Love In Moments (Love Distilled #2) - Scarlett Cole Page 0,21

of you in that fucking bed that wasn’t even mine. But I can’t waste energy off the ice that I should be expending on it right now. This is my shot, Liv. This is the time in my career I dreamed about. But believe me, if I could be with anyone, it would be you.”

He slammed his lips to her mouth, his tongue seeking hers. He let go of his tie and threaded his fingers through her hair, holding him to her, seeking more than he had any right to ask for. More than he had any right to take.

She tasted as good as he remembered. The soft gasp of hers turned him on.

Then she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him hard. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to tell me I’m not good enough to sleep with, and then kiss me like I am. It’s not fair.”

Anders dragged his hand through his hair. “För helvete,” he cursed. “Det är inte vad jag sa.”

“I have no idea what that means, but I’m leaving now.”

Shit.

“I said that’s . . .damn, I don’t think fast in English. I said it’s not . . .what I’m thinking. Meaning. Liv. You don’t get it. If I had the capacity for a relationship . . .or even the skills for one . . .I’d be testing them with you. But I don’t. I can’t. It’s not fair to you or me.”

“Iceberg!” Two young men walked over, the first reached for Anders’s hand and shook it. “Wow. Great game, tonight. Can I get a photo with you?”

“I’m in the middle of something,” he said, gesturing toward Olivia. He could see her take a step back. Then another.

“It’ll only take a minute.” The guy stood at his side and held out his phone.

“Liv, wait.” He held out his hand toward her, encouraging her to stay where she was.

“Say, cheese.”

Anders looked at the camera, knowing full well he wasn’t smiling. But he’d just arrived in the city. The last thing he needed were rumors floating around that he was a jerk if you met him in person. “Thanks, guys,” he said, shaking their hands before he turned to find Olivia.

She’d disappeared. Disappointment flooded him.

Why? You know you can’t have her.

She was right, it was unfair.

And while he could curse the men for interrupting them, it was for the best.

He just had to convince the gnawing doubt deep in his chest that it was true.

4

“Thanks for staying late with me,” Connor said, packing up his things. “I think you’ve made incredible progress with the Dyer’s Vintage campaign.”

Connor’s warm words of praise filled her. After all, the man had an MBA from Harvard and a successful career as an executive in the liquor industry. While he was only six years older than she was, he had a wealth of experience, and she was enjoying learning from him. Since their father’s death, beyond the obvious sense of loss of a parent, she’d also lost a mentor and coach. Coming back into the business, she was looking to have impact, but also boost her skills.

Plus, Connor made her sister so darn happy, which made Olivia like him even more. So, when he’d asked if she’d bring him up to speed on where the campaign was at, she’d been more than happy to stay late to fill him in.

She stretched her arms toward the ceiling as she let out a yawn. Staying up the last few nights to get the project to where it needed to be had left her low on energy. “I’m glad you like it. Do you think it will help build the distribution channels?”

“I’m hopeful. And it’s good for me to know where products are growing and evolving. Thanks for filling me in. Emerson’s cooking dinner. Want to swing by and join us?”

While she loved the idea of the two of them as a couple, watching them be a couple did little to help balance her moods. And, boy, were those moods polarizing. Envy at what Connor and Emerson had found—a love that was vibrant and rounder and more vital than anything else. Fear that no man, certainly right now, would take on the work-in-progress she had become as she stumbled out of the period of depression that had enveloped her. Relief that she didn’t have to put energy she didn’t have and couldn’t spare into a fledgling relationship.

Anders.

Damn.

She couldn’t think about Valentine’s Day. Over the last forty-eight hours, she had to remind