Page 76

His forehead touched mine as we closed our eyes for a moment, leaning against each other to catch our breaths.
I’d been happy to see Henry getting along with Sean, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I didn’t want to imagine Sean and I could get together again.
I couldn’t bear to get close to someone else, only to get tossed aside later.
I needed to stop this now, before things got out of hand with Sean.
“What’s with that pained look?” Sean asked, biting down playfully on my ear.
I looked up at him, relieved that I didn’t have to pretend. “I’m sad our night ended so abruptly. But thank you,” I said, recalling Sean’s kind offer to Henry. It was more than I’d ever expected. “That was really nice of you.”
Sean looked at me long and hard. “You didn’t expect me to care about soccer?”
“Well,” I said, “no one has shown this much interest in Henry’s likes.”
Sean shook his head. “That’s ridiculous, and it only makes me fearful of the kind of people you’ve been associating with, Chloe. Henry is fun and smart. He’s got a good knack for explaining things. I could see him as a soccer coach someday.”
I knew Henry’s hopes involved something along those lines, and I was always hesitant to encourage him in case his dreams didn’t work out. Henry had never had much success in setting up a wheelchair soccer league, and I didn’t want more disappointment for him in the future.
“Besides, I would say tonight deserves a redo, don’t you think?” Sean asked. “Especially since you promised to take your boss down a peg or two.”
I stared up at him, my mouth falling open. “I knew you wouldn’t let it go easily.”
“Your words, not mine,” Sean said, the edge of his lips tilting up in a smile before he looked serious again. “I understand now, Chloe,” he said, and I watched him warily.
“What do you understand?” I asked him, feeling overwhelmed. Just how much had he gotten from this evening’s interaction?
“I understand why you don’t date,” Sean said. “I understand your commitment to Henry. And why you feel like it’s impossible to juggle your loyalty to Henry with having a personal life of your own.”
I’d always believed Henry was an extension of me. Especially after Dad left us and it was just us against the world. Even though Henry and I were two different people, I was fiercely loyal to him, determined that nothing would come between us.
What had happened with Sean tonight was out of the ordinary, and I knew how to set things right.
“It’s okay if you want to cancel our Thursday evening bonding exercises with Lucas,” I told him. “I’ll find a way to explain it to Lucas?—”
“Why would I need to do that?” Sean growled.
I stared at him. “You really mean to continue working with me after what happened between us tonight?”
Sean nodded. “Nothing changes after tonight. I meant what I said about needing you and your help with Lucas. I keep my word, Chloe. Just like I said I would make sure you didn’t go without a job.”
My breaths came in faster as Sean took a step closer to me. We were next to the doorway, out on the sidewalk, and the night outside was cool and quiet. He was moving in, closer and closer, until I put my hand on his chest, stopping him.
I could spend another night with Sean. What would it matter? We would never get serious. The worst that could happen was this experience would ruin other men for me—because no one else could hold a candle to Sean. Ruining my future love life with anyone else wasn’t a problem. Because I was never leaving Henry—ever. So I had nothing to lose by giving Sean another night.
“On one condition,” I said.
35
SEAN
“What is it?” I asked, frustrated. I could feel the arousal in my body again, just by standing next to her, and I hated that I had to fight it every time I was around her.
“I’m concerned about?—”
“Our professional relationship?” I asked, finding the words bitter on my tongue.
Our jobs had thrown us together, but right now, I hated that it was the one logical reason we shouldn’t be together.