Page 43 of The Payback Adventure
“Neither do I. So you’re the only one we need to convince.”
Her eyes darkened. “It’s not going to happen.”
“Try to accept it.”
She sat silent. At least she hadn’t said no.
That was a start. Henry would take it. “Say, ‘I’m not to blame.’”
“I—I…” Tears fell from Elisabeth’s eyes.
He covered her hand with his other one. “Try again.”
She exhaled loudly. “I—I’m not to blame.”
“Was that so hard?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Henry released her hand, even though he wanted to keep touching her. “It gets easier.”
“I doubt that.”
He smiled to encourage her. “Keep saying it, and you’ll see.”
“I’ll try.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry for crying. I know guys hate tears.”
Henry wanted to get her ex-fiancé alone in a small, dark room and make him cry. He put his arm around Elisabeth and gave her a squeeze. “Everyone needs a good cry. Even guys. And it’s a lot cheaper than therapy.”
“How do you do it?” She gazed up at him, and he felt as if he could lose himself in her eyes. “How can you make me feel so good when we’re talking about something so serious?”
Warmth settled in the center of his chest. He found himself scooting toward her instead of away. “It’s a gift.”
“Thanks for sharing it with me.”
Elisabeth hugged him. The fresh scent of her soap and shampoo filled his nostrils. He wanted to capture the fragrance in a bottle and spray it on his pillow. Her hair tickled his face, and he ached to run his fingers through the long, silky strands. She felt so soft and perfect in his arms.
Henry relished the shared moment. The hug. Her.
He yearned to kiss her.
With a pulse-pounding certainty, he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t cross that line.
She didn’t need his kisses; she needed his shoulder. A friend. He knew how to handle friends. He was good when it came to taking care of his friends and knowing what they needed.
Elisabeth released him.
A chill shivered through Henry, but her trusting smile reassured him. He had made the right choice. The only choice.
Henry caressed her cheek. “Anytime, Elisabeth. Anytime.”
He meant it.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Kitty, kitty,” Caitlin called. “Time to eat.”
The fat gray cat didn’t come, but Henry filled the stainless steel bowl with food anyway. The cat would be hungry sooner or later. It didn’t look like it skipped any meals.
