Page 6 of Just One Night

Way tooclose.

His steadfast eyes meet mine. “Please.I want to make shit right. My brother is marrying your best friend. I’m the best man. You’ll no doubt be the maid of honor. We need to be civil and stop dancing around each other if we don’t want everyone to know something happened betweenus.”

There’s the answer I was looking for. I wince, unsure if he’s more worried about our tension ruining the wedding or that people will find out about our one-nightstand.

I wave my hand through the air, careful not to hit him in the face. “Consider that night forgotten. I alreadyhave.”

“Don’t bullshit me. We’ve known each other long enough for you to be honest withme.”

I hold up my hand in anger, the need to spew out something terrible snapping at me. I want to strike him with pain that consumes him like he did me. “In case you’ve forgotten,youkicked me out of your bed. What do you want from me? A friendly hug? A casual conversation with fake smiles? Not going to happen, so quit wasting both of our time. You stay out of my way. I’ll stay out of yours.Agreed?”

“I didn’t kick you out of my bed,” he hisses. “You ran out my front door faster than a speedingbullet.”

I forget we’re not alone and edge closer until my chest hits his. “You jumped out of bed likeyouwere dodging a speeding bullet.” I grit my teeth to gain control of myself. “That was before you said that what we did was a mistake,over and over again, like your lips were a brokenrecord.”

His face burns like I didn’t just hit him with the verbal truth, but also a physical one. He lets out a hard sigh, giving me a small sampling of the whiskey and frosting lingering on his lips. Tightness forms in my throat, and I clutch at my stomach. Just like his cologne preference, I’m sure the taste of him hasn’tchanged.

“I’m sorry. I overreacted,” he replies. “I tried calling to apologize, but you wouldn’t take mycalls.”

“Nor will Iever.”

“Fuck, Willow, how many times do I have to say this until you forgive me? I was in a dark place and was out of line.” His voice lowers even more, and I barely make out his next words. “I didn’t regret that it wasyouin my bed. I was pissed at myself for even letting it happen, for putting you in thatsituation.”

His answer doesn’t make me feel anybetter.

I slide against the wall to move away from him. “It’s done. I’m overit.”

“Twenty minutes and a pastry,” he pleads. “Give me that, and I promise I’ll never bring it upagain.”

I take a deep breath. This is Dallas Barnes. A man I worked alongside for five years. A man whose job was to protect Stella and me.Tragedy changes a man. Loss changes a man. This isn’t the Dallas I knew. This is a new man, a man who lost himself when he lost hiswife.

I sink my teeth into the inside of my cheek. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ll be civil for Stella’s sake, but I won’t spend a minute longer with you than I have to.” This is for the best. I want him to hate me. I want him to want nothing to do with me in case he ever finds out what I’m keeping fromhim.

The anger in my words shocks him, and he runs his hand over hisface.

“Daddy!”

He stumbles back at the sound of his daughter’s voice. She’s barreling our way, and her brown pigtails soar through the air. She runs right into his leg with ahumphand giggles when he catchesher.

“Come dance withme!”

Affection fills his face when he peeks down at her with a smile and twirls a pigtail around his finger. “Give me a second, sweetie. I’m talking with Willow, and then I’m allyours.”

“But this is my favorite song ever.” Shepouts.

I force a laugh, seeing my perfect escape plan. Dancing seems to be my savior tonight. “You can’t deny a dance with a girl that adorable,” I say, shooing them away. “Go. I need to make a callanyway.”

Maven jumps up and down, clapping her hands in excitement, and Dallas stares at me with concern before leaningforward.

“I never had any intention to hurt you,” hewhispers.

But you did, I mouthback.

Damn, didhe.

“Daddy!” Maven whines. “The song is going to beover!”

He gives me a nod before walkingaway.

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