over and over in my mind. Each word slices me to the bone. I try to push the memories of our summer to the recesses of my mind and nearly run into a guy who cuts me off on the way into his office building. God, how can he be having a normal day? I’m stuck in an endless loop of heartbreak and regret.

Then it hits me. I can’t stay here. Not in Seattle. Not surrounded by all these memories. I have to get away from everything that reminds me of him.

I’m not going to Stanford. I’m not running Bright Shipping because I certainly can’t risk running into Cillian during the building process.

The only thing I can do is take control. Make big changes in my life.

I’m getting the fuck out of town.

No one, not even my father, is going to force me do anything I don’t want to do.

Ever again.

twenty-two

Cillian

Six Months Later

Burying myself in workhasn’t made me forget her.

It’s quite the opposite, actually. Especially because I see her father every goddamn day. A constant reminder of my loss and my shame.

Six months have crawled by since I told her to leave, but Ivy’s reaction is seared into my memory. Her turquoise eyes wide with shock, gorgeous face twisted in utter devastation. I can still hear her wracking sobs. Feel the weight of her heartbreak.

I crushed the only woman I’ve ever loved into dust. The guilt gnaws at me relentlessly, which makes me drink myself to sleep at night. Each morning, I wake up hating myself more.

Familiar sounds of construction echo around me—jackhammers, cranes, the chatter of workers. It’s been a long fucking day in the freezing cold, but there’s much work to be done and a deadline looming. Bright Shipping’s headquarters is slated for demolition soon, and the endless last-minute bullshit red tape to handle drives me crazy.

Peter Vander approaches with a clipboard in hand. “Here are the latest environmental reports. We’ve got a meeting with the city inspector early tomorrow morning to, hopefully, finalize everything.”

“Thanks. I’m ready. The last thing we need is a delay.” I skim through the documents feeling confident we’ll work through the issue.

As we stroll around the building, which has been cleared out, Peter and I discuss the demolition schedule when we run into Stanley Bright. He’s a daunting figure, always impeccably groomed and dressed in a tailored suit. For obvious reasons, I’m never fully comfortable around the man, but I try to hide it.

“Good morning, gentlemen.” Stanley’s booming voice commands attention. “I’m ready for the progress report.”

I purposely meet his gaze. “We’re on track for the demolition, Mr. Bright. Just finalizing a few environmental concerns.”

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