Page 39 of Silver Seconds (Tempted in Texas)

And I can't do that to her. Her spirits are so high after her meeting with Tinsley, her image of herself so much closer to the beautiful woman before me, that I can't bear to do anything to take that away from her. My night might be ruined. But that doesn't mean hers has to be too.

As the car pulls up outside her house to drop her off, I can't even bring myself out of my own head enough to look at the place. As I open my car door, the smell of the sea hits me, but that's all I notice.

I swing around the trunk, and this time, she lets me open her door for her.

Taking her by the arm, I walk her through the darkness of the night up the numerous stairs to her front door. She fumbles for her key inside her purse but soon finds it.

But, rather than going inside, she looks up at me once more, her eyes sparkling against the stars. Her brow is furrowed in concern. "Are you alright?" she asks quietly.

"I'm fine," I answer swiftly. "Just tired."

"I don't believe you. But tonight, I'll pretend to."

Her eyes shine into mine, and before I know what's happening, we are leaning closer together. She reaches up, wrapping her arms around my neck, pushing up on her toes to bring her face closer to mine.

She glances down at my lips, and within her gaze, I can see her desire. She wants me, too. My heart hammers in my chest. My body aches for her touch. Her body eases forward, leaning against mine, and I put my arms firmly around her waist.

"Brett," she whispers, closing her eyes and waiting for me to close the final gap between us.

I want to kiss her. Every atom in my body is screaming to do it, to bring my lips down on hers, to taste her, to sing with her mouth, to bring her into her home and undress her beautiful body and make her mine.

But I can't. Not when I am who I am.

The man who has been hired to ruin her life.

Moving my head to the side, I kiss her on the cheek. It catches the corner of her mouth and presses into her soft and supple flesh. Goddammit, I want her so badly. I want more than this. She does, too.

But to give it now, knowing what I know, holding the secrets that I do, would just be cruel.

So, as much as it hurts, this kiss on the cheek is all I can give.

I set her on her feet. Wish her goodnight. Ignore the look of sour disappointment in her eyes. And then I retreat down her stairs and back to my car.

CHAPTER11

Denise

"How was your daaate?" Lisa's voice croons through my phone.

"Mul, iff mushn't mish—"

She cuts me off.

"Girl, what are you doing over there? I need to hear the details!"

Begrudgingly, I spit out my mouthful of toothpaste. I stand before the sink in my bathroom, my toes buried in the shaggy rug and my phone on the counter beside me.

"Sorry. I'm still trying to get ready for work." I set my toothbrush back in the cupcake-shaped holder. "We're reopening the bakery today, and I can't look like a mess."

"I'm sure you look fine."

"I know. I'm just trying to make sure everything is perfect. Especially now that the Tinsley Simon news is out."

Lisa's sigh echoes through the speaker, bouncing off the walls in my tiny bathroom. "I'm still sad that I didn't get to meet her."

I wiggle my eyebrows even though she can't see me. "She'll be back. Maybe I can get you an invite to the wedding."

Lisa squeals. "Really?"

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