T.S. had become an integral part of her life when she hadn’t been looking.
“You’re losing weight and you were already skinny. If you weren’t my best friend I’d have to hate you for that. I eat when I’m depressed.” Missy managed to smile at her friend, knowing she meant well. Candy had been pushing all manner of food and baked goods on her for the past week, but Missy couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for any of them. Not even Lucas’ famous killer brownies.
Candy pushed away from the doorframe and closed the door behind her. “Call him. Go see him. Talk to him.” No need for her to say who he was. They both knew.
Tears pricked Missy’s eyes. She had to do something. She couldn’t keep going on this way. She wasn’t sleeping, her stomach was constantly in knots and a deep emptiness filled her.
She’d done a lot of thinking this past week. She hadn’t realized how focused and regimented her life had become until she’d met T.S. She’d come to the unhappy conclusion that she’d allowed a set of goals to eclipse her life. Goals were good, but not at the expense of living. And that’s what she’d essentially been doing. She’d put off her life, foolishly thinking everything would fall into place as soon as she’d reached a certain goal.
Talk about a control freak.
She’d accepted that she’d needed that rigid sense of control and order in the beginning. But she wasn’t a frightened young girl anymore trying to put her past behind her and make something of herself. She was an independent, financially secure woman. It was time to start acting like it.
“You’re right.”
Candy’s eyes widened. “I am? I mean, of course I am.”
Her friend had refrained from mentioning T.S. all week, but now Missy had to ask. “How is he?”
“Hurt. Angry.” Candy didn’t pull any punches.
Missy sucked in a breath. She ached for him, for the pain she’d caused. It didn’t matter where their relationship ended up and, after waiting a week to talk to him, Missy was under no illusions that they even had one any longer. But she owed it to him to talk to him like an adult.
She shoved away from her desk. She could afford to take an early lunch considering how many extra hours she’d put in this past week. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it was necessary. And long overdue.
She retrieved her purse from her desk drawer and slipped on her coat. “Do you know where he is?”
“At the apartment. It’s the final day. He took a few days off to check on the other projects his company is handling.” Candy placed her hand on Missy’s arm. “Be sure you know what you want. I don’t want either one of you hurt any more than you already have been.”
Missy hugged her friend. “I’m so sorry to put you in the middle of this.”
“That’s okay. But I love you both and want you happy.”
Missy didn’t think that was possible. “I don’t know about happy, but we’ll have sorted this out once and for all.”
T.S. toured the apartment, checking on every inch of the place. It was perfect. No need for him to stay any longer. No excuse for him to be here in hopes Missy might drop by to see Candy.
Not that he was doing that. Not really.
He stomped out into the main room where both Justin and Lucas were waiting for him. “It’s done.”
“It sure is. You did a hell of a job.” Justin held out his hand. “Thanks. I can’t wait to move in.”
T.S. took it. “I had some good help.”
Justin laughed. “Unskilled labor is more like it.” He slapped his hand on T.S.’ back. “I gotta go pack my stuff and buy some furniture to put in this place.”
When Justin was gone, T.S. turned to his friend. “If you need anything else give me a call.”
Lucas said nothing, but continued to stare patiently at him. The bastard. T.S. held up his hands. “I’m not talking about it. It’s done. It’s finished.” And that thought was what kept the knot in his gut twisted tight.
“Have you tried to talk to her?” Lucas leaned against the living room wall and crossed one foot over the other as if settling in for the long haul. T.S. was having none of it.
“Nope. Missy made it clear we were finished. Done.”
“You know she has control issues just like you do. Some guys call her the ice-queen.” Lucas threw that statement out of left field, shocking T.S.
Before he could tell his friend how untrue that asinine statement was, he heard a noise behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and froze. Missy was standing there, her hands clenching her purse. She looked slightly pale, but composed.
Shit, had she heard what Lucas said? By the look on her face he’d say that was a definite yes.
Lucas came away from the wall. “Hey, Missy.”
“Hi.” She motioned in his direction. “Do you mind if I talk to T.S.? Alone.”
“No problem.” Lucas headed out, pausing long enough to drop a kiss on Missy’s cheek. It was an innocent gesture of friendship, but it made him curl his hands into fists at his sides. When he realized what he was doing he made himself relax, flexing his stiff fingers. Missy could kiss whoever she wanted.
Acid churned in his gut at the thought of another man in bed with her.
Outwardly betraying none of his feelings, he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Lucas to leave and close the door behind him. Missy turned to him and tried to smile. It fell flat.
“What do you want?” His voice was gruffer than he’d intended and she flinched slightly before straightening her shoulders.
“I wanted to apologize for what I said the other day. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I should have asked for your side of the story. I’m sorry.”
A week ago that would have meant everything to him. But now, he was so frozen inside it could barely even make a dent in his newly erected walls. “Apology accepted.” He started to leave. He couldn’t bear being this close to Missy and not touch her.
He tried to brush past her, but she stopped him dead in his tracks when she put her hand on his arm. His biceps flexed and swelled as his muscles tightened. He turned his face toward her and cocked one eyebrow in question.
Her cheeks flushed, but she appeared determined. “I’m sorry for the pain I caused you, T.S. The only excuse I have is that I had a gut reaction due to my past. That wasn’t fair to you. To either of us.” Her fingers tightened and he could feel the heat of her hand soaking through his shirt and into his skin.
With every breath he took he inhaled her sweet smell, a combination of soap and lotion she used. He’d come to know it well. If Missy glanced down at the front of his jeans she’d know he was as hard as a post.
His instantaneous arousal made him angry and he lashed out. “I’m glad you figured it all out.”
Missy frowned. “What happened, T.S.? Why were you in prison?”
The words were on the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them back. “Considering we’re done, I don’t think you need to know.” No way was he opening himself up to satisfy her curiosity. A guy had to have some pride.
Instead of moving away from him, Missy shifted closer. Her body brushed his. Even through the thickness of her coat, he could feel her heat. His fingers itched to stroke her curves and pull her tight against him. The sexual heat that always seemed to be simmering between them whenever they were in the same room was still there. That hadn’t changed in the past week.
“T.S.” She said his name. Nothing more.
The loneliness. The anger. The disappointment. The pure sexual need of the past week all collided together at once. She was here and he’d missed her. So damn much. He hated how much he’d missed her.
He gripped her shoulders and pulled her toward him. He half expected her to fight him when he captured her mouth. She surged toward him instead, meeting him halfway.