Impulsive by Helenkay Dimon Page A

her out and taking some much-needed revenge. Other times he welcomed her into bed. None of those times did he stand there and not know what to say.
    He’d been handed the scenario he thought he wanted, and all he could do was look at the woman who’d once meant everything to him and wonder why she wasn’t Katie.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” he asked.
    â€œKevin called me.”
    Eric had almost calmed down from the dinner fiasco. Now his frustration built to the point of boiling. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
    Deana shot him an apologetic smile. “No.”
    â€œWhen?” He dropped his briefcase on the floor and rested his fists against the dining room table as he struggled to wrestle his raging temper back under control.
    â€œWhat does that—”
    â€œWhen, Deana?” It wasn’t until his voice bounced off the walls that Eric realized he was shouting. “Sorry. Don’t mean to take this out on you.”
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œNot really.” Last thing he wanted was Deana’s pity. “Tell me what happened and what he said to get you here.”
    â€œKevin called me this afternoon. He said you had a huge problem and it centered on me.”
    So before dinner. Kevin sat there, ate his steak, talked about donors, but didn’t drop that bomb. Eric thought about firing Kevin’s sorry ass.
    â€œHe was being an ass. Everything’s fine.” Eric felt anything but calm at the moment, but the days of sharing his thoughts with Deana were long gone.
    â€œHe’s worried about you.” Deana pulled out the chair closest to Eric and sat down. He wasn’t convinced he liked how comfortable she acted in his home. He got near her and fumbled around like an idiot. His insides jumped until his mind scrambled.
    At least that’s usually what happened. This time he was more worried about Katie showing up and misinterpreting the situation and pissed off at how other people were running his life. Then there was the very real possibility of Josh making an appearance. The man carried a gun and weighed a good twenty pounds more than Eric. Fighting with him would be a very bad idea.
    â€œI don’t know why Kevin won’t let this go,” Eric said more in an argument with himself than anything else.
    â€œHow can I help?” Deana reached her hand out toward his.
    The movement snapped him out of his stupor. He stood up before they touched. “Coming to my condo when half the town thinks we’re having an affair probably wasn’t the best move.”
    â€œWe know what’s happening here.”
    â€œ We do.”
    Her mouth twisted. “And I’m married.”
    â€œThe gossip covers all of that and then spins from there. Secret meetings, sex on the side. You’ve heard it.”
    â€œI don’t care what people think. We’re friends and always will be.”
    Eric wasn’t sure that label was even accurate. “People assume we’re fooling around.”
    She waved off his comment. Made a pretty nasty face while doing it. “Dumb rumors.”
    â€œI’m not sure if that’s an insult or not, so I’ll let it slide.”
    Her face paled. “You know what I mean. I care about you. Very much.”
    â€œYeah.” He needed her out of there. Not because he couldn’t control his urges. He needed to be alone to explode, and he was going to. “Look, Deana, I appreciate your coming over and the intention behind it, but this isn’t a good idea.”
    â€œYou helped me out and now you could have a problem because of it. You made a horrific situation tolerable, and you had to do it while I berated you. The least I can do is offer some support.”
    That was the first time she’d ever admitted that he got something right in the Ryan situation. Ever since the arrest, she’d blamed him. Eric could still hear her agonized crying and feel the