Brenda Harlen - A Maverick under the Mistletoe

So why had she invited him to dinner tonight? Had she been hoping that he would say or do something to somehow change her mind about their relationship? That he would take her in his arms and kiss her until she was breathless and panting and wanted nothing more than to haul him upstairs to her bed?

As she poked at her dessert, she acknowledged that was what she’d been hoping. And when he’d walked through the door, Alex had kissed her. The kiss had been warm and pleasant...and over almost before it began.

“That was a fabulous meal,” Alex said, pushing his empty plate aside.

She forced a smile. “I’m glad you were able to make it on such short notice.”

“It wasn’t a hard decision, considering all that I had waiting at home was a frozen dinner.”

“So it was the home cooking and not my company that compelled you to accept my invitation?”

He reached across the table and linked their fingers together. “I always enjoy spending time with you, Paige.”

“Why do I feel as if there’s a but coming?”

His lips curved, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “But lately I’ve found myself wondering if there’s any hope for a future between us so long as you’re still hung up on Sutter Traub.”

“I’m not hung up on Sutter,” she immediately denied. “In fact, I’ve barely even seen him since he came back to Rust Creek Falls.”

“Because you’ve been avoiding him,” Alex guessed.

She pulled her hand away and stood up to clear the dishes from the table. “Because I don’t want to see him.”

He followed her into the kitchen. “Why would it matter if you didn’t still have feelings for him?”

She hated that he could so easily see a truth that she’d only recently acknowledged to herself. “Our relationship didn’t end amicably,” she admitted. “So there are probably some unresolved issues.”

“Then you need to resolve them,” Alex said gently.

“I need to move on with my life.”

“You’re an incredible woman, Paige. And I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with you, but you’re never going to move on with your life until you put your history with Sutter behind you.”

“It’s five years behind me,” she protested.

“I stopped by town hall on my way home from work to catch the last part of the debate last night,” he told her. “And when you stood up to defend Sutter Traub, there was more passion in your words than in any of the kisses we’ve ever shared.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that except to say, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said. “And don’t ever settle for less than everything you want.”

“You’re dumping me, aren’t you?”

He shook his head. “I’m letting you go so that you can figure out what you want. If you decide that’s me, you know where to find me.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. It was a nice kiss. Light and friendly, and completely uninspiring. She wanted to feel heat or tingles—anything—in response to his touch, but there was nothing.

As she watched Alex drive away, she silently cursed Sutter Traub and the possibility that his kisses had ruined her for any other man.

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