18. Tobias
CHAPTER 18
Tobias
A few days after getting Mom home, Harmony follows me into Kelleher’s. “I have treats for you and your mom.” She lifts a tray of goodies and a separate bag up to show me. “Your mom loves these. I visited her a few times when you were working.”
Wait—Harmony was Mom’s mystery visitor?
That makes total sense now that I think about it. Peace and Harmony with every visit. The baked goods. I guess the stress of Mom being in the hospital blocked out that possibility for me.
“She’s the sweetest,” Harmony gushes as she continues into the bookstore, setting the stuff on a nearby table. She acts like nothing happened, like I didn’t walk out on her after a night of mind-blowing sex. She acts like she always does, to the extent that her peppiness is annoying the fuck out of me.
I really don’t want to do what I am about to do. But she’s not giving me much of a choice.
I need to concentrate on her ruining my chances at expanding Kelleher’s. I would have been able to put my own footprint on my family’s legacy. Not that I have anyone to share it with. I’ll grow old alone, I’m sure. Maybe that’s what these feelings are for me—a midlife crisis. A yearning to have someone carry on my legacy when I’m gone. That’s got to be it.
“So about the other night…” she starts and stalls out.
“What about it?” I bark. I really don’t want to do this right now. I don’t want to be forced into that bad guy role. It’s not one I play well. It goes against my being to be hurtful like she’s going to force me to be.
“I mean it’s been a few days…” her voice trails off again as her eyes look away behind me and then down at her shoes. I just stare at her, looking at those gorgeous lips but say nothing to her. I have nothing to say. I don’t want to be an asshole. But I have a feeling that I am going to need to be, but it’ll be for her own good in the long run.
“You kind of ghosted me,” her voice quiet and wavering like she’s not sure if I ghosted her or not.
She stands near the door in the backroom, shifting from foot-to-foot, and I can’t help myself. Fuck it. I need one last taste.
I eat up the small space between us, pressing her against the wall next to the door as I kiss her hard, swallowing her surprised yelp. Our tongues dance, swirling around each other and nearly making me delirious with want for this woman. Even with the way I treated her, she still wants me. It’s obvious by how she reciprocates my every advance.
This is the last time I’ll get to taste her, but I want to enjoy every second of it. As she melts against the wall, I push my leg between hers, loving how she parts them just for me.
I pull my mouth from hers and make eye contact. Her eyes cloud over, turning the dark ocean color midnight blue. The tip of her tongue darts out to moisten her already plump lips.
Steeling myself, I gulp as I prepare for what I have to do. I don’t want to do this. I’ve stayed away from her all week on purpose. It’s been easy with getting Mom settled back in at home and having my part-time workers come in for extra shifts. She didn’t seem to get the message. She just had to bring in those damn pastries for Mom. She couldn’t help putting herself back in my orbit.
I draw in a deep breath, inhaling her warm coffee and vanilla scent for what will be the last time. It takes everything in me to step back and take my hands off her.
My words come out in a low growl as I put another step between us. “Stay away from my mother and stay away from me.” Her body stiffens as she absorbs my words and their meaning. Her face morphs from desire to shock as a tiny gasp comes from her mouth.
“Go on. Get out.” My words are stilted and short because I don’t want this. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want her to know that I don’t really mean what’s coming out of my mouth. “And take your shitty pastries with you.” I throw the bag at her, but she lets it fall to the ground with no effort to grab it.
She tucks her chin to her chest and rushes out the back door.
I didn’t mean for it to come out as mean and as hate-filled as it did, but it’s for the best. This is what’s best for her. I don’t need her getting close to my mom because that will only make things harder in the long run. It’s better this way. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.