Page 65 of Planned Seduction
Chapter Twelve
As it turned out, Amy didn’t cope well at all.
For the last week, since Daniel had mentioned the shoot, she’d been on the mother of all emotional roller-coaster rides. From the extreme euphoria of loving Daniel to the profound sense of impending doom, she’d experienced the entire spectrum of emotions.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that their relationship would not survive his trip. Though she cherished every second spent with him, she had no idea how to use their current happiness to ensure their relationship would endure his month-long absence.
She longed to throw caution to the wind and let herself believe they could make it. But every instinct screamed Daniel would grasp his freedom and time out with grateful hands.
Why wouldn’t he? He’d be with a gorgeous woman, away from the constraints of everyday life. Who wouldn’t be tempted under such conditions?
This would be the ideal time for Mr. Love Them and Leave Them to leave Amy. The perfect opportunity for him to move on and avoid commitment.
This was the exact circumstance she’d prepared for when she’d placed limits on their physical intimacy, insisting they were nothing more than friends with benefits. Daniel was leaving. She might not be ready to go back to being just friends, but at this point, she couldn’t see a way around it.
Amy could either spend the week before he left and the month he was away paralyzed by her own dread, tormenting herself with unrealistic fantasies, or she could take control of the situation and end the torture now.
Taking control appealed to her. If she called off their physical relationship, Daniel wouldn’t have to worry about letting her down when he ended it. He could have his freedom and enjoy his time away without the sense of being tied down to her in Sydney. If she ended it now, their friendship would survive intact.
If Daniel dumped her sometime later, either while he was away or after he returned, the consequences would be dire. Amy doubted she’d be able to handle the rejection. She’d fall to pieces, like she had after Simon, and so would their friendship.
She might be doing exactly what Maggie had told her not to—living her life based on what-ifs—but at least those ifs gave her choices. She couldn’t bear it if Daniel took the options away from her by ending a relationship she didn’t want to end.
Half of her wanted to beg him to give up his dreams and stay and work in Sydney so she wouldn’t have to confront any of this yet. But the other half, the more pragmatic half, knew how selfish that was. Daniel had to follow his dreams. She refused to stand in his way.
Which left her with two options. She could keep sleeping with her best friend for the next few days, knowing their intimacy was doomed and she’d be eaten alive by her fears. Or she could end things now so she could put her terror to rest and the two of them could go back to being just friends.
It was hardly worth debating. Amy couldn’t live like this. She had to end their fling, and she had to do it now, for both of their sakes.
When he arrived at her place, she’d tell him as much, even if it shredded her heart into thousands of pieces.
The doorbell rang.
Her hands shook as she rubbed them over her tired eyes. Taking a deep, fortifying breath to brace for what was about to happen, she let Daniel in.
Why did he have to look so sexy? Why did he have to stand there in the doorway, undressing her with those smoky blue eyes?
“Ah, babe. Seeing you makes me hard.”
Her chest burned. Damn it, couldn’t he say hello like a normal person? Make this easier for her? As it was, the next half hour or so would be one of the hardest of her life. The hunger in Daniel’s expression was only making it worse. Her body ached for contact.
He leaned in close and pressed his lips to hers. “Do we have to make small talk, or can we just make love right here on the floor?” He wound his hand through her hair and slipped his tongue into her mouth.
Pain sliced through her belly. She responded on the most primal level. Her body grew slick with need and her breasts swelled. For a very long time, all they did was kiss, she prolonging what was, in all likelihood, their last one.
He pulled away and pressed a single red rose into her hand.
She clutched the stem. He’d brought her flowers before, but never a red rose. She held it to her nose and inhaled deeply. “Daniel—”
“This rose is the first of many. I intend to have one delivered to your home every day while I’m away. To make sure you don’t forget me while I’m gone.”
Fat chance of her ever forgetting him. She shook her head, almost choking over her words. “Wait. Before you say anything more, we need to talk.”
His smile dimmed and faded. “About what?”
“Let’s sit.” She chose a single high-backed seat, not trusting herself to share a couch with him. “Um…thank you for the flower.” Maybe if they started on neutral ground, she’d find the courage to move on from there.
He knelt in front of her, took her empty hand in his, and looked into her eyes. “It’s not just a flower. It’s a red rose. A symbol of love.”
