Page 44 of Staying for You

She’s not looking for a relationship.

Then again, neither am I.

Maybe that’s what makes it perfect.

We can have our fun while she’s here and then she’ll go back to Tennessee and our hearts will be in tact because we both know what we’re getting into.

No.

I can’t ask that. Can’t pursue that with her. It’s not fair to either of us. I’m not sure if we can keep our hearts intact. There’s more than physical attraction between us. It goes so much deeper… I can feel it.

“We shouldn’t,” I whisper, my lips skimming against hers.

“I know.”

“You’re leaving in a few weeks,” I remind her. “And I’ll still be here. This is where I have to be.”

“I know.”

I lift a hand because I’ve had enough of not touching her and cup her neck, letting my thumb rest on her pulse point. It’s racing, just like I know mine is.

I lean my forehead against hers, needing to press pause and find out what she wants.

“I need.” I gulp and sit back, keeping my hold on her neck but I need to see into her eyes when I ask what I’m about to.

“What? What do you need?” Cami asks quietly, placing a palm on my cheek. Her hand is soft and comforting and I have to resist the urge to lean into her touch.

She forgave me after I said awful things about her.

She didn’t laugh at my reasoning.

Beautiful.

Smart.

Funny.

Compassionate.

Why doesn’t she live here? That would make this so much easier.

I can’t resist wanting more with her. Not when it’s just the two of us alone in the woods, quiet surrounding us and nothing but the space between the lodge and her cabin between us.

I don’t know anything about her.

But I know her.

How is that possible? Is this what people talk about when they say they just knew?

She’s incredible and I know it’s a mistake to want more but the alternative, not having her at all and watching her leave here, would be the biggest regret of my life. I know it already.

Am I really about to suggest this? That we have a fling while she’s here with no expectations of more? Can I allow myself to get to know her andnotwant more? Because I already feel it’s impossible to resist her. Discovering what makes her, her, will only make it harder.

That doesn’t stop me, though.

“I have a question and this is going to go against everything I said earlier about me being a good guy.”

She laughs, eyebrows rising to her hairline as she drops her hand and leans back against the armrest of the couch causing my hand to drop also. I don’t like the new arrangement, neither of us touching the other.

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