Burn Out Read Online Free PDF Page A

them.
    “You think I made
Erika less of a priority in my life?” He looked at Erika, and his heart ached
when he realized he’d given her so much less of himself than she deserved. He
should have told her every day, in every possible way that she was his
everything.
    “Didn’t you?”
    “I don’t know,” he
whispered. He knew the truth; they both did. “How the hell am I supposed to do
it all? Balance the company and a relationship, kids…
    “Do you want to
have a family someday?”
    “Of course, but I
don’t want to be a part-time dad.” He wanted to be the kind of dad his was, but
he didn’t see how that was possible given his current work load.
    “We make time for
the things and people that are important to us. You didn’t make time for Erika.
You made her feel as though she wasn’t important to you.”
    “She was.” His
eyes locked with Erika’s and he could tell she was still trying to deny his
effect on her. “She still is.”
    “Then you need to
make her believe that.”
    He wanted to
believe it wasn’t too late, but he knew his mother was right. He would have to
figure out how to completely restructure his life if he wanted to convince
Erika he was a changed man.
    “I’m gonna do
whatever it takes to get her back,” he said, his eyes still fixed on Erika.
    Marisa reached up
to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ve waited so long to see
that sparkle back in your eye.”
    He forced himself
to break eye contact with Erika. “What sparkle is that?”
    “That one,” she
said, winking at him. “The one you get when you look at her.”
     
    ***
     
    Erika was sitting
at the table alone when she felt the heat of Evan’s body behind her. She didn’t
even have to look up to know it was him. No one else affected her the way he
did.
    He leaned over to
whisper in her ear as he fixed his hands on either side of the table top in
front of her. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
    “He’s… uh… dancing
with Lena.” Her eyes drifted closed as his hot breath fanned her ear. She knew
drinking was a bad idea, given the effect it had on her. They hadn’t made love
in too many months, and the liquid aphrodisiac making her body tingle was a
potent reminder that abstinence was brutal.
    “Excuse me,” he
said, reaching around her for the full shot glass.
    She watched him
bring it to his lips, a shudder moving through her as he tipped his head back
and swallowed. “That was mine.” Pointing out the obvious seemed ridiculous, but
she couldn’t think of anything else to say, except maybe… I want you.
    He took a step
around the table.
    Her face burned
when she turned her head and found herself eye-to-eye with his bulging zipper.
Quickly looking away, she saw Jeff walking toward them.
    Jeff glared at
Evan before offering her his hand. “We should go. We have an early morning,
with that vaccine clinic and all.”
    She knew he was
right, but she wasn’t ready for the evening to end. She hadn’t allowed herself
to let go and have a good time with friends in a long time. “Um, why don’t you
go on ahead?” She looked over his shoulder to where Lena stood. “Would you guys
mind giving me a ride home?”
    “Of course not,”
Lena said, raising a glass.
    Dom laughed as he
hooked an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder. “I’m glad we all had the good
sense to line up cars for the night.” He nudged Jeff’s arm. “Hey, you need a ride?”
    “You know I don’t
drink,” Jeff said, taking a step away from Dom.
    Erika knew Jeff
didn’t like her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. Not that she could blame him. Dom
had never made a secret of the fact his loyalty would always be to Evan.
    “Oh yeah, I forgot.”
Dom rolled his eyes at Evan. “How ‘bout you, man? You ready to line ‘em up
again?”
    Evan grinned. “You
know I’m in.”
    For a split
second, it felt like old times. The four of them out together, having a good
time, celebrating… until she saw the scowl on Jeff’s face