Fragile Desire (Desire #3)

Prologue

Why can’t I just love him the way he deserves?

Why does he even have these feelings for me in the first place?

Doesn’t he know that I’m broken and incapable of love?

These are the same questions that have been running through my mind for weeks.

No, months. Ever since Harry admitted them to me.

Sweet, innocent, and caring Harry. He is the type of man that every woman asks for, but when you get them, the spark doesn’t ignite.

Or in my case, the spark did ignite, but for one night only.

Going up to his apartment above his bar was possibly the worst decision I have ever made.

Well, that’s a little dramatic, as making bad decisions is something that happens daily for me.

But I really shouldn’t have slept with him.

Ever since, I haven’t been able to get the girls to back off quizzing me about it.

Now I have got myself in an even worse position, cornered by him on my way back from using the bathroom.

Peering over his shoulder, I can see my group of friends on the other side of the bar.

They're all drunken fools, messing around as they chat and dance.

Yet here I am, looking anywhere but at the man standing in front of me.

He is a typically handsome man, with messy hair and the kindest smile. I do find him really attractive, that isn’t the issue. There is just something missing. Either from him or me.

“Listen, Fal, I know you might not feel the same way as I do. So this is my last-ditch attempt at winning you over,” Harry says as he takes a step closer into my personal space. “Kiss me. Just one kiss. And if you feel nothing, I will back away and leave you be.”

“Oh, Harry, you and I both know that I have had way too many shots of Sambuca to think rationally right now. I’d snog Maya at this point in the night,” I laugh. Trying with all might to keep the edge of hysteria out of my tone.

For fucks sake. When I have had too much to drink, I turn into a horny beast that has no standards. Not that he meets that criteria, I just really don’t want to lead him on any more than I already have. Trust the devil inside of me to light up at the idea of a hook-up right now.

“Kiss me, Fallon,” he says, his usual cute smile curving his lips. He knows I won't turn him down.

With a shake of my head and roll of my eyes, I can't help but smile in return. I don’t say another word to him as I close the distance between us.

Reaching up, I thread my fingers through his hair and gently coax his face towards mine.

I can tell the moment he realises what I’m up to, his eyes widening for a split second before closing as he leans closer to meet me halfway.

Don’t get me wrong, Harry is a good kisser.

A solid eight out of ten. But kissing isn’t the issue here.

Even when we did sleep together, that was okay too.

The problem is that my heart isn’t racing, thoughts aren’t stilling, there's just… nothing. He is such an amazing man. Maybe I should shove my own feelings aside for a while and see where this could go? It’s not like I have ever truly given us a shot.

If only I knew then that my chance at falling in love with Harry would never happen.