Page 30 of California Dreaming

Damn it! He’d said too much too soon. He just couldn’t help himself. And now he couldn’t take it back.

The damage was done.

She moved the crutches even closer. “Why do you want me to stay? Are you in pain?”

Phew. She had given him the opportunity to explain his flirtatious comment.

He nodded and then said, “My leg is hurting. A lot.” He paused and looked into her sparkling eyes. Before he could stop himself, he added, “But the truth is, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

She looked both vulnerable and a bit irked. So the last thing he expected her to say was, “You’ve got a broken leg. You can’t possibly have sex.”

Arch chuckled, pleased that she had read his mind. Which also made him wonder, yet again, if she’d already been thinking the same thing.

“I have no doubt that we could find a way to work around that.” He hoped his voice sounded as sexy as he found Tessa right now.

But it was as though she hadn’t heard him. “Also, I’m your caregiver, not your girlfriend. Or your one-night stand. I think you’re forgetting that. Tonight, I’ll excuse it because you’re not used to taking such strong pain pills. But if you pull something like this again, I won’t be so understanding.”

But despite her strong words—damn, she was sexy when she was mad and lecturing him—her cheeks had flushed a charming shade of pink.

Was she going out of her way to act like there was no attraction between them? Yes, she most certainly was. But Arch knew she was just hiding from the truth of the heat between them. He’d never felt anything like it. Not until he’d first laid eyes on Tessa on the beach.

Her arms had dropped to her sides, and her chest rose and fell beneath her thin tank top. Neither of them spoke. And then he saw her lips part, ever so slowly, and for one wild moment he thought she might actually let their magnetic connection pull her toward him. He threw back the bedclothes so that she could climb in, revealing the rest of his torso.

But to his horror, all that did was make her mood palpably shift. He watched, aghast, as she literally shut herself down in front of him.

She cleared her throat. “As I’ve already said, the next time you call me, it had better be for a good reason, or I’m going to have to call the firm I work for and let them know you need someone else to work with you.”

He knew he should let it go, but he’d never felt an attraction this strong before. He’d been drawn to her the minute he set eyes on her, and now she was in his home, half dressed, and he was hurting and lonely, and all he wanted was to put his arms around her and feel her skin against his own.

In a gentle tone that held no pressure or cajoling in it, he said, “I know you’re here for work. But you’re also single. I’m single. We could have a lot of fun together.”

She hesitated for just a moment and then said, “Yes, I’m single. But I’m also a widow. I’m only here to be your caregiver, nothing more.” She paused a beat. “Good night.”

She turned her back on him and left the room.

As the door clicked shut, he stared at the spot where she’d just been standing, feeling like the worst jerk in the world. He hadn’t missed the pain in her eyes.

A widow.

He’d been coming on to a woman who’d lost the love of her life, robbed of happiness by death.

Way to completely blow it, Arch.

He let out a big sigh. Ten minutes ago, it had seemed like such a good idea to call Tessa down here. He’d so badly wanted to see her face, to let her know he was thinking of her.

But now he regretted the decision. Somehow, he’d let his emotions get away from him and override his common sense.

He twisted uncomfortably to turn off the bedside lamp. The room was thrown into darkness, leaving him once again staring at the ceiling. Sleeping was hard enough with his leg needing to be elevated all night, but even if his leg had been in perfect condition, he still wouldn’t get much sleep tonight. Not when he was utterly furious with himself for pushing Tessa’s boundaries.

And especially for not realizing that her tough exterior was hiding a world of pain.

Tessa had been married, and her husband had died. Though he didn’t know anything more than that, it had to be a lot to come back from. And jumping into bed with him to have “fun” was surely the very last thing on her mind.

From this moment forward, he vowed, he’d be a better man.

Even if it hurt like hell to still want her this bad, knowing he would likely never have her body… or her heart.

Chapter Thirteen

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