Page 66 of Dreaming of You

"Kate?" he murmured, a questioning note in his voice.

She tried to draw a breath, but her chest was tight, a dozen thoughts racing around her head, her body at war with her brain.

"We…shouldn't," she managed to get out.

He stared back at her, his gaze unreadable.

"Like we said before, we have to work together," she added, feeling a bit desperate to make the point.

"I can find other office space."

"Really?"

"If that needs to happen, it can happen."

"But it's your building."

"There are other buildings."

She licked her lips. "That was at the top of my reasons why we shouldn't get involved, but it wasn't the only reason."

He gave her a serious look. "I know."

"So, for now, we should just say good night." Deciding that letting go of him would be a good step toward making that happen, she stepped back and took off his coat. She felt instantly chilled.

He put it on and then moved toward the door, pausing. "This isn't over, Kate."

"Maybe it should be."

"You said for now, not forever."

"I probably misspoke."

He smiled. "Too late to take it back. I'll see you…soon."

As he slipped out of her apartment, she touched her fingers to her still-tingling lips, feeling mixed emotions about what she'd just called off.

It wasn't just the location of their offices that had stopped her; it was her growing feelings for Barrett. She wasn't just attracted to him physically: she was falling in love with him, and she didn't know where that could go.

It certainly couldn't go all the way, not with Barrett's bluntly stated feelings about marriage. And while it was way too early to even think about that kind of future, she wasn't sure she should start something that could never go where she would want it to go. Better to be safe than sorry. She didn't need to get her heart broken.

But as she walked into her bedroom, she was a little afraid that she'd already gotten too involved, and there might be some heartbreak headed her way.

* * *

Four days later, Barrett knew he was way too involved with Kate, and it wasn't because he'd seen her every day; it was because he hadn't—because every time he walked in and out of his office, his gaze went up the stairs, hoping for a glimpse of her.

When he heard her voice in the stairwell, he found himself straining to hear what she was saying, sometimes when he was in the middle of a meeting.

What the hell was wrong with him?

He hadn't been this obsessed with a woman in a long time. And this was not a woman he should be obsessed with, no matter how much he was attracted to her.

Kate would want everything from a man—she'd want love, attention—she'd want his soul.

And he couldn't imagine being able to give her anything close to that.

She knew it, too. It was why they kept coming to the brink of something more and then pulling back.

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