Take Me (Take a Chance #4)(27)
Author: Diane Alberts

“You said it. You’ve never told me that before,” she said, her voice raw. “I love you, too.”

It wasn’t until Kiersten pointed it out that Mike realized what she meant. He had actually told her he loved her. All their lives, she knew it, of course. Knew how he felt. But he never said the words before. What had changed? Did he even want to know?

“I’ve got to go,” he said, his voice strangled.

Kiersten wrung her hands. “Mike, I—”

He pushed through the doors, welcoming the cold air.

And the solitude.

…

Morgan grinned as she poured a draft of Miller. Today, she’d gone to her second audition for the Chicago touring company. The stage manager had seemed very pleased with her performance earlier, and had even gone so far as to jot down her agent’s information on his notepad. If that wasn’t a good sign, she didn’t know what was. She had a good feeling about this.

A good feeling in her gut that said she would be getting a part in the play.

Between her newfound happiness with Mike and this new opportunity, she was on cloud nine. That is…until she turned around and saw Brianna watching her skeptically. She gave the customer his beer, took the money, and then made her way over.

Swiping her sweaty palms on her shorts, she forced a smile. “Hey, Brianna. What’s up?”

“Nothing much.” Brianna settled in on a barstool, her blond hair pulled back in a tight bun. “So, I hear you’re my sister-in-law?”

“Uh…”

Should she say yes? Or yes, but only for a little bit longer? She hadn’t talked to Mike about the future. They’d just kind of been living in the now. Enjoying each other. Come the wedding, their short time of bliss would end. And then what? She had no idea.

Brianna arched a cool brow. She had the role of protective sister down pat. “‘Uh?’ That’s not an answer. It’s a yes or a no question.”

“Well, we are married for now.” Morgan wrung her hands together. “But we won’t be for much longer. At least, I don’t think so. The plan was until Kiersten’s wedding…”

Brianna leaned on her elbows and plopped her chin on her hands. “So you asked him to give you a week to do what, exactly? To fall in love with you or something?”

“No. Of course not.” Morgan cleaned the bar with a rag, feeling awkward and out of place and confused. “Besides, I didn’t ask him for anything but an annulment. He asked me to give him a week to figure out stuff. What stuff? I don’t know.”

Brianna’s eyes went wide. “He asked you?”

“Yeah.” She stiffened, uncertain if she should be insulted or not by Brianna’s skepticism. “Why is that so hard to believe?”

“With his past, I just assumed you were the one pushing for more.”

“I’m not.” Morgan held the rag close to her chest. “And neither is he. We’re nothing. Just…just together for now. That’s it.”

Mike came up behind Brianna, his eyes on her. He looked upset. “Hello, wife.”

“Hello.” She tossed the rag down. How much had he heard? “You’re just in time. I think my shift is finished.”

“I’ll let you guys go, then.” Brianna said, her face a lot softer and friendlier than it had been moments before. She must have passed some sort of test. “Are you coming to the wedding?”

“I think so.” Morgan stole a glance at Mike. His eyes were hard and unyielding. “Last I heard, anyway.”

“She’s coming. Bye, Brianna.” Mike’s jaw flexed and he cocked his head toward the exit. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Morgan came around the side of the bar and waited for him. He captured her elbow and steered her toward the elevator, his grip firm yet not rough.

“‘We’re nothing.’ Is that how you still feel?” He pushed the elevator button. “Even after last night?”

“I just said that because your sister was giving me the third degree. Is that so wrong? It’s not like we’re—”

She broke off and walked inside the elevator. Mike followed. She’d been about to say they weren’t married or anything…but they were.

He didn’t miss a beat. He knew exactly where she had been going, and why she stopped. He held his left hand up, where he still wore his band. So did she, though she wasn’t sure why. It didn’t mean anything. The doors opened on their floor and he motioned her through. “Not like we’re what? Married?”

“I was caught off guard. It’s just—” Her phone rang. She glanced at it in surprise. It was well after midnight and she didn’t get phone calls this late. When she saw the number, she almost dropped it. “Oh my God. It’s my agent.”

He eyed her, the irritation leaving his eyes. “Well, answer it.”

“But we’re—”

He pointed at her hand. “Done here. Now pick up the phone.”

“I’m sorry.” She lifted her phone. “Just give me a second, because we’re not done here at all.”

He nodded, but his expression was closed. And he no longer looked vulnerable or soft or anything. She hesitated, for some reason not wanting to answer. She’d waited her whole freaking life for this and now here she was. Worrying about a man. This is exactly why she’d avoided men. Avoided feelings.

This. Right here.

She turned her back on Mike and held her phone to her ear. “Hello? Keith?” He spoke quickly, the words all blending into each other. But she’d been right. He called because she got the part. She collapsed against the wall, her whole body feeble and feeling faint. Mike grabbed her around the waist, holding her up. “You’re sure? They want me?”

“They do,” Keith said, his voice light and airy. “And you leave in a week.”

“Oh my God.” She covered her mouth. “Thank you. Thank you so much. So, so much!”

Keith chuckled. “You’re welcome. We’ll have to meet up tomorrow evening to go over everything.”

“Yes, of course! I’ll be there. Thank you!”

They hung up after a few more exchanges of her babbling like a fool, and then she turned to Mike. She blurted out, “I got the part!”

He smiled, quite obviously thrilled for her. No resentment or anger. Interesting… “I knew you would. Congrats, babe.”

She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him, almost as happy at his happiness for her as she was at this wonderful opportunity. His hands hung at his sides for a second, and then he held her against him. But it felt weird. Almost as if he didn’t want to hold her, yet didn’t want to let her go. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.