Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow & David Romanov

Author:Melanie Harlow & David Romanov [Harlow, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, male
Publisher: MH Publishing
Published: 2017-06-18T04:00:00+00:00

“I’m so glad you called me.” Beaming, Carolyn reached over and tapped my thigh as I drove downtown. “I was worried about you.”

“Me?” I feigned surprise.

“Yes. You really seemed bothered the other night.”

“Nah. Nothing to worry about.”

“Good. So where should we go?”

“I thought maybe I’d take you to my sister’s bar. You mentioned you’ve never been to The Blind Pig.” I ignored the voice in my head telling me that wasn’t the real reason I wanted to go there. The one that knew I was a fraud. The one that recognized my inability to stay away from him.

“I haven’t!” Carolyn was delighted. “I’d love to go there! Your sister is so nice. I really like her.”

“She likes you, too.”

“Did she say that? Oh, God.” She waved a hand in the air. “That sounded so middle school of me. Forget that.”

“As a matter of fact, not only Ellen said that, but Maxim and Gage and Lanie all made a point to tell me how wonderful you are.” It was a little bit of an exaggeration, but I liked the blush it put on her cheeks, and it was a relief to know I could still be charming when I wanted to be.

I continued to pour it on, opening the car door for her, helping her out, taking her arm as we walked from the parking garage to the bar. She looked radiantly happy, more beautiful than I’d ever seen her, really, and I’m sure we looked like the perfect couple on the outside.

But as soon as we walked into the bar, I looked around for Maxim, and when I saw him hurry by carrying an armful of liquor bottles, my insides twisted. What the fuck was I doing? This was so unfair, bringing Carolyn here, parading her right under his nose. And now that I saw him, I wanted him even more. The difference in my body’s reaction to him compared to its reaction to Carolyn was staggering.

Just keep it off your face, I told myself, putting an arm around Carolyn’s back. If you can’t bury it altogether, at least keep it off your face.

It wasn’t easy—every time I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I lost track of what Carolyn was saying—but I thought I did a fairly good job. Maxim did even better. Granted, he was at work and I was out socially, but he barely even glanced at us the entire time we were there. He’d nodded hello when we’d come in, but that was it. Was he mad? The thought angered me. He said he’d be fine either way! Did he think this was easy, sitting across the table from one person and craving to be with another? Having to hide it? Feeling horrible and ashamed and guilty for it? It’s so easy for you, isn’t it, Maxim? You know exactly who you are and what you want, and you don’t care what anyone thinks. Well, that’s not how it is for me, so don’t tell me you understand and then judge me.

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