Page 37 of Night Watch
“I would. I really would.” Those incessant tears wet her eyes again. She gave them an angry swat.
He leaned forward and clasped her hand. “If you need to cry, then cry. Anytime. No one will judge you for it. We just want to offer any comfort we can.”
She tried swallowing and changing her focus to stem the tears, but they came fast and furious, rolling down her cheeks.
“Aw, honey. Come here.” Erik moved closer and drew her into his arms.
She went willingly, giving Pong no choice but to move out of the way, and laid her head against that solid chest, which had once felt the imprint of her head day after day. His solid arms curling around her broke the final straw in her resolve, and she let go. Sobbing. Wetting his shirt.
He gently ran his fingers over her back in rhythmic circles. “Tell me what to do, honey. How to help.”
Don’t call me honey. I don’t deserve it after the way I left you.
Exactly. She didn’t deserve this comfort and support from him, and that was all it took to stop her tears. She needed to push away and put some distance between them before she did something like kiss him.
She pressed her hands against his chest, and he relaxed his arms. But before she could completely lean back, he ran his thumb over the tears lingering on her cheek. Her heart took a tumble into infinity, and she realized she could easily fall in love with this man again.If she wasn’t still in love with him. This wonderful, considerate man who’d always respected her, loved and cared for her. He’d treated her like a princess, and she’d left him like an ogre. Sure, she had to do it, but he hadn’t deserved the hurt and pain she’d caused.
His hand slid into her hair, cupping the back of her head. He leaned closer, as if he were going to kiss her.
Oh, man, what should she do? Her heart longed for the kiss. Her brain warned her to push back. She should move away. Quickly. But her heart was winning, and she couldn’t budge even an inch.
But more than anything, she knew even if shecouldmove, she didn’t want to. Didn’t want to at all.
What in the world was Erik doing? Kissing Kennedy. He had to be certifiably crazy. Completely and totally crazy. And yet…he couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to stop. Her lips were warm and insistent. She wanted the kiss as much as he did, fueling his passion even more.
He drew her close. Closer. Remembered all the times he’d held her. The good times. When he’d been head-over-heels in love with her. And now? What now? Was he leading her on?
He felt like an icy wind blew through his condo, chilling his desire. He jerked back before the cold wind froze him in place.
“I’m sorry.” He ground out the words between deep breaths. “I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong.”
Pain constricted her eyes. “Why exactly?”
“Because it can’t go anywhere. It’s wrong to make you think I’d changed my mind when I haven’t.”
“About forgiving me?”
“No. Not that. Not that at all. I’ve forgiven you, and I would never take that back.” He curled his fingers tight against his palms to keep from touching her. “But I’m not interested in a relationship with anyone.”
“I see.” She crossed her arms.
He pointed at her arms. “That’s exactly why it was wrong. Now you’re mad or your feelings are hurt, and I didn’t want that to happen. We agreed on professionalism, and we need to follow that agreement. I need to keep my hands and lips to myself.”
“I’m not mad.” She let her arms fall. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still attracted to you. I have feelings for you. But after the way I hurt you, I don’t blame you. Not at all.”
She touched his arm, her soft skin setting a fire burning in his gut again, and he had to resist bolting away and hurting her even more. His best bet was to shift their conversation back to the investigation. That discussion would put a damper on their emotions.
He jerked to his feet. “Why don’t we sit at the dining table and talk about what I found at your mother’s place. Then you can share it with Finley to see if she has any explanations.”
“That sounds dire.”
“It’s concerning.”
She blinked a couple of times. “Now you’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to. I’ll grab the information.” He all but ran to snatch up his bag, which he’d set on the floor near the kitchen island. Pong trailed him, but he didn’t want the distraction. He pointed at the dog’s crate. “Go to bed, boy.”
Pong gave Erik a sad look but did as he was told.
