“No. Not entirely. But you can’t deny that you don’t exactly have a good track record with relationships. Or with acting responsibly.”
Familiar feelings of remorse and inadequacy washed over him, triggering another jolt of bitterness. “You know, for someone who keeps saying how much I’ve changed, I’m not sure you really believe it.”
His friend met his hard gaze head on. “No, I’m not sure you believe it. You’re not the same man you were a few years ago—I can totally see it. But I don’t think you see it. Or maybe it’s that you don’t trust it. I don’t know. I’m not going to psychoanalyze you, Reed.” AJ sighed. “If you want more than a fling with Darcy, then prove to her that you’re not the screw-up she thinks you are. Either way, if you’re going to get involved with her, you need to treat her right. She deserves to be treated like a goddamn princess. She deserves… Everything.”
Hell, just when he thought things couldn’t get any more uncomfortable. Hearing AJ talk about Darcy like that only set off another bout of guilt.
“I won’t see her again. Just say the word.” Utter conviction rang in his voice. He meant what he’d said. He would gladly step aside if AJ asked him to.
But his friend shook his head. “I’m not saying I’m the one who wants to give her everything. Darcy and I are over.”
Reed groaned. “This is fucking ridiculous. We shouldn’t be standing around talking about this. Talking about her like she’s some kind of commodity to be traded between us.” He ran a hand through his hair, feeling like tearing it out by the roots. “I won’t see her again.”
Sighing, AJ went back to the counter. “I’m cool with it, okay? I’m not one of those assholes who subscribe to the whole ‘if I can’t have her, no one else can.’ Like I said, treat her right, and we won’t have a problem.”
Reed was torn. A part of him wanted to be a good friend and promise AJ he wouldn’t start something up with Darcy, but past experience proved that he had no willpower when it came to the woman.
God help him, but he wanted her again. Again and again and again. If he promised not to see her, he wasn’t confident he’d be able to stick to that, and then he and AJ would be having this conversation all over again.
Except next time fists would most definitely be involved.
So he simply nodded and said, “I’ll treat her right.”
“Good.” Without glancing over, AJ reached for another crate. “Just remember, I know where to find you if you don’t.”
Chapter Nine
It was a little past midnight when Darcy opened the door to let Reed into her apartment, and she didn’t have to be a genius to figure out he was upset.
Especially since the first thing he said to her was, “I really shouldn’t have come.”
Darcy already knew he’d told AJ the truth earlier, not just because Reed had given her the heads up, but because AJ had called her himself an hour ago.
To her shock, her ex-boyfriend had actually given her his blessing. They’d even agreed to meet the following evening to talk about it more, an appointment that was made a gazillion times more awkward because Reed had texted right after she’d hung up with AJ, asking if he could come over after work.
She’d never been in a situation like this before. Wanting someone so desperately, while at the same time knowing what a terrible idea it was to open that door. Her conversation with her mother had helped ease some of her concerns, but Reed’s unhappy expression quickly brought all of them back.
“This still feels wrong,” he admitted. “Even though AJ knows, it still feels wrong.”
“I know,” she murmured.
Defeat flickered in his eyes. “I’m just… damn it, I’m gonna go.”
Darcy nodded.
He nodded back.
Their gazes locked.
A split second later, they charged at each other, their mouths meeting in a hungry kiss that summoned simultaneous groans. Darcy clutched the front of his T-shirt to keep from keeling over with pleasure. She’d wanted to kiss him all day. The urge had nearly suffocated her as she’d spent an hour after school watching his powerful body showcase the self-defense moves he was teaching her kids.
Now that she was finally in his arms again, with his wicked tongue in her mouth and his firm body pressed up against her, she didn’t ever want to stop.
“I’m addicted to you,” he hissed into her lips. His hands slipped down to cup her ass, squeezing hard enough to make her gasp. “Tell me to go, damn it.”
“I can’t.” She heard the helpless note in her voice. “I want you too much.”
She grabbed the back of his head to bring his mouth down to hers again. She wasn’t usually so aggressive, but something about Reed unleashed this desperate, starved side of her. Everything about him turned her on.