Page 63 of Someone to Tempt
My revelation cuts through some of the tension simmering between us.
Iris drops into one of the chairs on either side of the table, letting out a shaky laugh. “Despite a plethora of faults, you’re the least boring person I know.”
I season the eggs, then add a scoop of the diced pepper and sausage mixture I prepped earlier in the week. “I think her exact words were ‘boring as hell.’”
“Did you mess it up on purpose?”
After pouring the egg mixture into the sizzling pan, I lean one hip against the counter, scrubbing a hand over the scruff on my jaw. “Are you listening to yourself?”
Her big eyes flare with emotion as our gazes hold. “I’m sorry.”
It sounds like she means it, but I’m too pissed to let this go. Pissed she’s willing to give up on us so easily and pissed that it was my past actions that led to this distance between us in the first place.
“Why are you so damn intent on pushing me away? You had fun Friday night,” I remind her. “With me. I’m not the same guy I was at seventeen. Is that so hard to believe, or are you just one hundred percent sure I’m going to mess it all up, on purpose or not?”
“It’s not you,” she admits in a quiet voice. “It’s me. I’m scared I’m going to screw up my life, and I don’t want anyone near me when it happens. My mom didn’t care about the collateral damage, but I do. It’s easier—safer—to keep you and everyone else at arm’s length. I deserve whatever bad things happen to me, but?—”
“Damn it, Iris. Take off the fucking hairshirt for a minute.” I turn back to the pan to flip the omelet, adding a handful of cheese to the top before folding it in half. “The way I see it, you deserve all the gold stars in the world for how hard you work. For the person you are on the inside. You deserve your dream house and whatever white-picket-fence future you want. And you sure as hell deserve somebody who’ll stick around and fight for you, even when you’re being your own worst enemy.”
She doesn’t answer for a long moment and the air pulses with the undeniable connection we’ve always shared. “Are you suddenly interested in being that person, Jake?”
I want to say yes, but I can’t give her that. Iris has her fears, but mine have their claws dug into me just as profoundly. I don’t let myself care about people—not the way she needs someone to care about her.
“I’m saying I don’t want to let go of whatever this is between us.”
“Me neither.” She sounds as shocked by the whispered admission as I am hearing it. Two simple words, but they’re important coming from this gorgeous, infuriating, enticing enigma of a woman.
“I like you, Jake. A lot.”
My hand jerks and the omelet nearly slides out of the pan onto the counter before I can transfer it to a plate. “That’s a decent place to start.” Especially for my heart, which is once again trying to pound its way out of my chest.
From the corner of my eye, I watch her draw in a deep breath. She has more to say, and I’m here for it. All of it.
“I spent most of my life shut down, or at least shut off. It always felt safer. But I don’t want that with you. Being perfect on paper hasn’t fooled anyone, and I’m sick of pretending.” She pauses and frowns, staring at her hands, tightly clasped on the table in front of her. “I’m too blunt too often. I’m socially awkward and nowhere near perfect with all my prickly edges. And I’m afraid all the fun in the world isn’t going to change me.”
“You don’t have to change, Iris. Not one damn thing. I like prickly, and the fact that not everyone gets to see your soft side.” I think about Jodi’s comment from the previous night. “Porcupines happen to be my favorite animal.”
I place the plate and two forks in the center of the small table and slide into the chair across from her.
She smiles. “Nobody picks porcupines as their favorite animals.”
“I do.”
“I’m sorry I made you the punching bag for my fears.”
“I can handle it,” I assure her.
“And what about Nick?” She pauses with a forkful of omelet midway to her mouth. “He was waiting on my porch after the rodeo and is planning to stay a while. Can you handle him being back in town?”
I close my eyes for a moment, tamping down the tangle of affection and regret I feel for her twin, and then nod. “Yeah. Nick and I are good. But I’m going to kick the shit out of him if he hurts you again.”
“What a coincidence.” She rolls her eyes. “He said the same thing about you.”
“Look at that.” I wink, needing to lighten the mood. To lighten her emotional load in any way I can. It’s what I failed to do for Mikey, and I won’t make the same mistake with Iris. “Your brother and I are already on the same page.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” she says, then sits back in her chair and sighs. “You make a damn good omelet, Byrne. It’s not fair that you and Nick are amazing in the kitchen when I can’t even boil water.”
“Eggs aren’t exactly complicated.” Although how happy it makes me to take care of her, even in this small way, feels ridiculously complicated.
