Page 41 of Breathless With Her

She looked down at her glass, playing with the condensation with the tips of her fingers. “Nicholas came by.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, leaning forward.

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head and then nodded quickly. “Oh, I’m fine. I didn’t mean it like that. He came by to get his stuff.”

“He had stuff at your place?”

“Yeah. Stuff he couldn’t fit in his new condo. But because he’s moving in with Becca, you know the woman that he cheated on me with? Apparently, they’re getting married and moving into a house. So he needed his stuff. Anyway, I don’t even know why I said I would take care of it all this time, but I did. Stupid me. Either way, it’s gone now. But he said a few things I don’t even want to get into. I just hate the fact that he makes me so angry. And bitter. I don’t want to be that woman. I don’t want to be someone who thinks about him like that. That puts him in every single conversation. Exactly what I’m doing right now. And he’s not worth it.”

“You’re not that woman. He was a big part of your life. And he happened to be a part of your day. Of course, you’re going to think about him.” That didn’t mean I didn’t want to break the asshole’s nose. What a fucking prick.

“I guess that makes sense. I just hate the way he makes me feel. And then I hate the fact that I let myself feel that way. I go on and on about finding this new me and trying to figure out my own path, and then I get angry thinking about him. About what he did to me. And what part I played in that.”

“Don’t tell me you blame yourself.”

“Maybe a little. Maybe I should’ve walked away sooner. I don’t know. But it’s over, and I don’t want to think about it anymore. Because I’m happy. I love my job. I have friends now that aren’t connected to him.”

“Like me?” I asked, not knowing why I’d said the words.

She smiled then, her eyes darkening. “Like you. I like you, Devin Carr. I just want you to know that.” I leaned forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I like you, too.” I watched her throat work as she swallowed hard until I leaned back and took a sip of my beer. I needed to think, focus. Because going down on her on the bar top would probably get me sent to jail. But damn it, it would probably be worth it.

“Anyway, I don’t want to be the center of the universe, so tell me what’s up with you,” she said quickly after taking a sip of her beer.

I shrugged. “Nothing really. You know my job. You know my family.”

“Not really. You dated Jennifer a long time ago. And I know you have three siblings. But what do they do?”

I smiled. “Well, Dimitri’s a teacher. He works down in Colorado Springs. And then there’s my sister-in-law Thea, who I mentioned earlier. They’re happy and probably thinking about babies if they’re not already pregnant.”

“Oh, really? You don’t have any nieces and nephews yet?”

I shook my head. “Not that I know of.”

She snorted at that. “It’s a possibility?”

“Well, Caleb did have a wild streak at one point.”

“Oh my God. I really hope that’s not the case.”

“I don’t think so. My dad might’ve been many things, but he was really good at making sure we wrapped it up.”

She opened her mouth as if to venture into the touchy subject of my father. I had left the door wide open, after all, but she just shook her head ever so slightly. I knew she wasn’t going to move closer to that. Not yet. Was it because she didn’t want to get to know me like that? Or was it because she knew it was a touchy subject? Knowing Erin, I had a feeling it was the latter. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was just what I wanted to tell myself.

“Anyway, I have a nephew, but he’s a dog. Captain. A very amazing Golden Retriever that’s getting a bit older.”

“Oh, I love Golden Retrievers. I wish they could live to be like fifty, though.”

“I know, right? They’re like the best dogs. I’ve always wanted one, but I’m not home enough.” I shuddered. “Okay, I’ve always wanted a pet. Not a dog.”

That made her laugh. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m a mailman. We don’t like dogs.”

She looked at me, her eyes wide, and then she broke out laughing. I did, too.

“You’re not serious.”

“Not really. I am more of a cat or like a fish person, though. But I love Captain, just saying.”

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