Page 71 of My Ruthless Neighbor

Neither did I feel the awful sense of someone holding my head underwater. Nothing happened.

Maybe because those feelings got buried under a new one. A foreign feeling that hit me when I saw her sullen look.

I take her face in my hands. “That’s not important right now. Tell me what happened.”

She reaches up and grabs my wrists but thankfully doesn’t make a move to remove my touch. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you care? Why do you want to know?”

“Because.”

She rolls her eyes. And it looks like even doing that cost her an ample amount of energy. “I am just tired. I want to go home and snuggle my pup.”

I don’t buy it. She is hiding something. And I am not going to force her. I am well aware of the need to keep things to myself. “All right. Let’s go then.”

With a hand on her lower back, I start to lead her toward my car.

“Thanks for the offer but I drove here.”

My hand flexes against her back. “There’s only so much I can take, Summer. I suggest you stop testing me.”

“What?”

“You are lying again. Your car was parked at the spot beside mine at our building’s parking lot this evening.”

She exhales. “Okay. You caught me. But don’t you get it? I don’t want to go with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Summer,” I warn.

“I did what you wanted. Now that I have returned your favor, please stay away from me.”

I should be relieved by that, no? After all, that’s what I want. For this ridiculous fascination I have for her to end. Then why did it piss me the fuck off when she asked me to stay away from her?

“We are neighbors, remember?”

“Yes. I do remember. I wouldn’t have known about that little fact if not for the new year’s disaster.” A beautiful blush spreads across her cheeks. My cock hardens.

She clears her throat and schools her features. “That’s why I don’t want anything to do with you. If you ever find me in a difficult situation, turn around. Don’t help me. I can’t afford to repay any more of your favors.”

“Summer,”

“No, Archer. Please. I can’t.”

Something is bothering her. Not knowing the reason behind her discomfort is irritating me. I feel thatIam the main cause of it all.

That’s why I don’t attempt to stop her again when she brushes past me and leaves.

???

I am intent on having what I want. Summer was reluctant to tell me what went down at the restaurant. But she wears her heart on her sleeve. Her face said it all.

So when I couldn’t make her talk, I chose another way.

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