Page 44 of Takes Two to Tango

A hard silence fell. Uncomfortable, hard silence.

Rayne pressed her lips together and watched Henry as he quietly took in the rambunctiousness of the other boys wigglingin the booth. He nodded periodically at something Hunter said. He looked not exactly happy, but maybe a bit more accepting at being away from her.

He turned his head and caught her gaze. Then gave her the most endearing smile she'd seen in a while. She smiled back. Then looked at the man across from her. He watched her with a guarded expression.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm not good with people questioning me."

"You think?" Brent leaned back and crossed his arms, making him look broader, more masculine, more alpha male. She swallowed at the way her body reacted. She'd automatically leaned toward him.

Nervously, Rayne licked her lips. "So what are we doing here?"

"You mean between us?" he asked, pointing to her then to himself.

“I don't know how to label you. Are you my friend? My contractor? My kid's coach?"

"Or something more?"

She swallowed again. ''How? We can't be something more. It's not like I can date you or something."

"You can't? Why not?” His words were flung like a challenge.

She studied him, knowing the answer. Afraid to tell him. He'd break her heart. That's what he did, didn't he? What he'd done those fifteen years before. Taken her childish first love and ripped it to shreds. He'd hurt her once. And she had a strong feeling that if she opened herself to him, he'd do it again.

And she might not survive this one.

So she didn't answer. She turned from him and watched a teenage boy bob their way with a laden tray.

"You won't give me an answer?" Brent sounded aggravated.

Why? Why did it matter to him what label she gave him? Why did she have to declare him anything?

"Rayne?"

She smiled at the waiter. "Leave us these two baskets and take this meal to the little boy in the red baseball jersey at that table over there." She pointed in Henry's direction before turning to the irate man sitting across from her.

What to do? What to say to Brent wanting something more? Maybe she should lay it out. Let him see why she couldn't fall into something that wouldn’t last.

"Truth?" she asked, shuffling the double cheeseburger his way and setting the onion rings and salad in front of her.

Brent uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. “Sounds like a good place to start.”

"Becausesomething morescares the hell out of me."

He flinched. "Why?"

"Because if I walk through those French doors of your house, I'll end up in your bed. And I have little doubt what will happen between those sheets would be very good. In fact, in my wildest daydreams, it's more than good. But the thing is, I can't climb in your bed without risking my heart. That’s how I work. So it's too dangerous. Not to mention, it’s not just my heart I’m risking.” She glanced over to her son.

Brent didn't react for a moment. Then he smiled. ''What if I don't want your body? What if I want your heart?"

Rayne felt herself reel. "What?"

"What if I want all of you, Rayne? What if I want more than sex? What if this thing between us is meant to be?"

"Are you serious?" She couldn't stop her voice from shaking. She looked down at thecrispy onion rings. He couldn't be serious. Brent wasn't that kind of guy.

She looked at him.

He nodded. Sincerely.

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