He’d carry his brother’s death on his conscience his whole life. He cared about her far too much to want her to have anything to do with him. “Nothing.”

“It meant nothing? Excellent! Thanks for making that clear.” She whipped off the sweater, which left her hair crazy, and tossed it at him.

He caught it one-handed against his abdomen.

She stalked away.

He wanted to call her back—to explain, to apologize, to tell her how he felt about her.

But he did none of those things. He remained exactly where he was.

Silent.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The last time she’d kissed Luke, Finley had come through the experience feeling charitably toward him.

This time? Not so much.

After she returned home and tended to her pets, she flipped through the records she’d brought here from her dad’s collection. This moment called for Janis Joplin. She placed the needle on the vinyl and turned the volume high. Then she walked purposefully to her bedroom. After diving stomach-down on the mattress, she clasped a pillow to her face and screamed.

Following Chase’s death, this was the healthiest way she’d found to vent destructive feelings. She screamed again. Then again.

After a time, she sat up.

Take deep breaths. Relax your muscles.

It was very unlike her to leave a conversation on a jagged note, the way she’d done earlier with Luke. She typically maintained a sense of calm, even with demanding and difficult people. During their tense conversation in the garden, she’d repeatedly told herself, Remember step two, Finley. Show extreme patience. Show extreme patience!

Then, when they’d been kissing, the most heavenly sensations had swamped her. She’d ended the kiss not because she hadn’t wanted it to continue for hours but because she didn’t understand why the man who wasn’t interested in her was interested in kissing her. Then he’d had the nerve to say that the kiss meant nothing to him.

She punched a text message into her phone, then sent it to Meadow and Bridget.

Finley

I kissed Luke again.

Bridget

On Valentine’s Day! I’m not surprised. I have a really good feeling about you guys.

Meadow

A GOOD FEELING? What’s the mantra we’ve been practicing, Finley?

Finley

Do not fall for emotionally unavailable men. I had no intention of kissing him tonight. We were arguing. And then we were kissing, which was divine. And then we were fighting again, which was lousy.

Meadow

I’m familiar with that roller coaster. It eventually crashes. Men! Grrr.

Bridget

I think Luke’s in love with you.

Meadow

That’s a destructive conclusion! If a man tells you he’s not open to a relationship, no woman should interpret that to mean he’s in love with her.

Bridget