Page 28 of Stone
“Shit,” I muttered, heat rising into my face as I dropped down and grabbed it.
“Yeah, shit. I’ll leave you alone,” Stone growled while backing into the hallway. He kept the door open for a few seconds as a different awkwardness hit us both.
As soon as he closed the door, I placed my hand on the surface, turning around and leaning against it.
“What are you doing, Dani?”
There was no logical answer. I had no idea.
After he left, I looked at myself in the mirror once again. Gone was the eighteen-year-old girl who’d believed the world was in the palm of her hand. And that her hero boyfriend would return and sweep her off her feet.
In her place was the woman hardened by years of feeling lonely. I’d dated, even once involved in a rather serious relationship, but we’d gone our separate ways more out of boredom than anything else. No one had measured up to Stone.
My first and possibly only love.
Sadly, I recognized we were two different people. He’d gone on to serve his country, receiving the highest accolade given to a hero. I’d paid attention, even if I hadn’t been able to share it with anyone. After he’d left the service, I’d lost track of him and that had nearly broken me. It was almost as if he’d died. That’s how much I’d grieved.
But I had to face facts before the hurt rumbled in my heart again. The one thing I’d learned after so many years of living apart was that you could never look back and have exactly what you’d experienced. With every step we’d taken over the years, every joy and sorrow, our lives had become different.
We were just two people who no longer knew each other. Even though familiarity was comforting, it provided nothing more than a safe landing spot.
As I glanced at the woman staring back at me, I realized she’d become wise in her old age.
CHAPTER 8
Stone
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I was in some kind of twisted haze, even bumping into the corner of the doorway when I tried to walk into the living room.
Kage caught sight of me first, holding the bottle close to his lips as a huge grin broke out on his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
The daze continued and for a man who’d been through some shit in his life, it had been a long time since I’d been gobsmacked by anything. Seeing her voluptuous body after all this time had created such a reaction, I had to adjust my cock.
Maddox caught the move, chuckling under his breath. “Having some issues there, buddy?”
“Shut up. Just shut the fuck up.” I glanced quickly over my shoulder to make certain she wasn’t standing behind me. I’dalready made a damn fool of myself. What the fuck was wrong with me that I’d kissed her? I mean really kissed her.
She didn’t know me any longer. She’d just been through a horrible ordeal and didn’t need my guilt or anxiety dumped on top of what she’d been through. The rescue wasn’t about me. I slumped down in one of the chairs, immediately grabbing a beer. Yet even with the pep talk, the anguish brought a sense of fury for being so goddamn weak. “I’m a fucking loser.”
“That goes without saying, but why now?” Kage teased.
I made a fist, swinging it in his direction. “This wasn’t a good idea.”
“What, saving a woman’s life or rekindling your appreciation of the team?”
Maddox continued laughing in his hand while my mind was spinning. “Seeing her again. I just don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do.” I’d all but lied to her after being driven into a corner. Bradford Vale had proved very convincing and not once, but twice. Christ, what the fuck was I going to do?
“From what you told us, you’re taking her back to the United States. This doesn’t mean anything.” Kage was trying to be nonchalant, but he knew me well enough to realize I was having a tough time.
I scrubbed my jaw before taking a very long pull on my beer. I’d tried not to think about how seeing her again would affect me and for good reason.
Because I was one fucking wreck.
“Wow. You still care about the girl. Huh?” Maddox chided.
As I shook my head, my cock pulsed all over again. “It doesn’t matter if I do or don’t. She has her life and I have mine.”
