Page 53 of Love You Truly

“What brings you here?” I ask.

Dash looks at me blankly for a moment as though I’m not speaking words he understands. Like one tanned leg is enough to scramble the thoughts in his brain so thoroughly that he’s forgotten why he came.

Blinking a couple of times, he regains control.

“Why’d you ask me out?”

Oh. That.

I wasn’t expecting him to show up here, and I really wasn’t expecting to have to answer that question, so I defer.

“Wasn’t it obvious? I wanted a date.”

He shakes his head and takes a step backward as though I’m slightly toxic. “No. That’s not it.”

“What makes you so sure? You don’t even know me.”

“I think I know you a little bit. Why’d you ask? Of all the guys in town, why’d you pick the one with a reputation for being a flirt.”

“I don’t even really remember. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

“Bullshit. Tell me.” He keeps asking, and I get the feeling he doesn’t plan on leaving my porch until he gets an answer. Unlike Felix, whose persistence riles me up, something makes me want to give Dash what he wants.

Only I can’t.

I don’t want to tell him the real reason I asked him out. Now that I’ve gotten to know him, there’s no way I’ll tell him.

Besides, having him standing here is giving me a whole other reason that will sound equally plausible. Or at least that’s what my lady boner is telling me.

“I wanted a date. A night of meaningless hookup fun. Thought you might be good for the job.”

He knows I don’t see him that way now, so it surprises me when his face falls as though he was really hoping I’d say something else.

A wave of regret washes over me. I didn’t mean to hurt him. Is that what just happened?

“Really?” He looks skeptical, as though he can intuit the real reason. I know he can’t, but still. How does this guy keep leaving me off-balance?

“Yes. Really.”

“And now? Is that still what you want?” He winces a little at the question like he doesn’t want to ask it, but he needs to know.

I start to answer, but the words won’t leave my mouth. So I just nod.

I do want it, but not for those reasons.

Sure, it’s been two years since I’ve been with a man. Two long years. For most of that time, I’ve been fine. Haven’t missed the complications of a relationship. Definitely haven’t missed Felix or the type of guys who get possessive and try to run my life for me.

I don’t just want a man. I want him.

I want the conclusion to all those kisses that left me aching to dissolve into Dash’s body and lose myself in his capable hands. The more I get to know him, the more I want all of that to come with real emotions on his part, but I know I can’t ask for that, so I’ll take the physical part if that’s what he’s offering.

“I do want it.” I grab his shirt and pull him toward me. “You?”

“I’m sweaty,” he protests, yet he’s here.

“I don’t care.”

“What if I care?”

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