Seducing Phoebe (Crimson Romance) Read Free

and, as she sat there, she could almost reason with herself that her thoughts were stupid. But a part of her was still wondering “what if.” What if John’s coming back was a sign that he was the one she was meant to be with?
    “Phoebe, why are you even entertaining thoughts of John? I thought you loved Marco? I mean, you’re a few weeks away from getting married!”
    “I know. I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do.”
    “It’s actually quite simple, Phoebs. Do you love Marco? If so, then tell John to get lost. If you have real doubts then you need to think. You should go away somewhere by yourself to think things through.” Sophie paused — Phoebe could see the censure in her friend’s eyes and knew that what Sophie was going to say next wasn’t going to be pleasant. “But don’t hurt Marco, he doesn’t deserve it.”
    She was right, of course, but Phoebe was also surprised. Shouldn’t Sophie be on her side? Sophie was
her
best friend, not Marco’s. Was she, again, about to be let down by someone who she thought would always have her back?
    “Whatever I do, someone gets hurt,” Phoebe said quietly.
    “Then you need to think long and hard before you do anything stupid like cancelling your wedding. You’re my best friend and I love you, but I won’t sit here and agree that you should go off with John. I remember how he hurt you when he left. He didn’t even consider your feelings. Marco healed you, Phoebs. You’ve been so happy since the two of you hooked up at Louisa’s christening. You seem to be so much more at peace with yourself.”
    At peace
sounded boring to Phoebe’s ears, further increasing her anxiety. When she had been with John it had always been fun. They had always been joking around, never really taking anything seriously. Unfortunately, her heart hadn’t remembered to keep it light and had fallen for him.
    “I thought I had it all sorted. I thought I was happy,” she murmured, almost to herself.
    “You are happy, Phoebe.”
    “How can you say that? I had more fun with John than I do with Marco. We were always laughing.”
    “But that was superficial. Even Alex has commented on how much happier you seem with Marco than you did with John.”
    “That’s because Alex didn’t like John, and I’m seeing his best friend now.”
    “Not true. Alex didn’t mind him. He thought John was a good doctor. He just never thought John was your match and Alex didn’t like it when you got hurt by John. Alex cares about you too. He knows how important you are to me.”
    The conversation wasn’t going in the direction Phoebe wanted it to. And she was still confused.
    Sophie shrugged her shoulders, as if knowing Phoebe didn’t want to continue the conversation. “Well whatever decision you make, you have to remember this: you will see Marco on a regular basis. You’re both Louisa’s godparents. I won’t have one of you without the other at any of her birthdays or other celebrations.”
    • • •
    “Is everything alright, sweetheart? You’ve been quiet all evening.”
    How to answer that question
, Phoebe thought as she placed her coffee cup back on the saucer. Ever since she’d left Sophie’s place she’d been thinking over her suggestion of taking some time away, and trying to get her head around the dilemma she found herself in. It hadn’t helped that John had called three more times. He was acting like a stalker. But a part of her still wanted to see him. Talk to him. If she told Sophie that, Sophie would say it was the rash part of her speaking.
    As if struck by a cannon ball, she knew what she had to do.
    “I can’t marry you.”
    The words fired out of her and she immediately wanted to snatch them back. A slight flaring of Marco’s nostrils was the only indication that her words had shocked him. She’d expected to see fire in the depths of his brown eyes. However, his handsome face remained blank, as normal as ever — right down to his lush, full bottom lip, and