Page 89 of Breathless With Her

“I’m fine. I was really just using the excuse to get a beer.”

I felt my cheeks heat up as her brows rose.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I haven’t taken a pain pill all day, but Amelia and Caleb refused to let me have a beer. It’s like they’re worried that I’m going to trip over myself or something. I just wanted one.”

“Well, I won’t tell if you don’t.”

She shared a conspiratorial smile with me, and it went straight to my heart—and my cock.

Hell, she would be the death of me. But what a way to go.

“I didn’t know any of you guys would be here. Of course, it seems like everybody in the city of Denver is here right now.”

“Yeah, it’s a little ridiculous.”

“But it was a beautiful wedding.”

“Michael and Tony sure know how to party.”

“Yes, they do.”

She wrung her hands in front of her and looked down at them. “I guess I should go.”

“Don’t.”

I hadn’t known the word was going to come out of my mouth until it did. She looked up quickly, her eyes wide.

“Why?”

“Because I should have talked to you before. I shouldn’t have let you go. I shouldn’t have let you walk away. Damn it, I shouldn’t have walked away when you asked me to that first day.” I set my beer down and hobbled over to her.

She met me halfway, her face even paler than before.

“I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I shouldn’t have hurt you like that. I was just so scared. And making stupid decisions. And then they just compounded on each other.” I leaned on one crutch and put the other one beside me on the island before reaching out to cup her face.

She was so soft under my touch, so warm. I missed this. I missed everything about her.

And I hated that I had let my anger and my issues stand in the way of us.

“You were hurting. And I could see that. But my ego was bruised, so I let myself walk away. I let you push me away.”

“I shouldn’t have pushed at all.”

“Maybe you should have. You were the one who set the parameters of our relationship. And I was the one who wanted to change them.”

“But they were stupid rules. You can’t tell yourself you’re not going to fall in love.” She shut her mouth quickly, her eyes widening.

“You love me?” I asked, my words a growl.

“Maybe.” She said the word quickly.

“Well, maybe I love you, too.”

She just stood there, blinking at me, and I really wondered how this was happening. I used to be better at words. But I sucked at this. What the fuck was wrong with me?

“I think I started to fall in love with you when I saw you in that sequined dress. But then you were married.”

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