Why did he have to kiss me if he was going to regret it after?
Voice strained, I forced myself to say, “You could have just said it was a mistake. Friends don’t just stop talking to each other like that.”
Henry’s humorless laugh resounded in the space between us. “We were never friends, Antony.”
Wow.Nowhe had to use my first name? After having demoted me to ‘Andino’ for the past three years, he had to use my name forthis?
People called him the Heartbreaker for a reason.
I turned, ready to walk away, but he pulled me by the shirt, making me stumble back. “Now what?”
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you regret it?”
Was he for real right now?
“Why do you ask me if it’syouwho regrets it?” I asked wildly, too hurt and tired to pretend.
“I don’t regret it. That’s not what I said.” Henry groaned and looked at me like he was contemplating spanking me right here and now.
Relief flooded through me, and for a moment I thought I was feeling crazy enough to goad him into it.
“Now you,” he said instead, swallowing hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
After a slow blink, I re-centered myself. “No. I don’t regret it.” I had never even considered that he might have been worrying about it. “It was a good kiss before…Well. Before it ended.”
It had been hot as fire and sweeter than cotton candy. It had been all of the dreams I’d never put words to combined and exploding in one single perfect, tragic moment.
The line of Henry’s shoulders seemed to relax at my statement. Like he was as relieved as me.
I tried not to examine the thought ofwhytoo closely.
I didn’t want to hope.
“Well. If you don’t want anything else from me, I think I’ll get going.”
Only I didn’t get to, because he tugged me from my shirtagain. “What?”
“I do want something else. I have a new rule.”
God. “Fine, I’ll bite. What rule?”
Henry crossed his arms over his impressive chest, reminding me of this morning, when all his smooth skin had been exposed to the sunlight. “You can’t date anyone.”
I choked on a laugh. “Did you just hear what I said in there?”
“I did. I also saw you take that girl’s number. So just so you know—I don’t want you to dateorhook up while you’re my valet. Agree and you can go.”
This guy—this outrageous, maddening guy. Thegall. “Me dating or not has nothing to do with our deal.”
I could see him clench his teeth even in the low light, the sound of chatter and faint musing threading out from under the front door. “It doesn’t.”
Clearly, I wasn’t done making stupid decisions tonight, because I said, “Fine. Then I won’t date.Ifyou also accept to adhere to the same rule. No dating and no hookups.”
He gave me a long, silent look.
He couldn’t intimidate me.
“Are you serious? I’m theHeartbreaker. It’s what Ido.”