Page 38 of A Little Tempting

“A good impression,” I assume.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Even though he hasn’t contacted you or revealed his identity to you since.”

“Maybe there’s a good reason,” she offers.

“Like knowing your brother.”

She lifts a shoulder. “Maybe.”

“Or knowing the weight you’re holding to it,” I add. “A single kiss.”

Cringing, she picks at the grass. “You make me sound like a creepy stalker.”

“Nah, an invested one,” I tease.

With a huff, she tosses the pieces of grass onto the ground and scowls up at me, pushing to her feet. “Look, is it so wrong to want to get to know a guy after kissing him? It’s not like I expect us to get married and have babies or whatever. Wanting to see where things go doesn’t feel like I’m asking for anything crazy.”

She’s offended. Flustered. Like she thinks I’m making fun of her. Growing up, I was always kind of a dick, learning early on if you don’t have thick skin, you won’t survive in this world. But Dylan? She’s managed to keep a softness to her I can’t help but envy. Not for myself. But for the life she was raised in to be able to keep it.

“You’re not crazy,” I murmur.

“You don’t think?” Those big, doe eyes nearly knock me on my ass, so I do the only thing I can. I break it. The chemistry pulling us together.

“Well, not for wanting to get to know a guy you have chemistry with,” I reply. “Youarecrazy for fawning over a guy who’s too much of a coward to claim you, though.”

“So, heisn’tyou,” she decides. “Interesting.”

Almost offended by her assumption, I cock my head. “Who said he isn’t me?”

“You don’t seem like the cowardly type.”

“And you know me so well?”

“I know you show people what you want them to see.”

Well, fuck. No one has ever pegged me so easily.

Brushing off the realization, I question, “And what do I want you to see?”

“For today?” She hesitates, lifting her camera bag into the air. “Happy. Am I right?”

“Maybe,” I say, stealing her response from earlier.

“Well, no time like the present. Why don’t you put the puppy back in your car since it isn’t too hot, and I’ll meet you inside.”

“Inside?”

“I may have asked Everett to do me a favor and figure out how to get us in the building.”

Everett.

Of course, he did her a favor.

“Not Griff?” I ask.

“He’s seemed a little…stressed lately when it comes to hockey, so…”

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