Page 29 of The Widower
And then there’s him...
Everything spiraled out of control.I talked too much—as usual.I didn’t expect that kiss, but I can’t lie… part of me is glad it happened. Or maybe I’m not? I don’t even know anymore.
All I can think about is tomorrow—how I’m supposed to show up for work and look Colin in the eye, knowing damn well he’s just as guilty as I am.
COLIN ADAMS
I wished Monday would hit like lightning—but damn, it took forever to arrive.
I needed to settle things with Isabelle, but I still had no idea how much what happened would affect us. And that us was already hanging by a thread.
When I saw her walk in, I noticed her differently. Don’t ask me why—I don’t even understand it myself.
It was your mistake bringing her as your date!
That voice in my head was right.Absolutely right. I should never have asked her. Hell, I shouldn’t have gone at all. I should’ve just retired from everything—stayed buried in my house, drowning in memories of what I’d lost. Because it was my fault.
“Colin… I’m sorry about that night.”Her eyes didn’t meet mine, and her face flushed almost instantly.
I didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. Not when she was standing so close. This was getting harder by the minute. That woman pushes me to my limit.
“We’re not talking about what happened,” I said flatly, my tone sharp enough to make her flinch.
“Colin, I—”
“Was I clear?” I snapped, raising my voice and stepping closer.
I needed to intimidate her somehow. She wasn’t in control of this situation.
I was. I had to be.
“It was wrong,” she whispered, eyes fixed on the floor.
“Extremely wrong.” I took another step.
What the hell am I doing?
“Very…”She stayed frozen, but I kept moving toward her. Closer. Closer.
“I need to get to work.” She glanced up, trying to sidestep me, and in that instant, I lost it.
“No!” I barked, pinning her against the wall before I even knew what I was doing. Her expression changed instantly—shock, disbelief. Isabelle stared at me like she couldn’t recognize the man in front of her.
And honestly… neither could I.
“Colin, what… what are you doing?” she whispered, her voice trembling, each word barely threading through the air between us.
“Don’t talk,” I said hoarsely, before reason had a chance to stop me.
And then it happened again.
That moment I’d tried so hard to erase came rushing back with the same intensity, the same weight, the same desperate need I’d sworn I’d buried.
Time hadn’t healed me. I realized that the second my lips touched hers. Everything I thought I’d overcome came roaring back—longing, guilt, desire. It all crashed through me like a wave I couldn’t fight.
Kissing her again was like ripping open an old wound I’d refused to let heal.
I pulled her into my arms without hesitation.
