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crossed a boundary into a subject he wasn’t comfortable with or even wanted to discuss at the moment. “Yeah, we once did, years ago. We’ve changed.” He screwed it up, he knew. Why couldn’t he just admit he had fallen in love with her? This was not the time, though. He needed to be sure she returned his feelings and would not run away. “Anyway, we’ve got a good thing going, right?”
    She moved her body and faced him straight on. “What does that mean? We’ve got a good thing going?”
    The evening settled, but he sure felt the blaze of a high afternoon sun. A cotton ball seemed to develop inside his mouth. “I’m just saying that we are best friends. We can talk to one another about anything. We can hang out without feelings getting in the way. Wouldn’t adding romance to the mix screw up the comfort level between us? And what if it didn’t work out?” He was ripping this conversation to verbal hell. He couldn’t control his words. He deserved a badge for being an idiot. The entire evening had headed the wrong direction from the start. Seeing the color change in her eyes, he definitely knew he’d talked himself into a corner.
    He started to open his mouth to explain in a better way, but she jumped up so fast it almost sent him over the edge of the chair. “You’re right. A romantic connection between us would ruin everything. You and I are only meant to be friends.” She stomped toward the French doors. “My mother is right. I’m ready to start thinking about my future. A husband. Kids. However, you’re still enjoying the bachelor scene. Before we know it there’ll be another flavor of the month.”
    “That is unfair–”
    She turned on him–a bull ready to strike at the red cape. “Is it unfair? I’ve watched you and your revolving door for years now. Just when you get to know a woman’s middle name, the newness wears off and you drop her like yesterday’s news. And you believe you have the right to question my romantic life?” She laughed, but it sounded harsh. Rover whined. “You’re not getting any younger either. There will come a time when the giggling ladies will stop admiring you for your looks. The only thank-you you’ll get is for the concoctions you create in the kitchen and not in the bedroom.”
    His heart sank. He wanted to say something. But what could he add that hadn’t already been said?
    She whipped around on her heel and vanished inside.
    He wanted to run after her, but he’d mess it up even more. How could he talk his way in circles around any other female but when it came to Cassie, his best friend, he always sounded   loose in the head? Things were already changing between them.
     

 
    Chapter 4
     
    Work was tense the following day. Cassie had barely said two words to Sebastian since her outburst at her mom’s and he wouldn’t even look her way. She’d hurt him. She’d been intentionally cruel and her words hadn’t been accurate. After she and Sebastian had broken up, he could have been labeled a playboy. He’d changed, though. She’d thought about that as she’d lay in bed last night and strolled down memory lane. What she’d found at the end of that road hadn’t been a rainbow of perfection.
    Sebastian had always been there for her. She could count at least ten times she’d called him sick or sad while he was out on a date and he’d dropped everything–and anyone–to come to her rescue. She’d ruined many of his opportunities for a relationship. What woman would want a man who’d leave in the middle of a date to go and take care of his best friend, who just happened to be a female?
    Cassie shook her head. She’d been selfish over the years. She’d been jealous and had wanted Sebastian to herself. How could she have been so callous? She hadn’t meant to be.
    “Hello?”
    Cassie pulled herself out of her thoughts and turned to the brunette standing at the counter. “I’m sorry. Can I help you?”
    “Can I get a medium cafe mocha and