Page 136 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“Don’t call me that.” I blush hard.

He cracks a small smile. “What, baby?”

“That!” I bunch his shirt in my hands. “Don’t.”

“Why?”

“Because we are still enemies.”

I am lying again. Because if we are ever supposed to do this, whatever this is, I need to pretend that it’s nothing more than that.

His mouth flattens into a line. Like he is displeased by my lie. But also somewhat relieved. As if like me, even he doesn’t want to figure out what’s going on between us.

“All right, little liar. I will allow you to believe that but you will quit running from me.”

I squint at him. “I never ran from you.”

“That day you ran out of my office like your ass was on fire.”

My mouth falls open. “That’s because you were staring at me funny! What was I supposed to do? Stand there and wait for your instructions?”

With a hand around my nape, he tugs me flush against him. “You asked me toforgetabout it and act like professionals.” He hisses.

“Well, I thought of having “the talk” before you did.”

He cocks a brow. “The talk?”

“You know… the whole “it was a mistake and it’s not going to happen again” talk.”

“Hmm. So you don’t regret what happened between us.”

I shake my head swiftly. “Not in the least. I wanted it just as much… why are you smiling like that?” I smack his chest.

He sobers up. “I don’t regret it either.”

“You mean that?” I ask with so much hope that it makes my heart beat a little faster.

He nods solemnly. “I have many regrets that keep me up at night, Summer. But being with you is not one of them.”

I squeeze my eyes when he touches his forehead with mine. I liked hearing that a lot. And that itself is a red flag. But I am so far gone for him that it’s impossible to turn around now.

I am like this train with failed breaks who’s barreling toward its end, knowing it is fatal but can’t do anything to stop.

When I pull back to just stare at his handsome face, his big hand curves around my jaw gently. The tender touch makes me giddy. So much so that I am certain it is written all over my face.

Cheeks flaming, I look down and remember something important. “Are you going to tell me what happened to your hand now?”

When he simply stares at me with that soft yet hungry look in his eyes, I clear my throat. “If we are to do this, you have to start answering my questions. No more silent treatment.”

“Do what?” He asks in a husky tone. And I swallow thickly.

“You know…” We are certainly not in a relationship now just because we subtly expressed how we feel for each other. But we are also stepping past the business/neighbor relationship.

“Do I?” His gaze falls to my lips, the hand that’s still cupping my jaw is grazing my skin erotically. His other hand glides up and curls around on my bare upper arm, squeezing lightly.

His touch sears my skin, sending shiver down my spine. Can’t able to control, I rub my palms up and down his chest slowly, trying to feel his hard muscles and make him focus on me at the same time.

It works. Because his gaze slides up and holds mine. “I punched a wall.”

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