Page 13 of Say You're Mine

“Eros.” Lev lets out a sigh, sitting back down in the chair.

“Do you want me to lie to you?”

“Sure, I mean you already have.” I wince at that.

“It wasn't a lie.” Lev stares me down. “All right, call it what you want, but I knew if I told you who I was the other night, youwouldn't have been yourself with me. You wouldn't have offered me that dance or that kiss. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I can’t.” She wrings her fingers together in her lap, and as badly as I want her, I want to put her worry at ease too. I don’t want this to come between us. I knew not telling her the other night was a double-edged sword.

“How about this? I’ll keep my hands to myself. I’ll let you lead.”

“Well, I’ll lead us to a nice friendship.” Lev’s chin turns up in defiance.

“Is that what you want?”

“It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

I lower myself to my knees, unwilling to loom over her at this moment. It’s damn difficult to not reach out and touch her.

“I want to give you what youwant.”

“We don’t always get what we want, Eros.”

“All you have to do is ask.”

A half smile pulls at her lips. She is breaking my heart. “Friends, okay?”

I only stare at her. I already told her the deal. But then she holds her hand out for me to shake.

“Darling, I’m not—” I trail off when something catches my eye.

“You can’t call me darling. Unless you call everyone darling.” I gently grab Lev's forearm. “That’s not my hand.”

“I only call you darling.” I turn her arm. “What happened?”

“What?” Lev looks down at her arm. “Oh.” She jerks it back. “It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing, considering the bruise.”

“I’m like a peach. I bruise easily, and I run into crap all the time.”

“Now who’s the liar?” It takes every bit of control I have ever had to keep my temper at bay. My tone is soft.

“Eros.”

“Friends tell each other shit.” I interrupt her before she can tell me another lie.

“My father. He just grabbed me too hard.”

“Has he done that before?” She shakes her head no. I believe that. “Does he scare you?” I try to get some more information from her in another way. Her hesitation tells me all I need to know.

“He, ah?—”

“How about we get you started for the day?” I stand, letting her arm go. A look of relief crosses her face that I’m not pushing. “I have to speak with Max and Julie, but Kate is going to show you around.”

“Right, okay.” Lev stands. I step back from her, going around my desk to sit down.

“Kate is normally in the bullpen.”

---