Don't Hesitate Don't Hesitate (The Reluctant Heart Book 3) - Jeannette Winters Page 0,24

good, but I should’ve discussed it with you first.” She’d been forced into enough. I didn’t want to be another one cornering her.

Anne smiled, got up, and came to stand in front of me, surprisingly close. “Andrew, I don’t care how nice you are to me, my answer about The Treasured Chest is still no.”

“Have I mentioned purchasing it again?” I asked. She shook her head. “Then maybe I’m being nice to you because I’m a nice guy.”

Anne chuckled. “I thought you said you always told the truth.”

I looked down into her honey brown eyes and said, “You’re right. The truth is…I’m only being nice to you because I don’t think I could be anything else.” I stepped closer and tipped her chin high. “That’s not totally true, either. There is something else I can be with you, and it ain’t…nice.”

Her tongue traced her top lip and she asked, “And what is…that?”

I pulled her up into my arms, crushing her soft body against mine. I felt her wince, as I had forgotten about her bruises. I went to loosen my grip, when she grabbed my shoulders, kissed me hard and quick, then backed off.

With us eye to eye, she said, “I thought we agreed not to mix business with pleasure.”

I lowered her gently to the floor and replied, “I did. So maybe we should continue this conversation at that cabin after the club closes.”

“You’re really going to stay here the entire time?” she asked.

“I’ll be here while you need me.” I needed to get back to the entrance or I knew she’d take up the bouncer post again. “Don’t worry, I won’t toss anyone out who doesn’t deserve it.”

She shook her head. “Hell, they all deserve it if you ask me, but then I won’t have to worry about selling it. Because I’ll lose it first.”

“No, you won’t. You just run the business side and don’t worry about the rest.”

I turned and left her office. If she’s successful, then I’m not. This was not where anyone in business wanted to be.

Well, Phillip, I guess you’re not getting in on the deal. Because it just went belly-up.

Chapter Eleven

Anne

I had to admit having Andrew at the front door relieved a lot of stress, but it added something…unexpected. What was going through my mind that made me kiss him? I couldn’t even accuse him of trying to make a move on me. Granted, the look in his eyes said he was going to kiss me eventually, but what the hell, when did I become the aggressor?

During work, I was able to avoid Andrew, but now we were on our way back to Trixi’s cabin. I really wished she hadn’t bailed on me, because being alone with Andrew right now wasn’t a good idea. He was more than just a distraction. He’s a complication I don’t need.

The problem is my head knows it, but my body doesn’t seem to want to hear it. I can blame that on Andrew. Even though the kiss was brief, it held a lot of promise of something...hot... if we gave in. Not that we couldn’t, but we shouldn’t. He’ll be going back to Boston and I’ll be…stuck here.

I knew what I needed to do, but why was doing the right thing so damn miserable? Did Uncle Carl know how this was going to affect my life? Just when I thought I was starting my career, I had to step back and put my dreams on hold. Aunt Trixi said maybe it’s because Boston wasn’t where I belonged, but she was wrong. I loved so much about that city. And now getting to know Andrew, well, that just added another item to that list.

I thought for sure he would insist on following me home, but instead, he said he’d pick up dinner and meet me there. I didn’t need anyone to follow me, but for some stupid and unexplainable reason, I was disappointed he hadn’t.

I used to know exactly what I wanted. It’s how I kept such a high GPA in college. I want something and work hard to make it happen. But now, I felt like I was walking on a picket fence, and no matter how careful I was, I’d fall. It was an unfamiliar feeling. For the first time ever, I was out of my depth. Probably because this is not where my heart or passion lies.

At least Andrew knew what he wanted. What he doesn’t know is that it can’t happen. I held the power