He watched her narrowly as she touched her fingers to her face. She looked disoriented. She turned her back to him, and then belatedly realized her dress was gaping open all the way to the top of her buttocks. She hastily zipped it up as far as her reach allowed. He watched as the two sexy dimples on either side of the base of her spine and an expanse of golden, smooth, naked back disappeared behind fabric.
He sprawled back on the couch, disappointment and frustration slicing through him like a knife.
“Colleen—”
“Is that why you came over here? Because Mari told you the kids were at my mom’s? Because you knew I was alone?” she asked, refusing to look at him.
He gave a frustrated sigh and brushed the long bangs off his forehead. He had a feeling he knew where this line of questioning was going. “I came over here because I wanted to see you. I’m interested in you. It’s not a criminal offense that I’d like to have you to myself for once.”
“My children are usually with me. We’re kind of a package deal,” she snapped.
“Don’t try to make me into the bad guy again,” he stated bluntly, leaning forward. “I like your kids, too. That doesn’t mean being alone with you doesn’t have its unique appeal.” He studied her averted profile. His heart sunk a little when he realized the full extent of her vulnerability in that moment.
Damn.
He stood. She glanced back nervously. He held out his arms.
“Come here,” he encouraged.
“No,” she blurted out. “Don’t say anything else. I’m…I’m confused enough.” She took another step away from him. “I don’t know where that came from,” she said, gesturing to the location where they’d just been locked together in a fevered embrace.
“Yes, you do,” he said gently. “The same place it came from on Sunset Beach, or in my office the other day. I want you. It’s been driving me crazy spending all this time with you for the past week and not touching you. You want me, too.”
“I don’t—”
“Why can’t you admit it’s true?”
“Because I don’t want it to be true,” she returned, spinning to face him, her expression a little wild. For a few seconds, they just stared at one another.
“Is it because of Darin?” he asked. He glanced at the photo of the smiling man on the mantle. For the first time since he’d noticed the picture, he felt a sharp stab of jealousy.
She straightened and stepped farther away from him.
“Yes,” she said shakily.
“I’m not so sure I believe you.”
He expected her to whip around again and let him have it in typical Colleen fashion, but she didn’t speak. Her silence worried him. It worried him a lot. She stood with her back to him, her forearms wrapped below her breasts, her head lowered. She looked much smaller to him in that moment than he was accustomed to seeing indomitable, vibrant Colleen.
He really was a jerk.
“I’m sorry. Of course I believe you,” he said. When she didn’t respond, but remained with her head lowered, he sighed. “I’ll let myself out.”
“I’m the one who is sorry, for sending you mixed messages,” she said. “And you’re right. I’m not so sure you should believe me about Darin, either. I do miss him, don’t get me wrong. But…that’s not why I stopped just now,” she said in a small voice. She glanced up at him hesitantly, her lost expression killing him a little.
“But believe this, Eric. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready for you,” she said quietly.
He watched, filled with regret, as two tears rolled down her cheek. The vision of her filled him…her uncertainty, her vulnerability, her sadness. He lifted his hand and dried the soft, smooth surface of her skin with his thumb, wishing he could do more.
“I’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you want right now. But I’ll see you the day after tomorrow,” he murmured, dropping his hand even though he wanted to keep touching her.
“What?” she asked, looking bewildered, tears about to spill from her lovely eyes in earnest. He experienced an overwhelming urge to hold her. He was used to physically connecting with a woman, but this added desire to be tender, to soothe…to make everything better confused him a little.
He took a step toward the hallway, recognizing she needed distance, but never wanting to grant it less.
“We’re meeting at the bakery with Liam and Natalie. To choose a wedding cake design,” he said.
“But…you don’t need to come to that, Eric,” she scolded almost fondly.