Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(61)

“That must have been awful.”

“So awful. I’m ashamed to admit, it took me a long time to recover. I quit my job and even moved to a different apartment. I always felt like someone was watching me, waiting for me to wreck another marriage.”

Whoever this guy was, I really hated him. “That was his fault, not yours. Surely his wife figured that out.”

“I don’t know what happened to them. I hope she left him. I did find out they didn’t have kids, which was a relief. That would have been so much worse. I also wasn’t the only woman he had on the side.”

“To the surprise of no one, fucking douchebag.”

That made her crack the barest hint of a smile.

“I didn’t date again for a long time—a couple of years. I was too afraid of being played the fool. So when I did decide to date, I created a set of rules for myself. For starters, I’d do everything I could to find out who he was. I wasn’t making that mistake again. And I’d keep it casual. I’d thought I was in love once and it had turned me into an idiot. I wasn’t making that mistake again, either.”

“But why always casual? You have to realize not every guy is going to play you like that.”

“I know. But I didn’t want to take the risk. It wasn’t just that he was married or the trauma of the way I found out. I really believed I was in love. Deeply in love. And it made me completely blind. I thought I’d side stepped all the drama my mother put herself through with her marriages. I thought I’d found someone who was utterly unlike my father.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “It turned out, he was exactly like him. And I didn’t see it.”

I reached over and took her hand. “So you went after men who wouldn’t ever put your heart at risk. Men who didn’t want commitment or marriage.”

“Yes.”

“And I broke your rules.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine. “All except one.”

It was my turn to crack a smile. “Yeah, I’m definitely not married. Look, I don’t want to downplay what you went through. That’s awful. But I’m not him. You can’t punish me for the sins of some asshole with a god complex who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.”

“That’s why I came back.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re making it really hard to stay mad at you.”

“No, be mad at me. You should be mad.”

I shifted closer. “How about I tell you to leave and then you get up and storm out. But you don’t cry until you get home. Then you throw yourself face down on the bed and sob.”

She stifled a laugh. “Oh, please. I’d at least down a shot of tequila before the sobbing began.”

“Then what happens?”

“You realize you shouldn’t have sent me away. That I meant my apology and risked a lot to be vulnerable with you. In your anger at yourself, you throw your phone against the wall and it breaks.”

“Good one.”

“It’s rather cliché.”

“Yeah, but I like it. Then I come after you and bang on your door. Obviously it’s pouring down rain and I’m soaked.”

“The rain is required.”

“You come down and open the door for me and I’m standing there like a forlorn little puppy, dripping wet and sad.”

“And I step out into the rain and I’m instantly as drenched as you.”

“Is this from a movie we’ve both seen, because this is great.”

She groaned. “No, it’s not. It’s awful. So cheesy.”

I touched her cheek. “We’re standing in the rain, both drenched. I cup your face and kiss you until you swoon.”

“Swoon? Please.”

“Oh yeah, you swoon and I catch you.” I brushed her lips with a kiss.

“That’s the worst.”

“It’s romantic. What’s wrong with a big romantic gesture?”

“Big romantic gestures are overrated. Too easy to fake. Mess up my hair and ruin my lipstick instead.”

I pulled her into my lap so she was straddling me. “That I can do. But first, you have to admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“That we’re in a relationship.”

Her little grin was so sexy. “Fine. We’re in a relationship.”

“Good girl.” I kissed her again. “Although we still have a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m starving. Please tell me you have the Thai food over at your place.”

“No, the delivery guy is probably already sharing it with someone named Jen.”

I leaned my head back against the couch cushion. “Damn.”

She draped her arms around my shoulders. “I’m sure I have something I can throw together. Do you want to come over?”

“Sure, but only for dinner. No sex.”

“Why not sex?”

“I’m kidding, I definitely want sex. But food first.”

She leaned in and kissed me. I grabbed her ass and rubbed her against my erection. I really did want food first, but she was right there, and we were at risk of getting a bit too romantic.

Couldn’t have that. Had to keep things a little dirty.