And it would end.
Then he’d be that guy she casually ran into at the supermarket. Not the kind of awkward place he wanted to end up. Not with her.
Deep down, he knew it was inevitable. Sooner or later. Her father picked out men for her for Christ sakes. And no way in hell would Dex ever be on that list. Even if he wanted to be.
“Well, at least you’ll get recertified and go back to the way things were,” East said with an exaggerated sigh.
Jesus, was his friend really trying to irritate him tonight?
“I still have a few hours left before Gage will sign off.”
And knowing Gage’s affinity for making his life hell, he’d make sure Michelle accounted for all the hours, down to the minute of training. There was no way Dex could explain the situation to Gage without coming across like an asshole. East was a single man, too, so at least he might understand. But Gage was so wrapped up in his Happily Ever After that he believed there was a happy ending waiting for everyone.
Dex knew that was bullshit. If he was ever going to find a happy ending with a woman, the last person he’d find it with was a woman like Michelle.
He had to see her again, though. To finish up this last part of training if nothing else.
But damn, he was hoping for something else.
Guess his skull was thicker than even he realized, because once again…he knew better. He was getting caught up on a city girl out of his league.
His phone pinged in his pocket, and he fished it out and read a text from Michelle. It was like the universe was listening and fucking with him.
Michelle: I would like to see you. Tonight. Would you like that as well?
He smiled. She was direct. Stated what she wanted and asked his opinion in return. She also had amazing timing, because he was going on seventy-two hours with not a single fix of her, and he was getting edgy with withdrawal. All reason aside, he wanted another taste of her.
Dex: I would like that very much.
Michelle: Great. Please come as soon as you can.
He frowned at the last part. It sounded urgent.
Dex: Are you okay?
Michelle: Yes. Sort of.
Dex: What’s wrong? Are you hurt?
Come right away and “sort of fine” made his brain start hurling ideas. Maybe she’d hurt herself? Cut her hand on a kitchen knife? Car broke down?
Michelle: I’m not hurt. I just miss you.
That made his whole face slacken. She wanted him to come over right away because she missed him.
Plain. Simple. That was it.
She missed him.
She didn’t need him to do any work or chore. Didn’t need him to pick her up or bail her out. Didn’t need a favor. She just missed him.
That made his chest puff out with happiness.
“Gotta go,” he said quickly to East, shoving his phone into his pocket and leaving his last harness on the table. “Can you finish checking that for me?”
“Got somewhere better to be?” East asked.
“Yeah,” Dex replied. He did.
“You should at least shower before seeing your girl,” East called after him. Apparently Dex wasn’t overly cryptic when it came to his plans. It had already been a long day. Yeah, he’d worked hard and was a little sweaty and hadn’t shaved in a few days, but she wanted him. Even he couldn’t resist this disaster waiting to happen.
“I’ll take my chances,” he said.
Chapter Eleven
A knock came at Michelle’s front door, and she all but ran to it. Her feet slapped against the hardwood and sent vibrations up her legs as she hustled faster.
Dex.
It had only been fifteen minutes since she’d texted him. She threw open the door and lunged at him.
“Well, hello to you,” he said with a deep chuckle and hugged her.
She was going for what she wanted. Wasn’t going to waste any more time. And what she wanted was to taste and feel Dex.
Their time was ending. The list would have to be completed on her own. And this, in its own way, would be a checkmark off her list.
Fall hard for a man…and then walk away.
The thought should have made her feel more free and alive than ever. But instead she felt vertigo, like she was falling and had no one to catch her.
Deep down, she couldn’t do a relationship. Couldn’t be tied to anyone, because it would go against everything she’d fought for. She’d been more certain of that than ever when Dex had picked her out of the mock water rescue. He was the kind of man she’d get lost in if she wasn’t careful.
But she wanted one more night with Dex. At the very least to say some sort of good-bye. Good-bye to the fun, good-bye to his charm, good-bye to the man she had feelings for.
She couldn’t have feelings. She just couldn’t.
And even if she did, she had to prove to herself that those feelings had no power over her. She had to be with him for one more night and then tell him good-bye.