Page 37 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"Maybe I will."

"And that wouldn't distract you from your work?"

"Fair point." Her words made him realize how much time he'd wasted on this conversation.

"I'm surprised you're so interested in Noah," she continued. "I thought your only waking thought would be on getting a new phone and computer."

"That's at the top of the list, but I doubt the stores open before nine."

"True, but you still seem awfully caught up in Noah's story."

"Maybe I just wanted to keep you here a little longer."

Her gaze widened. "Why would you want that?"

"I like talking to you," he said simply. "Actually, I liked kissing you even more."

Her lips parted, as wariness filled her gaze. "That's direct."

"That's who I am."

"I told you last night, I'm not interested in a hookup. And I can't imagine that I'm the kind of woman you usually date."

"I have to admit you're the first innkeeper I've ever kissed."

She smiled. "And you're the first robot maker I've ever kissed. But it's not happening again."

"What happened to turning my obligation into a vacation and making sure I have a fantastic time in Whisper Lake?"

"I'd be happy to introduce you to my single friends, some of whom might find a fling more interesting than I do."

"But I don't want them. I want you. And I think you feel the same way about me. Those kisses were not one-sided. There's an attraction between us. It might not make sense, but it's there."

"That doesn't mean we have to act on it."

"Or we could and make ourselves happy."

"For a few nights? No. Not interested. I'm a relationship kind of woman, Justin. I could try to pretend otherwise, but I'd be lying."

He felt incredibly disappointed to hear that, not that he was particularly surprised. "I'm definitely not a relationship kind of man."

"Have you ever been in love?"

"No."

"But you must have been involved with someone," she pressed.

"I have on occasion dated for a few months or so at a time. The last woman I spent real time with was probably two or three years ago." He frowned, thinking maybe it was even longer than that. But he didn't care. He wasn't lonely. He wasn't unhappy with his life.

"What happened to her?" Lizzie asked.

"Nothing specific. Our schedules stopped meshing up, and too many cancellations led to the end of whatever it was. We just stopped talking."

"You both stopped talking, or you did?"

"Actually, I think it was mutual."

"You think? It probably wasn't. That's a lie men tell themselves to feel better about disappearing on a woman."

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