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I’ll always love Jessica. She’s my soulmate. No doubt about it. But I didn’t expect to have this gut wrenching need to hold her and keep her. I never should have touched her. It may have seemed so innocent and minor, but that one brush across her arm and the feel of her hand in mine is enough to set free every feeling, thought, and memory of her that I have.

That one touch opened the floodgates of my emotions. I had that shit locked up so tight in the back of my mind, but now that it’s free, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to close it up again.

CHAPTER 5

JESSICA

Damn him. And damn my treacherous body.

I never should have gotten close enough to let him touch me. One touch and my body went up in flames. Every memory of us together flashed before my eyes, and I struggled to walk away. All I wanted was to feel his lips on mine and his hard body pressed against me.

Hell, I almost said yes to his ridiculous offer to stay in the guest room.In my house.There’s no way I can handle being under the same roof with him right now, even if the guest room does have its own bathroom and is separated from all the other bedrooms. I’m too tempted by him. And being tempted by Matthew is dangerous.

I’ve lost count of how many times that man broke up with me or told me it wasn’t our time yet. One minute he’d tell me he planned on marrying me someday, and the next he told me we couldn’t be together. He broke my heart every time he pushed me away.

Then again, I’m the fool who kept letting him do it. I believed him when he told me he’d marry me. All the way up until the point he married someone else. That was the day my entire world crumbled down on top of me, and a little piece of my soul died. There’s no way I can trust him again after that.

I can hear his footsteps behind me as I walk toward my car. It doesn’t sound like he’s trying to catch up, but I pick up my paceanyway. I need to put space between us so I can think about everything I’ve learned in the past hour.

I can’t believe how upside down my life feels after just arriving. Day one at home was supposed to be easy. Meet with Richard, maybe visit the funeral home, and settle into my old room. That was it. There shouldn’t have been any reunions with my ex, and I certainly shouldn’t have to deal with the fact that he’s living in my house.

When I reach my car, I hop in and start it up. Matthew is still walking toward me. He stops next to the driveway, his arms crossed over his chest, and waits. Is he expecting me to get out and talk to him? Or maybe he’s debating on stepping in my way so I can’t leave?

Regardless, I put the car in reverse and back out of the driveway until I reach a place I can turn around. I check the rearview mirror, and he’sstillstanding in the same spot watching me drive away. My heart aches to go back to him—to let him touch me again—but my mind is screaming no.

My mind wins.

As soon as I hit the main road, I pull up David’s number.

The phone rings once before he picks up. “Hey, Jess. Didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

“I’ve got a huge problem, and I need help.” The words rush out so fast. Even I hear the panic in my voice.

“Whoa. Calm down.” David speaks in a slow, controlled tone. “What happened?”

I take a deep breath and wipe away more tears. I’m getting really tired of crying and need to get my emotions under control before my eyes enter into a permanent state of puffiness. “He’s living in my house. That’s what fucking happened.”

“Huh? Who’s living in your house?”

“Matt!” I yell. Now that there’s a little distance between Matthew and me, my anger is taking over. I can handle anger. “And the fact that he’s living there isn’t even the worst part. My uncle was planning on selling him the house!”

“Wait.” There’s a long pause before I hear David take a deep breath. “NottheMatt? The man who said he would marry you someday and then married another woman without even telling you he was dating someone,thatMatt?”

“Yes,thatMatt.”

“Well, shit. That sucks.”

“You think?” I turn the car toward town, though I have no idea where I’m going. Just somewhere away from Matt. “I need your help. I have nowhere to stay now. It’s tourist season, and I need to find somewhere in town.”

David’s silent for a few minutes. Did he hear me, or did I lose him out in the middle of nowhere? “David, are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. I’m just wondering why he’s staying in your house while you’re looking for somewhere to stay.”

I sigh because I’m struggling with this sudden decision too. “You know he has a daughter. I can’t exactly kick her out on the street.”

He tsks, and if I could see him, I imagine he’s nodding at my predicament. “You could. You just won’t.”

“David, it's not her fault her dad’s an asshole. I’m not going to take my issues with Matt out on a four-year-old little girl.”