The Better Man Read Online Free PDF Page A

forget. Or
regret. “I’m just regretting that we may not be able to go back to being
friends.”
    More than
passion glowed in his gray eyes, and more than friendship.
    That scared
her.
    “We’ll always
be friends.” He lifted her hand in his. His touch sent a fluttering thrill like
a jagged current through her body.
    “Then let me go
so I can work things out, let things cool down.” She didn’t think they’d ever
cool down as far as he was concerned, but if it was really love staring back at
her through his intense gaze, then she couldn’t deal with it. He didn’t try to
hold onto her when she pulled her hand from his and opened the car door. “I
can’t turn to you, Will. I can’t turn to anyone. Not yet.”
    Before getting
into the car, Lori leaned forward and brushed her lips against his, despite the
fact it brought back hotter memories of the kisses they’d shared hours before.
    He didn’t say
anything else, didn’t try to stop her, just stepped back as she shut the door.
    Somehow leaving
him made her sadder than the thought of losing Brian. If only she hadn’t
recognized the love in his eyes, leaving would be much easier. If she’d known
before last night, she never would’ve seduced Will. Her own, egotistical needs
weren’t worth his pain.
    She made it to
the airport and parked her car, leaving a note of thanks to Connie who’d pick
up the vehicle later, and headed for the terminal where she’d leave for Boston
on what was supposed to be a fun-filled, romantic, two-week getaway to New
England.
    Brian hadn’t
understood her desire to see New England. He had suggested a trip to Hawaii or
Mexico, but she’d argued that since they lived in the Sunshine State, sun and
tropical weather didn’t entice her as much as the vibrant fall foliage and
history of the northeast. He’d reluctantly agreed to the driving trip from
Boston, up the coast of Maine then down through New Hampshire. Even without
Brian, the trip sounded inviting, if a bit lonely.
    On the plane,
she rested her forehead against the window. The seat next to her was empty.
She’d at least escaped idle chitchat with some friendly stranger.
    Still, she
closed her eyes and feigned sleep just in case.
    Instead of
dwelling on Brian during the flight, she wanted to think of Will. She didn’t
have the energy to be angry, and that was the only emotion she could summon
when her ex- fiancé’s face popped into her mind. Wrath at being duped. Anger
that she’d wasted so many years of her life with him. It wasn’t any easier to
think about Will—she missed him more. And as crazy as it seemed, her heart was
breaking over him, not Brian. What in the world had possessed her to seduce
him? Would she have tried to get him into bed if she’d been aware of his deeper
feelings?
    Such trouble.
    * * *
    The snag of
traffic leaving Logan Airport in Boston held Lori’s attention and pushed off
confusing thoughts of both Will and Brian, but they returned as she headed
north and crossed over the New Hampshire-Maine border. Brian definitely would’ve
hated this trip, a vacation he tried to talk her out of in favor of somewhere
more exotic. He would’ve been bored with the drive and probably would have
grumbled the entire time. Just as well, he didn’t have to be saddled with her
any more. Lori sneered. Maybe he’d take his new girlfriend on the cruise she’d
refused to go on.
    After driving
for a half hour in Maine, she left the turnpike and drove through the quaint
seaside town of York, looking for the inn that would be the first stop of her
“honeymoon.”
    It didn’t take
long to find the oceanfront building and check in. Though she received a
curious glance from the front desk clerk when she told him she’d be alone, he
had the courtesy not to say a word. He just nodded and gave her the key.
    As soon as she
reached the quiet room, she laid on her bed and let herself cry.

Chapter Three
     
    Somehow, his
house seemed emptier after Lori left him at