Page 92 of About that Fling
She grabbed the back of his head and pressed her lips to his, cutting off the stream of words and most of his oxygen flow. He didn’t care. He’d only been joking with her, and if he could get a kiss out of the deal, all the better.
Jenna drew back and smiled. “Shut up, Adam.”
“I love you.”
She blinked, fingers still twined in his hair. “What?”
“I said I love you.” He looked in her eyes, not backing down. Not regretting his words one bit. “My segue could use a little work, but it’s true.”
Jenna bit her lip. “I don’t know what to say.”
He shrugged and did his best not to feel disappointed. “You could admit you’re fond of me, maybe compliment my driving or my ass.”
“You know all that’s true,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “And I love you, too. But?—”
“You do?” Hold the phones. She loved him?
Jenna sighed. “You’re ignoring my but.”
“I would never ignore your butt.”
“Come on, Adam.” She nibbled her lip. “Be serious for one second. We can’t get serious here.”
“I have no idea what you just said.”
One edge of her mouth twitched. “You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
She sighed, her fingers still twined with his. “We can’t get serious in a relationship. Not now, anyway. Not with my job on the line and my best friend’s emotions so wonky right now.”
“I get the job thing, I really do. But why do you think Mia would even care?”
“I just do.” She glanced out the window.
“Have you asked her?”
Jenna shrugged, still looking away. “I’ve broached the subject. Not of me dating you, but of you getting serious with anyone at all.”
“And?”
“Look, the timing is just lousy. Her hormones are all topsy-turvy and her marriage is shaky and I just?—”
“Her marriage is shaky?”
Jenna frowned down at her hands. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“But you said it,” he said, curling a finger beneath her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Why didn’t you want me to know?”
“Because I didn’t want you to feel glad about it.” Her eyes flashed with passion, but not the kind he’d seen last night in bed. This was a different sort of fervor. “I didn’t want to see I told her so in your eyes. I didn’t want to see even one tiny shred of delight that my best friend is having a hard time. She’s my best friend, Adam—it’s bad enough I’m betraying her by sleeping with you, but I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone taking pleasure in her struggles.”
Adam gritted his teeth. “Jenna, I’d never derive happiness from anyone else’s unhappiness. I hope you’d know that about me.”
“This is different. This is the woman who left you flat for someone she thought was better. You can’t honestly tell me you wouldn’t feel at least a tiny twinge of satisfaction if it turned out she didn’t live happily ever after with her new life and marriage.”
“I can,” he said, trying to keep his breathing even. “I can absolutely say that.”
She let out a long, slow breath, then leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips.
