Page 82 of Heart & Hope

Her lips part as she sucks in a breath, hurt flooding her eyes. I walk from the shower. The hardest fucking thing I have ever done in my life.

Back in my room, I pull the sodden clothes off my shaking limbs and walk into my own shower. Under my own warm stream of water, I lather soap over my body and let it soak, chest heaving around the ache that bloomed with those five little words.

I can’t do this, Rubes.

Arms crossed, hands tucked under my armpits, I hang my head.

I did the right thing.

Ruby gets to keep her rules, her career, and her life.

I keep my heart intact.

Well, almost.

Water patters around my feet, lulling me as I close my eyes.

“What exactly is it that you can’t do?”

I snap my head up and my eyes to her. She stands in the doorway, wrapped in a towel, wet hair hanging over her shoulders, hands on her hips. Face stone, her stare is hard. She’s all business.

Atta girl.

I hang my hands by my side for a heartbeat. Both of us are naked. But the only fire is that of burning disappointment. For the loss of things I want and can never have.

“This,” I finally mutter, waving a hand between her and me.

“Why not, Reed?”

Always direct, my Ruby.

“Because you have your life, and I have mine. And there ain’t no way to make the two combine; so before either of us gets hurt, we just stop altogether.”

“Do I have a say in this?” She folds her hands across her chest.

“Nope.”

“Fine, then you don’t get a say in this.” She drops her towel and walks into the shower.

“Rubes. Stop.”

She stands shy of the water. “I haven’t done anything yet.”

My traitorous cock is concrete and pointing to the sky. Looking at her has me breathless. “It’s not just foolin’ around for me anymore.”

“And you think that’s what I’m doing? Leading you on, having a bit of fun?”

“Don’t think you and fun have ever met, baby.”

She scoffs a laugh, glancing outside the shower, but closes the space between us. “For the record, you broke every single one of my rules, Reed Rawlins. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“So, you changed your mind about a few things, hey?”

“You could say that.” Her gaze drops to my mouth, her hands landing on my jawline. “But mostly... about you. I don’t want to be your friend anymore. It’s not enough.”

You don’t need to tell this man twice.

I slam into her hard, my mouth on hers, gripping her hips and pressing her into the tile. The whimper that leaves her throat drives the last of the sanity from my heated veins.

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