Abi was passionate and dramatic about things. She knew that about herself, but she was usually happy and upbeat. The past three weeks were the biggest downers she could remember. She’d been a sobbing mess when Virginia died, but she’d had Stone. They’d always been there for each other, and even though he was distant emotionally, he was her best friend, and she loved him desperately. Not being around him was an ache she didn’t know how to cure, but she was truly done with him this time. Maybe. Each morning as she exercised, she strengthened her resolve to not call him or go to him. By evening, she was struggling and almost gave in. It was like when she tried to give up chocolate. Every morning, she was gung ho, but by nighttime, she would give up all her good intentions and binge on a bag of Dove chocolates.

The only way she knew how to stop herself from running back to Stone was to be ridiculously busy and bawl to Julia every night when they both made it home from a long day. Work was insane, so that helped, and instead of being picky about who she said yes to for dates, she said yes to everyone. Monday night, she was at the Blue Iguana with the inspirational speaker from one of the conferences she’d managed last weekend. He was staying in town for another week for business meetings. Truman was a charismatic, good-looking guy, and she assumed she was responding correctly to his monologue. It was funny that he could talk about himself nonstop when his keynote address had been on people skills and how to listen to others.

She took a bite of her seafood chimichanga, savoring the creamy white sauce, shrimp, and tuna. At least she’d been able to get a few bites down. Her stomach had been unsettled since she’d declared herself done with Stone. It was like she’d ripped her own arm off, and now, she had to figure out how to live life without a limb. Oh my, she was pathetic.

“Abi?”

“Yes?” She straightened and focused on Truman.

“I just asked if you’d like to come back and sit in my hot tub.” He smiled suggestively. “I have a private one in my suite.”

I know. I set that all up for you. She forced a smile. “Oh, thank you for the offer, but I’ve got to work early in the morning.” She was actually taking tomorrow off of work, but he didn’t need to know that. If only she could go skiing with Stone. She calculated quickly in her mind the days Stone had been at the station and days he’d been off. He would be off tomorrow. No, no, no. Don’t let yourself go there.

“Oh. Okay.” The disappointment in his voice was thick.

Abi was grateful that she’d insisted they meet at the restaurant. She never allowed her dates to pick her up at her house, and she never went back to their hotels, homes, or condos. Being moral had kept her safe and out of a lot of sticky situations. Anger rose within her as her thoughts returned to Stone. If he and Virginia had been moral and not crossed the lines they’d all agreed on, Virginia would probably still be alive, and maybe Stone might not have become a cold-hearted tard.

The waiter came by, and Abi was quick to ask for a box for her leftovers and the check. Truman stared at her. “I’d like to get to know you better, Abi. You’re an impressive woman.”

She wished the feeling was mutual. Why couldn’t it be? He was an ultra-successful, good-looking guy. True, he bragged a little bit too much, okay, a lot too much, but maybe he was just trying to impress her and would calm down once she got to know him better. Stone would never brag about himself. That stinking voice in her head. She was done with Stone. Done, you hear me? She was pretty sure the annoying voice was having a good cackle about now.

Looking into Truman’s green eyes, she knew she only liked blue eyes, bluish-gray to be exact. You are truly pathetic, woman.

Truman arched an eyebrow, obviously awaiting her positive response.

“Hmm, well, thank you.” She managed to get out.

The waiter arrived with the check. Abi tried to reach for it, but he was closer to Truman, and Truman had a credit card out and shoved at the man before she could beat him to it. Whatever. She didn’t care who won, but she didn’t want to feel beholden to him. Stone bought her dinner all the time, and she never felt like she owed him anything.

Please stop, brain.

Abi took the leftover container from the waiter and boxed her barely-touched dinner. She stood, and Truman was on his feet quickly and pulling out her chair. He wrapped an arm around her and leaned down, whispering too close to her ear, “Please wait, and I’ll walk you out. Give you a proper goodbye.”

Abi tried to pull away and bumped into the chair.

“Abi?”

She’d know that deep, tantalizing voice anywhere. She glanced over Truman’s shoulder and met Stone’s gaze. He stood in the aisle, and she worried how long he’d been there. Her stomach sank as she realized that it probably looked like she was in Truman’s arms, but why did she care? She was done with Stone, remember? Keep telling yourself that.

Emotion hit her like a brick wall when she noticed that his eyes weren’t cold. They were a sparkling blue. His lips were set in a thin line, and his face was all hard lines. It looked like it’d been carved by angels. Why did he have to look so stinking handsome to her?

“It is Abi.” She finally noticed Nikola was next to Stone and Jeremy was on his other side.

Abi pulled away from Truman, giving him a brief nod. “Thank you again for dinner.”

“Of course.” He was glancing back and forth between her and the three men. They were blocking the aisle, a wall of muscly men. Abi had no desire to brush past them. If she so much as smelled Stone’s familiar musky scent, she’d probably give in to her intense need for him. She could go around the three of them, but she didn’t want to back down and act like it bothered her to interact with him.

