Page 24 of Bad Rebound

But worse?

She was right.

“So, stop this, okay? Stop going fucking caveman just because I’m single. Stop trying to fix my life when I don’t need it. Stop trying to be more than a friend.”

His lungs expanded.

“Because if you continue withthis”—she waved a hand between them—“this will end up with us not evenasfriends.”

She took the napkin he was gripping in his hand, slid it free, and wiped his face.

“No more trying to force this,” she whispered when she’d finished.

God, her lips were close.

Her eyes were warm.

Her body was giving all the signs that it wanted his, but her words…well, her words were the opposite. And he had to listen to them.

He released a long breath, forced his hands to remain at his sides. “T.”

Her eyes slid away. “Please, Jer. Please, just stop with this now. Let it go. Letmego.”

He didn’t want to.

Fuck, he’d been in love with this woman for three years, and he finally had a shot with her.

But…she didn’t want him.

So, he had to let her go.

Jeremy stepped back. “I’ve got some things to handle at home,” he said. “Make my apologies for me?”

A nod.

“T,” he said before she went off back down the hall. “I get what you’re saying. I do. Just…” He inhaled, released it. “I’m here if things change, yeah?”

Her smile was small and sad. “Yeah,” she whispered.

Then she turned and walked away from him.

Eight

Teresa

Miraculously, the dinner hadn’t been too awkward when she came back to the table.

Without Jeremy.

With a slightly damp seat, the byproduct of her wine tossing.

But much of the awkwardness was dissipated thanks to Mrs. Jacobs.

She’d regaled the table with tales of her eighty-odd years, and though Teresa had fended off a bit of teasing about her throwing arm, most of the room had let the incident go.

And she’d talked about her business a lot by the end of the night.

So much so that Mrs. J had recommended Teresa consider all offers when they came in—even her own—before T made a decision about who to work with.

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