Page 26 of Until I Have You

“Would you like a drink?”

I blink at him.

“To…” He tilts his head to the side as if trying to read me.“Complement your work.Let me try to start redeeming myself for everything.Start, being the operative word there.”

I try to laugh it off.“I don’t really mix working and drinking.I’m too much of a lightweight for that.”

“An Irish lightweight.What an oxymoron,” he says with a broad grin.

It’s an obvious joke, but I don’t find it particularly funny.

Theo’s smile falls, and he clears his throat.“That was a…it was a joke.”

“Yep.Got that.”

I watch his Adam’s apple dip with a swallow.I didn’t notice before, but he’s got a five o’clock shadow today.A sexy ruggedness that opposes the clean-cut Britishness of him.

Stop thinking he’s sexy, Abigail.He’s not.He’s a broke single dad whose wife left him for his twin brother.And he’s your dad’s best friend!No thinking he’s sexy allowed!

“Forgive me, I was just trying to…” He gestures between us with an open hand, then closes it with resolution.“Never mind.Just, forgive me.”

His blue eyes are locked in mine.Stunning, ice blue.Unfairly pretty.

They hold me in place.

And I notice something I haven’t before.A sadness.Subtle, carried in the corner of his eyes.

Have I caused that?

Every comment I’ve made, every thought I’ve had about Theo Wallington rushes back to haunt me.

I’ve been so terrible to him, just in my own head.I’ve been letting it seep out, pretending like I’m being subtle.But these daggers are not subtle.Not at all.

I don’t need to like him or be friends with him.

But when did I become such an asshole?

“No forgiveness necessary, I get it.It’s a joke.Ha!”I swipe a hand through my hair.“Anyway, I’ve got to get back to my work and–”

“Yes, I’m late for a meeting with your father anyway,” he mutters, checking the expensive watch on his wrist, a movement so pedestrian and yet sexy.

I get a glimpse of some dark hair below his wrist and shiny cufflinks.

Dad’s best friend.My dad’s best friend.

Yep.

Cut it out right now.

We say our awkward goodbyes.I return to work on my application, and Theo disappears.

I stare at the blinking cursor on my computer screen.

Can’t fucking focus now.For one, I feel awful.I was a total jerk.

He never did anything to me.Sonia is right, it was my dad’s choice.It’s not like Theo had to twist his arm.

And for the other, there is a warmth in my belly I have to figure out how to ignore.

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