Page 21 of Finding Her Leading Man

“Oh my God, Sam.” He set his guitar to the side; his gaze still locked with hers. “You have to hear this all the time, but you are an amazing singer. I could listen to you all day. I hope you didn’t notice how many times I stopped playing. I found myself caught up watching you.”

The flirt had disappeared. Where was the wink? The smirk? That unnecessary touching that set her skin tingling?

She almost preferred that side of him to the honest, open assessment of her. This Trevor managed to inch a little closer inside the walls she’d built.

She looked away. “Thank you.”

“Go out on a date with me. Please.”

“Because I’m a good singer?” She arched an eyebrow in his direction.

He shook his head and stood up, the intensity of his gaze pinning her in place. “No. You could have sung like crap just now, and I’d have still asked you out for what seems like the tenth time. I want to take you on a date because I like you. I think you know that by now.”

Panic flared in her chest and radiated to her stomach. She reached for another antacid, the peaceful feeling after finishing the song now gone.

She crunched on it, ignoring his peeved look. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I haven’t changed my mind, Trevor.” Even though it was easier to say “no” the first time around. “I don’t want to date. Period. I’m still getting my life together.”

“It’s a simple date, Sam. You. Me. Dinner. I’ve already told you I’m not one for long-distance relationships.”

She sighed. “You’re used to casually dating and moving on. It’s not simple for me. I had my entire life upended, and I don’t want another man to complicate my life. Not when I haven’t even sorted out my emotions.”

“You can complain about Jasper the entire time if you want to.”

“Complain? You act like I got my feelings hurt on the playground.”

He took a step toward her but stopped, his hands fisting by his side before they relaxed. He pointed at the antacids she still held. “I know the answer isn’t in there. And it’s not in Statem. You can’t hide behind your break-up forever. Life outside this small town is moving forward, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get left behind. You can’t use Jasper as an excuse to ruin your future. Your career.”

She crossed her arms. “Really? Is that what I’m doing? Guess what? It’smyfuture. It’smylife.” The anger she’d tried to quell down bubbled up: directed at Trevor. “Just because a woman won’t go out with you, you automatically assume that they’re making excuses. It can’t possibly be that they simply don’t want to date you.”

Trevor’s eyes narrowed. He took a slow step in her direction.

She shifted his way, meeting him in the middle of the room. Her breath caught and heat pooled low in her belly, the warmth different from the aches she typically received. Instead of a laid-back, easy-going man, Trevor showed her a new side to his personality.

Dominant. Was he that used to getting his way?

Backing down was out of the question. She wanted to be a strong woman. She needed to stand up to him. To Jasper. To the world.

“You’re right, Sam. I rarely take ‘no’ for an answer. I’ve been told that persistence is a family trait. The first time you give me a legitimate reason for not wanting to go on a date with me, I’ll be sure back-off. As long as you use what that idiot did to you as your excuse, I’ll keep asking.”

“Maybe, I need time to heal. Maybe, I just want to be single.” A shiver raced across her skin as the heat from his body soaked through her shirt. He stood too close. She should move away.

The breath that clogged in her lungs left her body on a slow exhale, trying to regain control. She couldn’t give in. Not yet. Not ever. She’d lose herself with a man like Trevor before she even came up for air from her relationship with Jasper.

He lowered his voice into a seductive tone that only heightened the power he exuded. “Have you ever thought that moving on is part of the healing process, Sam?” He cupped the side of her face, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone. His warm hand held her gently.

She almost gave in right there, dropping her guard and kissing him.

“You’ve given Jasper too much control over you. He controlled you during your relationship, and he’s still controlling you.” He dropped his hand as his lips twisted into a wry smile. “Unless you’re not as strong as I give you credit. Life is too short to let him drag you down. Find your strength. Get over him.”

Before she recognized the rage, she shoved Trevor away. He was too close.

To her.

To that same fear that snaked through her body.

She wasn’t strong enough to move on. She’d never get over Jasper. Trevor made it sound like a leisurely walk in the park just to skip right along. His sardonic look pushed her over the edge.

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