Page 46 of Salvatore

“I like you,” she tells me. “I think despite everything you’ve been through, you’re a good man. But I’ll be honest, sometimes you really scare me.”

I frown. “I wouldn’t hurt you?or force you to do anything you don’t want or like. You have my word.”

“Okay,” she says, like she’s been waiting to hear it.

“You want to date me?” she says after a moment. I answer with a stiff nod, even though I’m still asking myself when I became such a pussy. “All right,” she says. “But even though we’re not sleeping together, I won’t keep dating you if I know you’re with other women.”

I raise a brow. “You’re asking for commitment? Already?”

No sooner do I spit the words out than her finger glides along my lips, silencing me. “Not a commitment, only honesty. If you’re with someone, tell me.”

“But you’ll walk away.” I’m not trying to tell her I’ll lie to keep her. I’m only pointing out what I know she’ll do.

“I will,” she admits. “But only because I don’t want to get hurt.” She sighs. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I already know you have the power to hurt me like no one else . . .”

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