going off the busy road before turning to look at her with a kid in a candy store expression.
Clearly, Jason was torn between sex and doing the right thing. And Cara groaned. Jason was a good guy. He had patiently waited for her to make the decision. “Cara, are you sure. I don’t want to pressure you.”
Was this guy for real? What had she been waiting for? Aiden? Aiden hadn’t waited for her to decide he’d simply seduced her. Aiden probably knew all about her little crush on him. Suddenly it was so clear. And she had been such an idiot waiting for Aiden. Aiden couldn’t commit. Miranda had been the closest he would ever be able to come to committing to a woman and Miranda had dumped him. What chance did any other woman, especially one that was a non-model, have?
“I’m positive. I’ve never been more positive.”
“Really? Because you don’t really sound…”
Cara leaned over and kissed him on his lips. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m positive Jason. I don’t want to wait a second longer. Not even for dinner.”
Jason literally grinned from ear to ear, turned the car around, and headed back to Cara’s apartment, while Cara argued with herself. Was she just about to make the biggest mistake of her life, correction second biggest, by sleeping with Jason? Wasn’t she about to do exactly what she’d accused Aiden of doing? Just using Jason for sex. Or worse, she was using Jason to forget about Aiden. No, no, no. It wasn’t using, because Jason was all for it. And Jason was the perfect boyfriend.
Jason parked the ’Vette outside of Cara’s two-story apartment. Cara didn’t wait for him to do the gentlemanly thing. She got out of the car and unlocked the door. Jason followed at a slightly more hesitant pace.
Once inside, Cara gave him just enough time to close the door before reaching for his shirt.
Jason ’s fingers closed over her wrists. “Wait. Cara, hold on. I think we should talk a little.”
Cara stopped just long enough to roll her eyes at the irony of that statement. Wasn’t that supposed to be her line?
“Talk? I don’t want to talk. We can talk anytime. Come here.”
Jason gave in for a minute until the last of his buttons were undone and the shirt hit the floor.
“ Cara, wait, I’m sorry, I can’t. Not like this.” Jason reached for his shirt and turned away, re-buttoning it.
Cara became the one with regrets. “Why not? Don’t you want me?”
Jason ’s frustrated sigh spoke volumes. He took his time facing her again. “Of course I want you, Cara. I’d have to be dead not to. But not like this. Not when your doing it out of anger or whatever reason that’s suddenly caused you to change your mind.” He studied her for a moment. “I can’t even begin to understand why you agreed to sleep with me tonight, but I can see your heart’s not really in it and I don’t want to be a mistake for you. I deserve better than that, Cara.”
“But I thought…” She couldn’t quite meet his gaze.
I know, and believe me, refusing you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Look, Cara, let’s talk.
Cara tried not to cry. Tried not to show her disappointment. And somewhere through all of her regrets, Jason seemed to pick up on her inner turmoil. He took her hand. “Come on, I’ll make us some coffee or better yet, why don’t I fix us some dinner.”
Chapter Six
Aiden stood outside Cara’s apartment for what felt like hours before finally knocking. He held her locket in one hand and wondered what to say to her. He’d replayed this first face-to-face encounter in his head a dozen times. But reality had a way of not working in his favor where Cara was concerned.
He heard footsteps coming to the door followed by silence.
“Open the door, Cara. I know you’re there.” Impatience threaded through every syllable of his voice. Aiden wasn’t expecting this response.
Cara opened the door but didn’t invite him inside. Definitely not the reaction he’d
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