Page 12 of Wild Heart
He wanted me. I knew he wanted me. So, I decided this was it. I was going to take my chance. With Tate’s hand still in mine, I turned it slightly, took a step toward him, and placed his hand on my breast, my eyes never leaving his.
For a fleeting moment, his fingers twitched, like they were fighting every urge to squeeze.
Take it,I begged with my eyes.Do it.
Like he’d just been doused with ice cold water, Tate yanked his hand away. “Ava, no.”
My brows scrunched together. “Why not?”
“It’s not going to happen,” he insisted.
My eyes roamed over his features, seeking answers. None of it made sense. “I’m leaving in two days,” I reminded him.
“I know.”
“I won’t be back for a little over a year, and I’m offering myself up to you. Are you telling me you’re not going to take what I’m offering?”
His jaw clenched, the battle he was waging evident. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
“Because you don’t want it? Because you’re not attracted to me? I see the way you look at me, Tate. You can’t tell me you don’t want this.”
Tate’s face went blank, and for the first time ever, he showed me a side of him I’d never seen before. “I’m sorry, Ava, but I don’t.”
That was it.
Although his words were apologetic, his tone was final.
I didn’t understand what held him back. I didn’t get why he refused me time and time again. But standing in this bathroom now, hearing the way he said those six words, this time was different.
I blanched, feeling the color drain from my face, and took a step back. There was the faintest tremble of my lower lip. My stomach felt cold and hollow, like someone had punched me.
“If you,” I croaked. “If you wouldn’t mind stepping out, I’d appreciate it.”
“Ava, I’m s?—”
“Please, Tate. If there’s one thing on this earth that youcando for me, I’m begging you to walk out that door and leave me alone right now.”
He didn’t move.
I was going to break.
So, I snatched up my shirts, ran out of the bathroom, and dashed up the stairs. Once I slammed the bathroom door up there behind me and locked it, I slid down against it and allowed the tears to fall.
And by the time I pulled myself together and returned to the festivities, Tate had moved on like nothing happened.
3
TATE
ONE YEAR, THREE MONTHS LATER
“This time next week,you’ll be a married man.”
At Cooper’s declaration, all of us pinned our stares on Wyatt. Our oldest brother was finally getting married, so Cooper, Liam, and I had decided to celebrate with a bachelor party of sorts.
We hadn’t gone the traditional route of bars or strip clubs—though I wondered how traditional those were these days—and instead took a long weekend at our grandparents’ lake house to spend time together, fishing, eating, and enjoying each other’s company.
Today, we’d all gone down to the dock, set up some chairs, and cracked open a few beers. And now that we were settling in for the afternoon, it was time to get on Wyatt’s case. Of course, it was all going to be meant in good fun.