Page 62 of Tangled Up In You

"I don't want a drink, but…"

"But what?" she challenged. "Do you even know what you want, Adam?"

He knew they weren't talking about drinks anymore. "I want you, Molly, but…"

"It's complicated. I'm complicated. You're complicated. It's all too big of a risk. I get it. But…"

He grabbed onto her half-finished sentence like a drowning man who had just been tossed a lifeline. "But what, Molly? Can you finish that sentence?"

"I can, but I shouldn't."

"Just say it."

"Fun. It could be fun," she said helplessly, looking into his eyes. "Not everything has to mean something, Adam. In fact, most things don't, when you come right down to it."

"I don't like your low expectations."

She looked at him in surprise. "You should love my low expectations. It lowers your risk of me wanting more from you than you want to give."

She was right. But he didn't like that she didn't want more for herself. He also didn't like that she could read him so well. It felt like she was in his head. And he didn't let anyone into his head.

Molly moved to the door and opened it. "You should go, Adam."

He walked over to her and gave her a long look. "What if I wanted to stay?"

She gave him a steady look. "When you know the answer to that question, you won't have to ask."

His lips tightened and then he stepped into the hall, knowing she was right again. He didn't like it. He didn't like anything about this. So he left, and he cursed himself all the way home.

Why hadn't he just taken what she was offering? Why couldn't he just choose fun?

For the first time in a long time, he found himself questioning his decisions, especially his decision not to spend the night with Molly. He could handle a fling. Most of the women he dated were flings. Sex was easy. Intimacy was another story.

The truth was that he wasn't afraid Molly would want more than sex from him; he was concerned that he would want more from her.

ChapterSixteen

Molly didn't thinkshe'd ever worked so hard in her life. Thursday had passed in one long blur of activity. Now it was Friday, and the store would open in fifteen minutes. She wasn't quite ready. There were still products that hadn't been unpacked and a few sparsely decorated shelves, but it was almost time to officially kick off her new life as shop owner, health and wellness adviser, and yoga teacher.

A knock drew her attention to the door. She could see Chloe on the sidewalk holding a platter of cookies. She opened the door. "What is all this?"

"Cookies! Happy opening day," Chloe replied. "I thought you could put them out for your customers."

"This is so sweet of you." She took the tray out of her hands. "Do you want to come in?"

"I'll come by after lunch. I need to get to the café. I just wanted to wish you luck. I know what it's like to run a business—part exciting, part terrifying."

"So true. And today, the terrifying part is taking over."

"You'll be good. All our friends are planning to stop by at some point."

"That's great. I'm a little worried that after all this work, no one will come, and I'll just be here alone."

"That won't happen. But if it does, just stand behind the counter, go on your computer and look busy. That's what I do."

"I can't believe the café is ever not busy."

"You'd be surprised. We get lulls and it always makes me nervous. But it usually passes quickly, and then I wish I'd taken advantage of the quiet time."

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