Free Hopelessly Broken by Tawny Taylor Page A

sign a non-compete clause? I’ve heard about those.”
    Once again his gaze fell to the floor. “Um, kind of. The fact is I won’t be sticking around here much longer. And I didn’t think it was fair to lead you on, make you think there could be something between us…” His words trailed off as his gaze slowly climbed up to her face. When it reached her eyes, it locked there.
    The air became energized agai n. Dammit, this sucked. There was chemistry between them. Intense chemistry. Just her luck, it was with a guy who lived like a gypsy. “How soon will you be leaving?”
    “Before the end of January.”
    The end of January? That wasn’t long from now. Her heart twisted. “Where will you go next?” Would she see him again? Or would he be moving too far away? Might he come back someday?
    “I won’t know where I’m going until the day I leave here.”
    What kind of job was this? How horrible, to not be able to settle down, to have any kind of stability. “That seems a little unreasonable that they wait until the last minute to tell you.”
    “It’s been that way since the first day.”
    “Then I feel for you.” Reaching across the space between them, she inched her hand toward his, allowing the tips of her fingers to barely touch his skin. His gaze dropped to their hands, and she moved hers closer, curving her fingers over his. He twisted his body to face her. “You’re a sweet girl. I wish things were different.”
    “Me too.”
    “If I didn’t have to go, I would…”
    She nodded, understanding.
    “You deserve better than what I can give you. You understand now, right?”
    “I do.” Not that she was happy about it, bu t she did understand. It sucked that she had found someone who made her feel alive and happy for the first time in eons, and she would lose him soon. Too soon. “Logan… he’ll be crushed when you go.”
    “I’m going to try to prepare him for that day. He isn’t going to stay away from me, no matter what you tell him.”
    Neither would she. Even kno wing she would suffer for it. Aeron was like a brilliant light. Her whole being was drawn to him. She was powerless to resist. “I know. Maybe we’ll both be sad when you go. But at least you won’t be lonely for the short time you’re here.”
    “Don’t get too close, Jenn ifer. Please. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
    Leaning in, she brushed her lips over his as she whispered, “It’s too late for that. I’m already too close.”
    Groaning, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her. His kiss was deep, passionate. A claiming. She eagerly surrendered to the pleasure, parting her lips to let his tongue plunge inside and stroke hers. With his free hand, he caught her upper arm and pulled her closer. She didn’t fight him; she didn’t fight the need blazing through her. Eagerly she kissed him back, smashing her breasts against his broad chest. Within seconds she was writhing against him, aching need pounding through her body.
    He broke the kiss and she opened her eyes to find him staring at her face, his cheeks flushed. “ I can’t keep doing this to you.”
    “I want you to.”
    “No.” He pushed to his feet, stepping out of reach. “You’ll regret it later.”
    Standing too, she moved closer to him again. She had to be near him. Touching him. Kissing him. “Let me worry about regrets--”
    “No, dammit. You’re not like that. You’re not that type of girl.” With firm hands, he forced her away. “Go find someone else, a guy who will treat you right. A guy who won’t mess with your head.”
    “I don’t want another guy. I want you.”
    “You can’t have me. Nobody can. So give up. Please. The sooner you understand that, the better.” He pushed past her, yanked open the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
    She sat there, stunned, her mind racing. There had to be a way to make this work, if he wanted it to.
    If.
    Maybe that was w hat was missing. He didn’t want to. The job was just an excuse.
    She