Page 37 of Perfect Together
“I already told you where I stand,” Nicole reminded Tyler. “We’re leaving.” She nodded to Macy, turned, and let Sam pull her out of the pizza parlor and onto the street.
Chapter Seven
Anger and annoyancebeat through Sam until he reached the sidewalk and fresh air, putting Nicole’s ex behind them. “What the hell?” he asked her.
She stared at him with wide eyes. “I honestly wish I knew. He was never that possessive when we were together. All I can think of is that maybe his family is putting pressure on him to fix things with me,” she said, her eye twitching as she spoke.
Sam studied her. “Why?”
“Can we go somewhere and talk? Instead of doing this here?”
He nodded. Her hand was still in his, so he merely tightened his hold and led her back toward Main Street and the gazebo where they’d shared their first kiss.
She waited until they were settled in the seats there before speaking. “My father and Tyler’s dad are partners in an investment firm in Manhattan. Our families have known each other forever. In fact, Tyler and I practically grew up together, so when we started dating, it seemed... meant to be.”
He nodded, processing the fact that they’d had such a long-standing relationship. That they shared a bond. He fucking hated it. A sentiment way out of bounds when he didn’t want more than a casual relationship with her, no matter how strong the desire.
“So they’d naturally want you two together,” he said, pushing down the emotions that rose with her story. Jealousy was okay. Annoyance that her family thought her destined for someone else was not.
She bit down on her lower lip. “That’s a part of it,” she murmured.
“There’s more?”
She looked down at her hands, which now ran up and down her thighs. “I’m not sure.”
“But you think so. Why?”
“It’s complicated,” she said, still not meeting his gaze.
He’d seen her in an interrogation room, and she’d been at turns feisty and scared, but she’d always looked him in the eye. He shook his head, beyond confused by her words and demeanor. To the cop in him, she was hiding and avoiding, yet he couldn’t deny there was truth in much of what she said. She just hadn’t said everything.
“Can I ask you something?” Now she met his gaze head-on.
“Sure.”
“What did you mean when you said you overreacted when you found out about Tyler because of your past?”
He blinked, startled by the change in subject. He wanted more information about her ex but sensed she’d told him the truth when she said she didn’t know why Tyler was pushing so hard to get her back. Oh, he didn’t doubt she knew more, but that more wouldn’t change things between them, and he had enough faith in his skills to know he’d get the information eventually. And since Jenna, at least this time he knew better than to invest his heart in any woman, but especially one with secrets. And Nicole had plenty.
They didn’t need full disclosure to have phenomenal sex and a great time together. They just needed enough of an exchange for there to be trust and a sense of comfort, and they could give each other that.
“I was engaged once too,” he told her.
She sucked in a surprised breath.
“What? You can’t imagine someone wanting to marry me?” he joked because when discussing this part of his life, which heneverdid, he had to deflect somehow.
“Sam—”
“I’m kidding. But I was engaged to my high school girlfriend. We stayed together through college, and honest to God, I thought my future was set.”
“What happened?” Her blue eyes remained steady on his, full of compassion and curiosity.
He didn’t want pity, but so far, she seemed far from that emotion. “She dumped me for my best friend,” he said bluntly. “The morning of the wedding.”
Nicole winced.
“And that’s why I reacted so harshly to the news that you broke it off with Tyler. It’s also why I understand where the guy’s coming from, even if he’s a complete pain in the ass,” Sam muttered.