Damage Control Read Online Free

the bottle of aspirin off the counter, shook out two tablets, and washed them down with a big gulp from the can of soda. Not ready yet to turn around and look at him, she focused her gaze out the window to the street two floors below, even though the sun hurt her eyes. “Good morning.”
    â€œAre you okay? You seem a little stressed.”
    What had he expected her to be? Didn’t he find the morning after awkward at all?
    â€œWhen have you known me to be anything else? Isn’t that what you’re always complaining about? If I remember correctly, you telling me I was working too hard and dragging me out to dinner last night is what got us into this situation in the first place.” She laughed, trying to lighten the mood. The tension between them was so thick she could swear she was choking on it. She couldn’t be the only uncomfortable one here.
    What the hell was wrong with her? One night in bed and she forgot how to relate to the man? Brushing off her unease, she spun around and pressed her back to the counter.
    Her breath caught in her throat. For the first time, she was seeing Brian in a new light. The man was sexy as all hell. Why did he have to look so good this morning? He stood there in nothing but black boxer-briefs, showcasing his gym-honed muscles. His black-coffee-colored hair was mussed, his blue eyes clouded with sleep. Dark stubble lined his jaw and her fingers itched to reach out and trace those amazing, full lips or the line of his jaw.
    Get a grip , she warned herself. This was no time to crawl back into bed with the guy, as appealing as the idea might be. “Do you want something to drink? I don’t have any coffee, but I have soda or orange juice. Or there’s always water.”
    His shoulders tensed. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Don’t brush this off, Andrea.”
    She dropped her gaze to the tile floor. The fact that he was still calling her by her first name instead of using Ray—her last name—like he usually did spoke volumes. Things had changed, and she had a sinking suspicion it wouldn’t be easy to go back to where they’d been. Maybe they’d never get back there at all. “I can’t talk about it right now.”
    â€œWe have to. It’s important.” Suddenly he was right in front of her. The tentative brush of his fingers sent a spark down her arm. She stepped away and immediately regretted it. After just one night with him, it shouldn’t be possible for her to crave his touch as much as she did.
    â€œI know. We’ll talk. I promise. Just not now. I have about a half-hour before I have to leave to meet my sisters downtown. Bridesmaid dress shopping today with Bridezilla, remember?”
    Brian cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face up. The raw emotion in his eyes, hurt and need mixed with a good dose of confusion, made her breath catch in her throat. Everything she felt was mirrored in those eyes. He opened his mouth, closed it again and shook his head just before he dropped his hand. “Don’t push me away.”
    â€œI’m not.” Liar.
    His gaze darkened, and she caught something she rarely saw there. Anger. Plenty of frustration. “Yeah, you are. Call me later? We’ll get takeout and hash this whole thing out.”
    â€œI can’t tonight. I’m busy all weekend.” The lie rolled too easily off her tongue. What was she doing? Brian was the one person she could tell anything to. At least he had been. Now she didn’t know anymore. She just needed a little distance, a little time to think. A few days without contact and they could slide back into their regular routine—and pretend none of this had ever happened.
    She pressed a hand to her abdomen. As if she could ever forget. “I have to get into the shower. I’ll see you at work on Monday morning, okay?”
    Brian stood in silence for what felt like forever before he stepped back. Those blue eyes