pushed her away nine months before. Guilt was a jagged blade, cutting deep. It threatened to push him over the edge.
He knew he made a mistake a year ago, intentionally hurting her with cruel words and unfair accusations. The vast gulf between them ate at his conscience. Keeping his distance from Theresa wasn’t working. Just being back around her this short time, asking her to work on Tommy’s case, brought back all those old feelings. How much he wanted her, desired to be with her. Their attraction hadn’t faded. If anything, it was stronger than ever.
Keeping secrets got them nowhere. He needed to rebuild the trust he’d shattered, to mend a few broken bridges in the process. And he was going to do it tonight.
***
Theresa and Remy strolled arm-in-arm through the teeming crowd of tourists. They’d just finished a leisurely dinner, their appetites replete. Theresa smiled as they passed a couple standing in front of one of the shops, the man down on bended knee, obviously proposing. She hoped they’d be happy together, knowing they basically had a fifty-fifty chance of making it for the long haul.
Once home, she unlocked the back door and reached for the light switch, illuminating the kitchen’s gleaming appliances and spotless countertops.
Wordlessly, Remy reached into an upper cabinet, pulling out two wine glasses, while she went to the refrigerator for the bottle of wine he’d placed there before they’d gone to dinner. Tonight was their standing ritual, a rite they’d performed for the last ten years. It was a bittersweet celebration, the anniversary of a day that had changed both their lives.
Theresa smiled, handing him the wine before sitting in her favorite chair at the kitchen table. He worked the corkscrew, deftly opening the bottle to fill each glass.
“Here’s to another year together.” As she spoke, she lifted her glass in a salute, her eyes never leaving his. A look passed between them, further words unnecessary.
“To my best friend. May we have many more years together like this, celebrating life, love and happiness.” Remy’s words echoed her thoughts. She knew he understood better than anybody else how important his friendship was to her.
Smiling, she leaned forward slightly and they lightly clinked glasses before sipping the wine.
“It’s hard to believe another year has passed. I think it’s finally getting easier. At least it seems that way.” Theresa felt the truth in her statement.
“I’m glad. I know neither of us will ever forget, but as time passes, maybe it’ll become a faded memory, and you can be happy.”
Theresa shook her head, eyes lowered. Here he goes again. “Remy, it’s not going to happen. Not now and not ever. Max and I had our chance once, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
A sharp rap on the back door sent her attention flying to the inset panes of glass. Her heart fluttered when she saw Max through the window. She started to stand but Remy beat her to it, opening the back door.
“Hey, bro, whatcha doing here?” Curiosity laced Remy’s words.
“I needed to talk to Theresa—about Tommy’s case.”
“This late at night? Couldn’t it wait till morning?”
***
Max eyed his brother, his gaze shifting from Remy to the two wine glasses on the table, before stopping on Theresa. His heartbeat kicked up a notch. Dressed in a simple black sheath dress, her blond hair piled in a loose, attractive style on the back of her head, Theresa looked stunning. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. A burning pain centered in the midst of his chest, his heart thumping wildly. Had he interrupted something? Max realized the gnawing, wrenching feeling in the pit of his stomach was jealousy, eating at him at the thought of Remy and Theresa together. “Look, if I’m interrupting something important, I’m sorry.” No, I’m not, not really.
“Yeah, actually, bro, you are. Theresa and I are—celebrating. Our anniversary.” Remy pressed his lips together
He knew he made a mistake a year ago, intentionally hurting her with cruel words and unfair accusations. The vast gulf between them ate at his conscience. Keeping his distance from Theresa wasn’t working. Just being back around her this short time, asking her to work on Tommy’s case, brought back all those old feelings. How much he wanted her, desired to be with her. Their attraction hadn’t faded. If anything, it was stronger than ever.
Keeping secrets got them nowhere. He needed to rebuild the trust he’d shattered, to mend a few broken bridges in the process. And he was going to do it tonight.
***
Theresa and Remy strolled arm-in-arm through the teeming crowd of tourists. They’d just finished a leisurely dinner, their appetites replete. Theresa smiled as they passed a couple standing in front of one of the shops, the man down on bended knee, obviously proposing. She hoped they’d be happy together, knowing they basically had a fifty-fifty chance of making it for the long haul.
Once home, she unlocked the back door and reached for the light switch, illuminating the kitchen’s gleaming appliances and spotless countertops.
Wordlessly, Remy reached into an upper cabinet, pulling out two wine glasses, while she went to the refrigerator for the bottle of wine he’d placed there before they’d gone to dinner. Tonight was their standing ritual, a rite they’d performed for the last ten years. It was a bittersweet celebration, the anniversary of a day that had changed both their lives.
Theresa smiled, handing him the wine before sitting in her favorite chair at the kitchen table. He worked the corkscrew, deftly opening the bottle to fill each glass.
“Here’s to another year together.” As she spoke, she lifted her glass in a salute, her eyes never leaving his. A look passed between them, further words unnecessary.
“To my best friend. May we have many more years together like this, celebrating life, love and happiness.” Remy’s words echoed her thoughts. She knew he understood better than anybody else how important his friendship was to her.
Smiling, she leaned forward slightly and they lightly clinked glasses before sipping the wine.
“It’s hard to believe another year has passed. I think it’s finally getting easier. At least it seems that way.” Theresa felt the truth in her statement.
“I’m glad. I know neither of us will ever forget, but as time passes, maybe it’ll become a faded memory, and you can be happy.”
Theresa shook her head, eyes lowered. Here he goes again. “Remy, it’s not going to happen. Not now and not ever. Max and I had our chance once, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
A sharp rap on the back door sent her attention flying to the inset panes of glass. Her heart fluttered when she saw Max through the window. She started to stand but Remy beat her to it, opening the back door.
“Hey, bro, whatcha doing here?” Curiosity laced Remy’s words.
“I needed to talk to Theresa—about Tommy’s case.”
“This late at night? Couldn’t it wait till morning?”
***
Max eyed his brother, his gaze shifting from Remy to the two wine glasses on the table, before stopping on Theresa. His heartbeat kicked up a notch. Dressed in a simple black sheath dress, her blond hair piled in a loose, attractive style on the back of her head, Theresa looked stunning. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. A burning pain centered in the midst of his chest, his heart thumping wildly. Had he interrupted something? Max realized the gnawing, wrenching feeling in the pit of his stomach was jealousy, eating at him at the thought of Remy and Theresa together. “Look, if I’m interrupting something important, I’m sorry.” No, I’m not, not really.
“Yeah, actually, bro, you are. Theresa and I are—celebrating. Our anniversary.” Remy pressed his lips together
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