From This Day Forward (The Wedding Belles 0.5)(9)

“Then what is the problem, Red?”

Leah felt a tantrum start to burn low in her belly. She’d been willing enough to play along in his effort to ignore their history in the interest of professionalism, but his playing dumb was more than she could handle.

She moved closer, although this time it was in simmering anger rather than white-hot want. “My problem is that I thought we had something, Jason. I realize we weren’t exchanging rings and love notes. I know we never agreed to exclusivity. But I thought we were at least to the point of being honest to each other. If you wanted to sleep around, why not just tell me?”

“You didn’t give me a chance to tell you anything.”

She let out a harsh little laugh. “Right. This is my fault.”

“I’m just saying you’re pretty quick to play the victim card for someone who didn’t care enough to get all the facts.”

Leah spread her hands out to the side. “All right. Let’s hear ’em. Let’s hear the facts.”

His gaze was hot with anger. “Sure. I’ll just spill my guts to the woman who walked away without a second glance.”

“Because you hurt me!” she burst out, her voice cracking. “You hurt me, Jason, and I couldn’t—I can’t—”

Leah’s head dipped forward in defeat, resting against the door, her eyes closing as she realized she didn’t know what she was trying to say. And even if she figured it out, she wasn’t at all sure she’d want to let Jason Rhodes into that part of her.

“You weren’t the only one that got burned that day,” he said, voice tense with anger. “You’re awfully high and mighty for someone who gave a guy the silent treatment. For a year.”

“Because we had nothing to say to each other.”

“Bullshit,” Jason snapped. “What the hell were we doing all summer if we can’t so much as give the other person a chance to explain?”

“Fine. Explain,” Leah said, crossing her arms over her chest.

His eyes were dark and angry. “Would it make a bit of difference? Would you even believe me?”

Leah squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t un-see her, Jason. I can’t stop reliving that moment when I knocked on your door and she opened wearing your shirt—a shirt I’d bought you—and no pants. Of course I didn’t stick around. You told me from the very beginning that you weren’t looking to settle down.”

“Which you were fine with,” he growled softly. “You were just fine with the way I could make you come within five seconds of touching you. You didn’t mind when I pulled you into the bedroom or the kitchen or wherever the hell we felt like it and kissed every inch of your body. You didn’t complain when—”

“Stop,” she whispered, putting a hand over his mouth before she could think better of touching him. She yanked her hand back as though she’d been burned.

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “If you tell me you don’t remember it like I remember it, I’ll walk away,” he said quietly. “I’ll go into my room, close the door, and I’ll never mention it again.”

Leah opened her mouth to tell him exactly that—to say or do anything to stop this low burn of hunger for him that refused to cool.

No words came out, and Jason pressed forward, his hand finding her waist before his fingers slid forward to curve possessively over her hip.

“You remember it,” he said, pressing his lips to her ear.

Torture. Having him this close was pure and utter torture.

Somehow, through the haze of her want, Leah heard the sound of approaching laughter coming from the main reception area. Any minute now they’d have an audience, and—

Jason acted for her.

Pulling his key out of his pocket, he slid it into the lock of his room, pushing the door open before pulling her inside and away from prying eyes.

Leah tensed, prepared for him to make a move before she’d properly pep-talked herself on all the reasons they should keep their hands to themselves.

But Jason merely tossed his key on the small table by the door, put his hands on his waist, and turned to face her.

Waiting.

“I need to get to bed,” she whispered.

“So you’ve said.”

“I can’t—I don’t want to do this with you again, Jason. One summer fling is fine, but two is—”

He lifted dark eyebrows. “Two is what?”

Suicide. Ruination. Disaster.

Leah swallowed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Her hand reached behind her, fumbling for the doorknob. He didn’t try to stop her. Didn’t move or say a single word as she yanked the door open and all but fell into the hall.

As she shoved her own key into the lock of her room, she half expected him to come after her. To use his mouth to remind her of all the reasons she should have stayed.

But he didn’t.

Jason’s door stayed resolutely closed even as Leah opened and shut her own, retreating into the safety of two locked doors between them.

She rested her forehead against the doorframe, just for a moment. It was better this way. Safer. It wasn’t that Leah shunned casual sex—she liked it. Especially when it was as good as it was with Jason Rhodes.

But she’d learned the hard way that with this man, there was nothing casual about it.