The Best Thing by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online Page A

you stop running from it. From what the two of us could have.”
    Her eyes widened and she tried to tug her hands away, but he held firm. “Brody, I don’t want to do this.”
    “I think you do, Tori, but something’s scaring you off. Talk to me. Tell me what’s bothering you. Is it something I’ve done in the past? Some way I’m not measuring up? I think you and I could have something, if you’ll just give me a chance.”
    Oh, God. Smartass Brody she could handle. Funny, jokester Brody she could deal with. Teasing Brody she knew well. But earnest, honest Brody wanting to have a heartfelt conversation with her about having a relationship? She’d never known this side of him and she couldn’t handle it.
    He was handing her everything she wanted, everything she’d always dreamed of. All she had to do was meet him half way.
    But she didn’t trust it, didn’t trust herself.
    She didn’t trust him.
    Because she had so much to lose.
    Everything to lose.
    She finally freed her hands and pushed back. “I need some air. I’m sorry.”
    She grabbed her purse and made a beeline for the front door.

Chapter Six
    That went well.
    Nothing like opening yourself up to a woman and seeing a look of horror on her face, followed by a world-record dash for the door.
    Brody had never thought of himself as repulsive. Women were always attracted to him. He had a pretty healthy ego, but seeing Tori run for her life when he offered to have a relationship with her had given his self-esteem a severe hit tonight.
    Something was up, and he wasn’t about to give up on her. He needed to figure out what the hell was going on.
    He signaled Pat, paid the bill and left a generous tip, then made his way out the door. Tori was leaning against his truck, arms folded in front of her like a protective shield. When she saw him approach, she lifted her head and cast him a miserable gaze.
    Okay, so maybe out in the parking lot of Ed’s wasn’t the place to have a talk about this. He unlocked the truck, helped her inside and got in. They made the drive back to Deer Lake in silence. Tori huddled on her side, looking out the side window, as far away from him as she could get.
    Great. How was he supposed to handle this one? He was no expert on women, except in the bedroom. He was really damn good at pleasing them there. At seduction he was a pro, and he could read sexual signals like a master. But emotion and conversation about feelings and all that shit? Not his area.
    But there was no way in hell he was dropping her off at her car and leaving things the way they were. This past year had been hell, and he wasn’t about to make things worse by letting her run on him again.
    So instead of taking her back to work to fetch her car, he went with instinct and drove her to his place, where she wouldn’t be able to run.
    When he pulled into the driveway of his house, she finally straightened.
    “What are we doing here?”
    Instead of answering her, he came around to her side of the truck and opened the door. “Come on, Tori. We’re going to talk.”
    She cast him a wary look.
    “It’s time. And there are things that have to be said. You can’t run from it forever.”
    He held out his hand. If she refused to come in, he wouldn’t force her. He wasn’t that kind of guy.
    The call was hers to make.
    With a shaky sigh, she slid her hands in his and he helped her down from the truck. He slid his key in the lock and opened the door, hoping like hell he hadn’t left his place a mess.
    He switched on the light, relieved as he remembered his cleaning lady had been in today. Thank God.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever been in your house before,” she said, her voice low, almost a whisper as she took in his living room.
    He turned to her. “I don’t entertain much here.”
    She shot him a look. “Yeah. I’ll bet you don’t.”
    “Okay. I meant parties and that kind of thing. It’s just where I crash.”
    She walked around, then turned to him. “It’s a