Page 17 of On the Wild Side

She tilts her head to the side. “Why?”

I have to pace, so I do. “You’re under my skin. I can’t fucking shake you. You’re always justthere.At events with my family, hanging out with my sisters?—”

“If it makes you uncomfortable that I come to family events when invited, I’ll stay away from them, Brady. It’syourfamily.”

“It wouldn’t matter,” I explode, shaking my head. “Because you’re still here.”

I point to my head.

“I’ve stayed away for weeks, as you pointed out. I’ve buried myself in work, freezing my balls off out there in the goddamn snow. And you’re still there.”

I shake my head and pace some more.

“Hell, after you left tonight, I came into town and went to The Wolf Den. Thought I’d get a beer, and low and behold, there’s Jen.”

“Who’s Jen?”

“My fuck buddy.” I turn to look at her, and she flinches as if I’ve just hit her. “Formerfuck buddy. She invited me to her place, and I went.”

“How nice for you. I’m going to ask you to leave now.”

“No.” I shake my head, frustrated all over again.

“Yeah, you’re going to want to go. I don’t want to hear about how you fucked Jen tonight, Brady. We’re not friends like that.”

“I didn’t fuck her!” I throw my hands up in the air. “Icouldn’t. I didn’t have any desire to. I don’t want Jen, and I made it perfectly clear that I will never be doing that with her again.”

Abbi’s eyes narrow as she watches me.

“So, you want me to console you after a breakup?”

“Jesus,” I mutter and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m messing this up.”

“I don’t even know whatthisis, Brady.”

“I wantyou.” The fight has gone out of me now, and I drop into the chair directly across from her. “I want you so fucking bad that everything aches, but I can’t have you, Abs.”

“Why not?” She tosses the throw aside and sits forward on the couch. “I haven’t said no.”

“I’m not a good bet.” I shake my head and push my hand through my hair, suddenly feeling really fucking nervous. “I can’t make a commitment to you, and you’re amom.Daisy’s already way too attached to me, and I wouldneverwant to hurt her. I don’t want to hurt either of you.”

“Okay, then don’t.”

I can’t help but laugh at that, and Abbi scowls.

“I don’t think this is funny.”

“It’s ridiculous.” I sober again and watch her. “I can’t do promises because my job is dangerous, and…I just can’t. And you of all people deserve promises, Abbi, and I don’t even know you all that well.”

“Nobody has proposed anything,” she reminds me, irritation filling her voice. “So just slow down a minute. We’re attracted to each other, and we’re friends. We have the same circle of people. My daughter likes you. Why does it have to be anything more than that for right now?”

I shake my head again, but she continues.

“I’m not asking you for anything, Brady. Not a damn thing. Well, that’s not true. I would ask that you don’t break my daughter’s heart. That if we decide to sleep together, and if sex with you sucks, and we don’t want to do it anymore, you’ll still be kind to Daisy.”

“Why would the sex be bad?”

“Promise me.”

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