Free All Fired Up by Kristen Painter Page B

noise?”
    “Jazz.” She turned a knob and the volume decreased. “I take it you’re not a fan.”
    “I will come with you.” He reached for the door but she stayed his arm with her hand.
    “Look, I need to talk to a friend. Alone. Please, stay here.”
    He sighed and leaned back, a resigned look on his face. “As you wish.”
    Calleigh gave herself a pep talk the entire way into Patois but a nervous tingle still rippled across her skin when she entered. Coffee was the last thing she needed. She glanced at her watch. Almost ten after eleven. Good. Knowing Brad, he’d been there since ten ‘til.
    She spotted him sitting alone at a table for two near the old brick fireplace, drinking a mimosa. A huge bunch of blood-red roses rested on the place setting opposite him. The unhappy scowl on his face did little to detract from his dark good looks. She doubted his disposition would get any better when she gave him the ring back.
    The scowl upended to a smile when he saw her approaching. He stood, picking up the roses. “I’m so glad you came. I wasn’t sure you would. These are for you. You look great.”
    She ignored the flowers but felt a rush of satisfaction at his compliment. Alrik had been right.
    Brad pulled her chair out. She pushed it back in. “I’m not staying.”
    Pressing the bouquet into her arms, he kissed her cheek. “Baby, please, let’s talk about this.”
    He smelled good, woodsy and familiar. “There really isn’t anything to talk about.” She set the flowers on the table and pulled the ring box from her purse. “I just wanted to give this back to you.”
    His smile vanished when he saw the blue box in her hand. “Don’t say that. I want to talk this out, to make things right. Sit, please. I don’t want to throw us away like that.”
    She set the ring box on the table between them. “It’s hard to think about us when all I can think about is you and Jeana.” She grit her teeth and blew out a breath. “My cousin? Of all people, you had to pick her to screw around with? I wish she’d never introduced us.”
    He collapsed into his chair and rubbed his forehead, the muscles in his jaw twitching. “How many times do I have to apologize?”
    “None. Not any more.” She shook her head, trying to keep her voice steady. She would not cry. Not here. Not in front of him. “You have your ring back. Please stop calling me and let me get on with my life. Please.”
    “It’s your ring, Calleigh.” He slid the box toward her side of the table. “I gave it to you as a token of my love. That hasn’t changed.”
    He looked up at her, his hazel eyes liquid. “Can you honestly say you don’t love me anymore?”
    “I don’t want the ring.” Her voice cracked, betraying her emotions. Time to leave.
    She turned to go but he stood and grabbed her hand. “We belong together, Calleigh. Please forgive me. Give me a second chance. I need you. My heart needs you.”
    The warmth of his fingers curled around hers brought pleasant memories to the forefront of her mind. He sounded sincere. She could talk for a minute. She sat, and he followed suit, smiling again.
    He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Thank you.”
    She smiled reluctantly. She shouldn’t be doing this. “You’re welcome.”
    A waiter approached. “Welcome to Patois. May I take your order?”
    “I’ll have a latte in a to-go cup, please.” It was the last thing she’d let Brad pay for.
    “Another mimosa,” Brad said. The waiter left.
    She sighed and pulled her hand back. “Let’s not play games, okay? What I feel doesn’t matter anymore.” She lowered her voice. “You cheated on me and I don’t think I can get past that.”
    He steepled his fingers and tapped them against his chin. “I’m not the only one to blame here, you know.” He waved his hands in the air, as if trying to chase the truth away. “Jeana did the seducing. Blame her. I’m surprised by how willing you are to give up on us. I didn’t think