Page 66 of My Mistake To Make

‘Don’t be stubborn. I can help you.’

‘I’m not being stubborn, Cara.’ I step toward her and reach out to take her arms in my hands, and I ignore her shiver as my calloused hands touch her soft skin. ‘Thank you for being so kind, but I’ve got this,’ I smile, ‘or I will have.’

‘So, for now, you just have to play by her rules, live your life being dictated to.’ Her voice is soft, and it matches the sad frustration in her eyes. I swallow hard and release her, stepping back.

‘Yeah, for now.’ I shrug.

She takes a step back, and I know why. I know what she’s doing. That’s her way of helping, putting more distance between us to remove the temptation. She just doesn’t realize that makes me want her even more.

‘I should go.’ I gesture to the door, and she nods, then moves to open it.

Against my better judgment, as I get close enough to pass her, I stop.

‘Thank you for letting me explain,’ I say softly, and she smiles up at me.

‘I’m too soft. I could have strung it out for weeks.’

‘Are we okay?’ I ask. She nods, and like the fool I am, I lean in to kiss her cheek, pulling back a little to see those big brown eyes open to gaze up at me. ‘Happy birthday, Cara.’

I step back and walk down from the porch toward my truck.

‘Doug,’ she calls out, and I stop, turning to look back at her, ‘Hypothetically speaking. If there was a way to keep things,’ she shrugs her shoulders, ‘quiet, would that be something you’d want to pursue?’

Holy shit, is she saying what I think she’s saying? She wants this, us, this thing, whatever it is between us… and she’s prepared to keep it a secret.

I take one tentative step forward, then stop and look up at her leaning against her porch railing, a nervous expression on her face. I can’t help but grin.

‘Hypothetically, if I knew she wouldn’t find out, hell fuckin’ yes, I’d want to pursue this.’

She smiles and steps back toward the house, with, I suspect, no idea how fucking sexy she is right now.

‘Something to think about then.’

I nod, then hang my head as I take the deepest breath and try to resist heading straight back in her direction.

‘Goodnight, Doug.’ She practically sings, and I start walking backward to my truck.

‘Goodnight, Cara.’

I watch her head inside and close the door, then lean against my truck, just watching the house as though the answers will appear.

I can’t risk it. I know I can’t… and yet…

Don’t Look So Scared

Cara

What the hell wasI thinking?

Did I seriously just suggest we hook up in secret? The man I’ve spent days crying over. One little bottom stair chat, and I’m suggesting the most ridiculous setup ever. This isn’t me—but it’shim. He makes me think and feel things I’ve never thought or felt before, including infuriated. I’ve always been too worried about the fallout to let myself get angry with people in the past. Yet, with Doug, I don’t seem to be able to hold anything back.

He hurt me, yes, but his explanation made so much sense that I felt the hurt and anger seeping out of me as he talked.

A secretwhatthough? Relationship? Casual sex? Oh my god. I can’t have sex with Doug. He’s sex on legs. Although he’s out of practice, maybe my inexperience and his rustiness will match up. Not that I would have any idea how to touch a man like that. He oozes sex.

Ah, who am I kidding? Even when trying to avoid me, he was ridiculously sexy. I’m pretty sure if I ever got him in my bed, he would break me. I’d completely malfunction.

I head into the kitchen to see the pie he brought sitting on the counter, and I reach into the drawer to pull out a fork. I only have one right now. Just a single set Zoe sent me up here with so that I could eat before I’ve been shopping for kitchen essentials.

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