The waiter returned and handed over the padded card holder. Truman signed it, took his card, and shoved it in his wallet. He lifted Abi’s coat off her chair. She probably would’ve left it sitting there, distracted as she was by Stone so close but still so far way. Truman helped her into her coat then put a hand on her lower back, a little lower than she appreciated, but she wasn’t about to say anything with Stone and his friends glaring at them.

“Can I walk you out?” Truman asked. She knew he felt the tension radiating off of Stone, but he maintained his composure. Maybe she should give him another date.

“Yes, please.”

He escorted her forward. “Excuse us, gentlemen,” he said when they got within feet of Stone.

Abi was forcing herself to take shallow breaths, but she could still smell him.

Nikola folded his arms across his chest and arched an eyebrow. Stone didn’t move an inch. Jeremy shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’ll excuse your pretty boy suit,” Jeremy muttered.

“Excuse us,” Truman said a little louder, as if they were idiots who hadn’t comprehended his first request and each one of them couldn’t thump him with one hand tied behind their back. He was braver than he looked or maybe stupider.

“You’re not going to introduce us to your friend?” Nikola asked.

Abi tilted her chin up to him. “I would if any of you were friends of mine.”

“Oh-ho.” Nikola jeered at her. “So that’s how you want to play this?”

Abi made the mistake of glancing at Stone. There was a muscle working furiously in his jaw, and he stared at her as if drinking in the beauty of a sunrise. Her stomach lurched, and she had to physically restrain herself from running and giving him the hug she usually gave him every time she saw him. Not my friend anymore, she repeated a few times to herself.

“Do I need to call my security personnel?” Truman asked, haughtily staring at the barrier of men.

“If you think they have a chance against us, be my guest.” Jeremy’s fists were clenched like Truman had stolen his girlfriend. Abi was glad Stone had friends beside her, even though it hurt to see him. Her stomach ached worse than the time she’d had appendicitis. Unfortunately, no surgery could fix this, and she was at risk of exploding and dying.

Nikola rolled his eyes. “Honestly, Abi. This is what you would choose?”

“My choices are none of your business.” Abi’s voice rose. She would’ve never chosen this agony, if only Stone could love her even a hundredth as much as she loved him. “Now move!” She could’ve gone another route, but it was a standoff she wasn’t willing to back down from.

“I call dibs on breaking his nose,” Jeremy said just loudly enough for them to hear.

Truman sucked in a breath, and Abi could feel his uncertainty and apprehension.

Finally, Stone shifted and stepped out of the way. Abi hurried through the gap, not letting herself look at Stone again, but dang if she couldn’t smell him, and she had to brush by him. His hand touched hers, and a jolt raced through her. Dang him all the way to Hades.

She started trembling. By the time she cleared the front door of the restaurant and the cold air hit her in the face, she was shaking, and it had nothing to do with the sun being gone and the temperature being below zero.

Truman was right behind her, and as soon as they were outside, he wrapped his arm around her. It seemed like a big brother type of concern. She turned into him, and he held her close. Abi appreciated him being there but thought it was weird that she didn’t feel surrounded by his strength like she did when Stone held her. It was so lame of her to wish Truman wasn’t so thin. It didn’t matter. He’d proven to be a gentleman, but she wouldn’t see him after tonight.

Pulling back, she wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Thank you again. Sorry about all of that.” She looked up and saw the entire front of the restaurant was windows. Of course, she could see Stone sitting at a table with his friends. Their gazes met, and her stomach swooped before she steeled herself and gave him a nasty glare, focusing back on Truman.

“Did you used to date one of those men?”

She shook her head. Truman might be nationally acclaimed, but he wasn’t that impressive of a people person if he couldn’t feel the current that had been running between her and Stone. She didn’t need to give him anything, but she appreciated him being there for her tonight. “No. The one in the middle used to be my best friend.”

“Just a friend?” He arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow and stepped closer.

“Sadly, yes.”

Both eyebrows went up.

“Thanks again.” She turned and hurried through the plowed parking lot to her Cherokee.

Truman followed. He was kind of thick in the head for someone who had written books on interpersonal communication. She reached her car and clicked the unlock button. Truman put a hand on her door. For the love of Pete, let me go home and wallow with a carton of mint chocolate chip.

“I’d like to be more than friends with you.” He leaned in.

“I appreciate your help in there, but it’s been a really long day, and I am not interested in anything more than dinner.”

He waited half a beat before backing away and smiling. “My loss.”

Abi grabbed the door handle, and he was quick to pull the door open. He was being so kind, but she didn’t have any desire to be with him.

She slid inside, the cold leather seeping through her rayon dress slacks. Truman stared at her for far too long, holding on to her door. Oh, please let him walk away.

“Goodbye,” he said and finally closed her door.

She pushed the brake down and jammed her finger against the start button. Leaning her head against the headrest, she felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. Stone. He’d looked so good, and she kind of loved that he and his friends had blocked her way. That he’d looked at her like she was his personal ray of sunshine. She knew he cared for her. What was it going to take to get him to admit it? Schemes and ideas started churning in her brain.

She shook her head and pulled the vehicle into gear. She was completely and totally pathetic when it came to that man.