Page 97 of One Touch

She nodded. “They cornered me in the library after everyone had left. And do you know what the worst part is? He offered to pay for my father’s cost of living at Haven Pines if I convinced her to sell the house at a reasonable price.”

I blinked at her. “Kate, that’s—”

“Completely out of the question,” she cut in. Anger flared in her green eyes, and I didn’t continue.

“It’s just been a long day.” Kate’s head hung as she leaned on the island for strength. I wanted to soothe things, make them better.

“How’s your ass?” I asked, trying to lighten the tension between us.

She turned her head and looked at me, smiling.

I moved to her, caging her in with my arms as I came up behind her and planted my hands on the island. “I’m sorry I lost my cool. I didn’t like how he was talking to you.” I nuzzled my nose into her hair and let the floral smell of her shampoo soothe me. “I swear, when I saw you fall, my heart stopped.”

Kate was quiet for a moment, but when she spoke, my heart stopped beating. “Beckett, what are we doing here?”

Her voice was strong, and my heart thundered against my ribs. Kate turned around to face me, still locked between my arms.

I studied her face, trying to find the right words.

When I didn’t speak, her eyes searched mine. “The farmhouse is done, and I need to know. Are you going back to Chicago?”

“Kate, I—”

The words lodged in my throat. Every part of me needed her love, but fear held me back. The fear ofknowing.

There was a finite amount of love she could give me. If I used it all up too quickly, when she spent enough time to see the mess I was inside, she’d be gone that much sooner.

She exhaled and closed her eyes. “Beckett, somehow you’ve managed to have all of me. How many pieces of you do I get? I just need to know.”

I stood to meet her eyes. “I have to go back, but I care about you. I’d like to see you again. Of course I would.”

Her brows pinched together as her eyes searched my face. “See me again? What does that mean?”

I sighed and raked a hand through my hair. “I can come here when work isn’t taking up my time. Maybe even look into taking a few local jobs if there’s an opening in my schedule. You’re always welcome at my place in Chicago.”

Her chin wobbled as she nodded. I needed her love, but all I was doing was breaking her heart.

“I need more, Beckett.”

My jaw worked. “It’s what I can give you.”

Her green eyes bore into me, tearing my soul from my chest. “I know.”

Defensive anger simmered in my veins.Why is she doing this? Why isn’t it enough?

She swallowed hard and looked past me to see my suitcase against the wall. Seeing it only dumped gasoline on the frustration burning inside her.

She gestured to the suitcase. “That’s it? You’re just leaving?”

“Kate, I have a job,a lifein Chicago. I was always going back. That doesn’t mean we can’t still see each other.”

She shook her head. “But what does that mean?See each other?”

I let loose my own frustrated sigh. I didn’t need her putting all the broken parts of me out for display. “Are we really having theWhat are we?talk? I’m not like my brother. I won’t string you along.”

Kate took a breath before pinning me with her stormy green eyes. “What you’re doing to me is so much worse than what he ever did. At one time I may have imagined a lot between Declan and me, but he never once made me believe he felt it too.”

The spiraling realization burrowed inside me.

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