Page 17 of The Promises We Break

He stops and looks over his shoulder back at me. Which is really dangerous because now, I not only see his handsome face but his gorgeous, incredible ass, as well.

“You told the guy on the plane you had a boyfriend.Yousaid you had a boyfriend.”

Realization hits me that he heard that conversation.

“I was trying to turn him down nicely.” His eyes narrow and look downward, blinking a few times, then returning to look at me.

He takes a step toward me.

“But you didn’t tell me that.”

Another step.

“You told me,‘I can’t.’”

Another step.

“Why did you tell me that?”

He stops in front of me.

“Why didn’t you turn me down nicely?”

I swallow hard enough my ears pop.

“I didn’t want to lie to you,” I admit.

“And you didn’t want to go out with me?”

A small quick shake of my head naturally responds.

“No, you didn’t want to go out with me? Or no, that’s not right?”

This is definitely how miscommunication happens.

The constant hum of the air conditioner sounds like a foghorn through the silence.

Because you are a dangerous distraction, and I don’t want to become my mother.

I bite my lip, pulling the soft flesh in between my teeth. His eyes bore into me, demanding an answer that refuses to show up.

Reaching out, he grabs my left hand with his and gently rubs the foil that’s wrapped around my ring finger. A long breath leaves his lips as he turns his hand over to reveal his own foil band wrapped around his finger, taking a moment to inspect our matching makeshift rings.

Everlasting sting.

A lopsided grin graces his face as he turns his eyes up to meet mine, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing. Leaning into me, he kisses my temple, then smacks my comforter-covered ass.

“Come on,wife. Let’s get you some breakfast.”

9

EMBER

Since I didn’t have anything to wear, and a strapless pantsuit isn’t ideal for breakfast, I walked out to the dining area of Hudson’s hotel wearing an oversized T-shirt from one of his drawers. I only recognize the large “UH” symbol as the University of Houston, because my alma mater played this university many times during both football and baseball season.

When you are an only sister to three brothers, with a sports fanatic father and a mother that lets him incorporate every game of every sport into his daily life, you get familiar with the teams.

I glance around the grand hotel room. This has to be one of the hotel’s larger suites; it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s modern and everything is neutral, with strategic splashes of color. The floor to ceiling windows have a perfect view of the strip, and we’re on what appears to be the top floor. The expansive living room leads into a dining area, with a kitchen island adorned with six barstools evenly placed in front. Although there is only a small kitchenette area, it is next to a full bar, so thisbeautiful, thick marbled island is probably better suited for drinking games than for breakfast.

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