Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(49)
“I’d say you did.” His lungs seemed to be struggling a bit to find air. How the hell did he get here? Before he could stop the words from coming, he cupped her jaw with his palm and said, “I thought we were having fun together. You’ve seemed happy enough.”
“Happy with our secret booty calls?” She placed her hand over his and held it there before slowly lowering his hand from her face. Her next words were barely louder than a whisper. “Come on, Trip. You know me well enough to know our arrangement isn’t what I want.”
He couldn’t say which bugged him most: the resigned tone in her voice, the fact that she was being pursued by some other guy, or the realization that somewhere along the way he’d begun to really care.
“You’re the one who put all the parameters on this being such a big secret. I’d have liked to have gone out and done more.” As soon as the words flew from his lips, he regretted saying them. He’d come dangerously close to exposing vulnerability he wasn’t honestly ready to admit or accept. Yes, he enjoyed her company more than he did any other woman’s, but that didn’t mean he shared her ultimate goals of marriage and family.
She wrapped her robe more tightly to her body and stared at him. “Why are you so miffed? This whole thing has gone exactly as you proposed. We had fun together, and now that I’ve met someone who seems interested in me for more than just sex, I’m going to use your tips and, hopefully, you’ll get your hat back.” She smiled as if he might find the whole thing funny.
He didn’t.
Trip scrubbed his hands over his face to hide his feelings from her. She was right; he had proposed this whole stupid plan when he hadn’t foreseen feeling more . . . feeling anything. Now what the hell was he supposed to do with all these damn feelings?
He turned to go find his clothes, but she grasped his arm. Her hopeful golden-brown eyes searched his. “Trip, if something’s changed, now would be the time to tell me.”
While one selfish part of him wanted to keep seeing her, the bigger part knew he wasn’t anywhere near ready to take on the kind of relationship and commitment she really wanted. He cared about her enough not to play games and make promises he couldn’t keep.
“You just surprised me, that’s all, princess.” He kissed her forehead. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. Now let me go get dressed.”
He yanked his jeans back on, all the while convincing himself that this was for the best. Soon enough they’d be squaring off against each other over Wade’s project anyway, which would probably have brought an end to this fling, too. At least now they would make a clean break before things got messier.
On Trip’s way out, Cowboy scampered up against his leg. Kelsey stood near the kitchen, chewing on the inside of her cheek, looking conflicted. Trip picked up the kitten and stroked it under its chin. “You take care of our girl now, you hear?”
He set the kitten back on the floor then winked at Kelsey, pretending he didn’t ache with regret. “Good luck with your dreamboat, princess.”
Chapter Ten
Kelsey slammed the folded newspaper down on the counter at Backtrax and skewered Grey with the most heated glare she could muster. “Where’s your partner?”
“Steer clear of him, Kelsey. He’s been grouchy ever since he got back from Denver.” Grey unwrapped a grape Tootsie Pop and stuck it in his mouth, apparently unfazed by her death stare.
For one millisecond, she wondered if Trip’s foul mood had anything to do with her ending their trysts. Then she considered the waitlist of women hungry to warm his bed, and brushed aside her little fantasy.
“Well, I’ve got a bone to pick with Mr. ‘Concerned Citizen’.”
“Oh.” Grey’s brows rose along with both hands, indicating she’d guessed right. Trip was the man behind the open letter to the Copeland family featured on the front page of the local paper’s Lifestyle section.
“Is he here?” She picked up the newspaper roll and tucked it under her arm.
“Upstairs.”
As she marched toward the interior stairwell, she glanced over her shoulder. “Unless you own earplugs, it’s probably best if you stay down here until I leave.”
“I’ve got some work to do in the back office.” He waved her off. “Try not to break anything.”
“Hmph.” She tromped up the steps, her platform snakeskin pumps pounding a warning against the wood treads.