Page 55 of Mine to Keep

So, there was that.

He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head toward him.

She blinked, catching his gaze. She swallowed as she stared into his intense eyes.

There was no doubt about it. He was going to kiss her, and she wasn’t going to stop him, and that was a mistake. One she’d have a hard time recovering from. And then there was the fact that she worked for him and would have to see him on a regular basis.

She needed to stop the kiss before it happened.

Too late.

His lips brushed over her mouth. They were soft and tender and felt like silk.

“Are you kidding?” a female voice said.

Bryn sat up and wiped her lips. Heat rose to her cheeks. Not so much because they’d gotten caught kissing by someone, but because she’d enjoyed it so much.

She turned and saw Cheryl standing with her hand shielding her eyes from the sun.

“You’re unbelievable,” Cheryl whispered.

“What are you doing out here?” Jamison asked.

“Your mom said you were out here and asked if I would come and check on you. She thought you might be upset.”

“You can go tell my mother that I’m fine.” He jumped to his feet, pulling Bryn with him. “Now, if you will excuse us, we were kind of in the middle of something.”

“So I saw,” Cheryl said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. She folded her arms. “Your mom is worried about you. So is Steve. You really need—”

“You lost the right to tell me anything when you slept with one of my best friends.”

Bryn tried to tug her hand free, but Jamison held it tightly.

“You left me for nearly two months. I had no idea what was going on with you or when you were coming back. I was scared and alone.”

“Why do you always try to blame your cheating on me?” Jamison ran a hand across the top of his head. “You were the only person who knew where I was, and I asked you to come with me. No. Ibeggedyou to. You chose to get to know Steve, listen to my mother, and sleep with Troy. So don’t give me the sob story that you tell everyone else while leaving out the key truths.” He turned his attention to Bryn. “I’m sorry you have to hear this crap this way.”

Bryn squeezed his hand. “It’s okay.” She didn’t know what else to say. While she didn’t believe there was any unfinished business between Jamison and his ex-wife, at least when it came to Jamison, there was a shit ton of conflict in the poor man’s heart, and everyone wanted to tell him how he was supposed to feel.

That was the problem.

Something Bryn understood.

Cheryl pursed her lips. “I came out here as a favor to your mom. She just wants you to—”

“Cheryl, stop,” Jamison said in a calm voice. “You’re not my wife anymore. It’s not your responsibility to try to make things right between my family and me. So, please, I beg of you, leave me and my relationships alone.”

“Excuse me for trying to help.” Cheryl turned and practically ran toward the house.

“Fuck,” Jamison mumbled. He released Bryn’s hand and inched toward the water. “Every single time I’m around her I end up feeling like the bad guy.”

Bryn twisted her hair as she joined him at the edge of the ocean. She stared at the birds swooping down at the waves, looking for their lunch. She shouldn’t get involved, not even as a person who lent an ear. But she couldn’t let him torment himself.

“I’m going to say some things that might not be very popular.”

He turned his head and caught her gaze.

She reached out and squeezed his biceps. “Ultimately, Cheryl betrayed you and broke a trust that, for some, can’t ever be mended. You have every right to walk away from that relationship and not look back. Nor should you be made to feel guilty about it.”

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