Just Between Friends (O'Rourke Family 4) by Julianna Morris Page A

wanting to be with him wasn’t going to change; her heart and soul weren’t made that way.
    “You don’t have to worry about it. Go work on your proposal for that new building complex,” she muttered, straightening her shoulders. As long as he didn’t come around the bed and see the tears still dripping down her cheeks, he wouldn’t be any the wiser.
    “No. You’re upset.”
    Drat him. Kate gritted her teeth. He was stubborn and impossible and she loved him to distraction. “I’ll bet you think it’s just hormones.”
    She shot him a surreptitious glance and saw a guilty look flash across his handsome, rugged features.
    “I didn’t say that,” he muttered.
    She choked back a sob.
    Maybe it was hormones. She wasn’t the kind of woman who cried at the drop of a hat, weepy over wobbly kittens and sentimental television commercials. It was ironic that Dylan thought she was a sheltered, immature child when she’d learned to be independent andtake care of herself. She didn’t have much choice—her family wasn’t exactly the emotionally supportive type, any more than Dylan had ever…
    She swallowed.
    No.
    She wasn’t going to compare Dylan to her family. He was a great guy, even if he’d seemed like a stranger all day.
    The mattress dipped as he sat next to her.
    “I suppose that’s the sort of thing you’d expect from a construction worker like me,” Dylan said quietly. “Something sarcastic about hormones.”
    “No, but you’re a guy.” Kate gave in and leaned against him, her cheek landing in the hollow of his shoulder. “I doubt guys can help thinking stuff like that, only the nice ones don’t say it.”
    “That’s me, a nice construction worker,” Dylan said wryly.
    “I’m talking about all men, and you’re the best man I know, so stop being so hung up on that construction worker stuff. You’re strong and honest and…and…” Her breathing got ragged, and she sniffed.
    “Oh, God, don’t start again.” Dylan put an arm around her and stroked her hair. “I’m sure it’ll be better tomorrow.”
    Kate tried to stop her tears. She’d promised herself there wouldn’t be any tricks or games in their marriage; if Dylan chose to stay with her, it would be because he truly loved her.
    She angled her head back. “Are you really upset about being here? Because if you are…” She choked.
    “Jeez.” Dylan pulled Kate across his lap, feeling desperate. It was strange, wanting to comfort her, at thesame time wishing he was on a different planet. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “I’d rather be here than see you married to someone you don’t want to be with.”
    “Really?”
    “I mean what I say. You know that.”
    “I know.”
    She let out a shuddering sigh, snuggling closer, and his body hardened—holding Kate was a big mistake. A huge mistake. He drew a deep breath, which was another mistake because she smelled like a garden of flowers. The hell of it was that she hadn’t done a thing to warrant his reacting to her, but the warmth of her breath on his throat and her slight weight across his thighs were playing the devil with his restraint.
    He’d never had those kind of feelings for Kate. This was Kate, pretty, annoying, bright as a newly minted penny, the kid he’d always protected and taken care of. He socialized with a certain kind of woman, the kind who didn’t talk about relationships or expect forever, and she was the complete opposite.
    “Are you feeling better now?” he asked, wishing he’d put on a shirt and pair of jeans, instead of a robe. At least they would have helped conceal his response.
    “Y-yes.”
    But a tear dripped onto his chest, through the V-opening of his terry robe, and he groaned.
    “Katydid, don’t do that.”
    “I’m sorry. You can leave now. I’m much better.”
    He searched through swaths of her thick, long gold hair and cupped her chin.
    “Look at me,” Dylan said firmly, hating the way her lashes swept down, concealing her green