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“I can’t keep coming over here, Tobias.”
I mean for it to sound strong. Serious. Finite.
Instead, it’s barely a whisper. Like I don’t actually mean it. But I do. I have to.
“Why not? Are you married?”
I shake my head.
Tobias's eyes pin me in place. “Are you engaged?”
Again, I shake my head
He leans closer, deep voice lowering as his arm drapes across the back of my stool. “Are you otherwise committed and or entangled?”
I can barely breathe, but still manage another headshake. He’s so close and he smells so good.
It draws me in, and before I know what I’m doing, I’ve leaned closer. Pulled in a deep breath, eyes closing as it wiggles into the deepest parts of my brain, wrapping around a memory of how it felt when he used to hold me.
Tobias’s touch skims down the side of my neck, barely a whisper, just like his voice. “Then I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you being here with me whenever you want.”
“I can’t.” I keep my eyes closed, because I know if I look at him it’s going to be so much harder to stand my ground.
“Why not?” His fingers move to brush against my cheek, rough but gentle at the same time as his calluses scrape my skin.
My chin wobbles, and I suck in a shaky breath. “Because it’s not right. I can’t—”
“Shh.” He strokes over my cheek again, and his fingers feel wet. “If you can’t right now, that’s okay.”
I finally open my eyes, blinking fast as I register the tears falling free. “I just…” Sniffing, I try to rein my emotions in. “Now is just not the right time. I’m sorry.”
Part of me expects him to be mad. Upset that he’s gone to all this effort and I’m not giving him what he seems to want.
But Tobias just gives me a slow smile that doesn’t look even a little bothered when he says, “I’ve waited for you for almost ten years, Brooke. I can wait a little longer.”
#janicewhiteaker #smalltownromance @theauthor.agency
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