Page 50 of Bittersweet

“Wow! I told the guy I wanted a large arrangement, but that is definitely bigger than I thought it would be.” He looked over at her, his eyes shifting from her face to her crossed arms then back again. “What’s wrong?”

“Why don’t you sit down.” Her nerves were going crazy.

He turned to face her, and his jaw twitched. “I’d rather stand.”

Okay, find your words, Harper.

“I don’t think this is going to work.”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Us. This. I didn’t realize it before, but I’m not over Logan. I can’t put him behind me, and I don’t want to.”

The shock on Brett’s face was undeniable. “I can’t believe this.”

“I never meant to hurt you, Brett. I care so much about you—”

“Stop.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“You’ve been such a good friend to me—”

He grabbed hold of her arm. “Stop!” He spoke through gritted teeth.

This was a side of Brett she’d never seen before, and the first time he had ever elicited fear in her. “Brett, let go of my arm.”

“You’re making a mistake, Harper,” he said with a squeeze. “That guy is bad news. He’s got a juvie record a mile long.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know that?”

“I’ve got friends.” His hand felt like a vise around her arm.

She tried to twist out of his grip. “You’re hurting me.”

Brett released her arm and shook his head, as if he suddenly realized what he was doing. He stood silent for several moments.

Harper’s heart was racing after the way he’d man-handled her. The anger in his eyes scared her, and she wished she could somehow signal Savannah to come in and interrupt them.

“I was ready to take this to the next level, Harper, and I thought you were too.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I waited eight months for you to be ready, but you’re just a tease.”

“You know that’s not true. I was straight with you from the start. I told you I wanted to take things slow. And one of the things I liked most about you was your respect for me and for what I wanted.”

“You don’t know how many times I held back when all I wanted was to take you home and have my way with you.”

A small huff escaped through her lips. She was more than a little repulsed at his admission. This version of Brett was like a whole different man than the one she’d known. She could hardly believe what he was saying.

“I was ready to propose to you, Harper.”

A little laugh escaped. “Propose? You really thought we were at that point in our relationship? You really thought a proposal is what would get us ‘to the next level’, as you say?”

Brett’s arm flew to the side, connecting with the vase of flowers, sending it flying off the desk and shattering all over the floor.

Harper jumped, and tears sprung to her eyes. This was not at all how she’d expected him to react to their breakup.

“Go to hell, Harper.” Brett jerked the door open and marched out of the room.

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