Page 74 of No More Heartbreakers

“Because you’re good, not because I want to get rid of you,” he said.

“Thank you. And I don’t want to get rid of you, either. What I’m saying is, whether I actually do end up finding another job or staying here and signing a new contract, we… well, our time together is going to be short.”

“Not necessarily. We could get jobs in the same market.”

I pulled up to a sitting position and rested my back against the headboard, sighing. Clearly the sexy-times moment was over.

“Really? What are the odds of that? Math was never my subject—I’m a word girl—but they’re not good. You know that. There are only three stations in each market, four tops, and they consider candidates from all over the country for every opening. Even if you stillwantedto pursue it ten months from now, it’s not likely we’d wind up in the same city.”

Aric let out a breath. “So you don’t want to be my girlfriend because you don’t think there’s any future in this?”

I lifted my eyebrows and gave him an apologetic smile. “Maybe it’s not very romantic to say it, but chances are, thereisno future in this. We should probably, I don’t know, try to have fun while it lasts?”

Reaching out, I stroked a hand from his neck down his chest and smoothed it across his abdomen.

“We probably shouldn’t be here at all, but apparently we can’t stay away from each other.”

What Ididn’tsay was that since our very first kiss,of courseI’d had thoughts of Aric in the long term. Apparently, I had a brain that just went there—I’d started planning my wedding with Jason a week after our first amazing date.

But I’d lived and learned since then. And there was no way I could deal with such heavy feelings and devastating loss ever again.

When Hale had wanted to get serious rather quickly, I’d successfully worked to keep things on a more gradual wait-and-see course.

Based on the way I felt about Aric already, I’d have to be even more careful when it came to him.

Obviously, my body was ready and willing to dive in all the way, but I couldn’t let my heart follow.

Aric studied my face, staying silent for a long time. This could go one of two ways—he’d be angry and kick me out of his bed, or go the more typical male route and take the free, no-strings-attached sex.

“Okay,” he said finally.

Great.He’d opted for the sex. I rolled toward him with a smile.

He returned my smile and leaned in for a brief kiss. “I myself am a big believer in fate working these things out, but I can do fun.”

“Good. So, any ideas about what we can do for fun?” I ran a bare foot up and down his leg, giving him my most flirtatious look.

And Aric got out of bed.

I sat up and watched him search the floor for his boxers and put them on.

“What are you doing?”

He looked up at me. “I think we’ve had enough fun for one night.”

“What?”

Was he punishing me for not agreeing to some sort of commitment? “So you’re just… going to leave me here?”

“No, I’m coming back to bed. I needed to put something on first.”

He glanced down at the top edge of the sheet I had clenched at my chest. “I’d appreciate it if you would, too. It would make this a lot easier on me.”

“Make what easier? What’s going on here?”

Aric came back to the bed and slid in beside me. “We’re not going to have sex.”

I stared at him, stunned. “We’re not?” My voice sounded as bewildered as I felt.

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