“You don’t know that.” He reached forward as if to stroke her arm before pulling back, thinking better of it. “That’s why we should have lunch. Or dinner. Or breakfast. Anything that works with your schedule. So we can get to know each other again.”
She shook her head. “We’re two different people now. It’s been too long, and—” Emma hated to do it, but it was the truth. “Now that I’ve heard why, I don’t blame you for leaving, Dean. But it doesn’t change the past. I don’t trust you, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
“Even though I was a stupid, selfish nineteen-year-old?” He eased back, standing straight, and his six-foot-something frame towered over her.
God, he’d grown into a spectacular-looking man. Thick dark hair, deep gray eyes, features that had become more chiseled and masculine with age. He was even more gorgeous than before, and her heart did an involuntary flip as she remembered how firm and skillful his lips had been when he’d kissed her at the Halloween party.
“I’m different now,” Dean said gruffly. “I promise I’m not that thoughtless anymore.”
“I only accept promises from people I trust.” Part of her felt horrid for sticking to her guns, but it was true. She couldn’t take eleven years of pain and simply wipe them away. Too much time had passed, and even knowing he’d had a good reason to leave didn’t make a difference in the here and now.
“People change,” Dean insisted.
Another pang of bitterness tugged at her. “Yeah, so I’ve heard. Man about town, aren’t you?”
“What are you—?” His earnest expression changed to one of sheepish dismay. “Suz. She’s been telling stories.”
“Don’t blame Suz. I’m pretty sure I could’ve gone down to the local supermarket and gotten most of the information from the National Enquirer. Quite the lady’s man, the new Dean Colter. Sex god, Olympic-caliber kisser, etcetera, etcetera…”
Before she could move, Dean caught her hand in his, leaning down so he could look her straight in eye. “That can change, too. Let me prove it.”
Emma felt uncomfortable with him grasping her fingers, but it was less because he was holding her and more because—damn her body anyway—there was a thin line of electricity racing up her arm, and it started where his thumb rubbed back and forth over her wrist. “Dean, this isn’t a good idea. We’re not kids anymore. There’s nothing you need to prove.”
She removed her hand from his grasp and pointedly widened the gap to the hall, stepping back to clear a path for him to leave.
“So that’s a no to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.” He took a couple steps forward, pausing in the doorway to glance back. “I could grab us some coffees.”
“I only drink tea.”
He turned in the hallway and stood there, this solid block of man. No longer the boy she’d been in love with who had changed her world in so many ways, good and bad. She didn’t know this man, and that’s what made it easier for her to close the door.
Close the door, and walk away.
Still, the aching cold inside her was stronger than she had expected.
And if she cried for both of them tonight—for the love-struck, na?ve children they’d been—that would be just fine. But only for a little while. Only a few tears to get the whole closure process started.
After that, she could finally move on.
Suz
The pounding on her door refused to stop.
Suz turned up the volume on the TV and pretended no one was there.
Her plans for the evening included an urgent meeting with a tub of choco-choco triple-choco-fudge delight ice cream. Not just because she was still nursing a hangover, but because major guilt had settled in regarding her awkward mistake with Emma. The two of them were in that tentative stage of their friendship where they were still getting to know each other, but after what Suz had done, she was worried she’d killed the friendship for good.
“I know you’re in there, Suz. Open the goddamn door.”
Fucking hell. Suz dragged herself off the couch and threw open the door before he broke it down. “Stop it. You’ll wake the entire neighborhood.”
He shouldered past her. “Nice of you to answer me promptly.”
“I figured you’d get the hint. I don’t want to talk to you right now.” Suz tightened the belt on her robe, eyeing her ice cream longingly. “Go away.”
“Absolutely not.” Dean stalked into the room and collapsed onto the couch, and then damned if he didn’t snatch her ice cream off the table and spoon up an enormous scoop. He shook the dark chocolate in her direction. “What the hell were you thinking sending me over there without warning me first?”
Shock dropped her jaw, and she didn’t even protest when he shoved the ice cream into his mouth. “Me? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to warn you about a woman I didn’t even know you knew? Maybe if you’d told me you and Emma had history, I would have been better prepared!”