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He gives me a cautious, slow nod as our waitress walks over and grabs his credit card. Eyes on Easton, I raise a hand to stop her. “Please charge it to my room, 212. Natalie Butler.”

Pocketing his card, Easton pulls out a large bill and hands it to her for a tip. She takes it with thanks, failing miserably at concealing a flirtatious grin. “You two have a great night.”

SIXTEEN

“Come Undone”

Carina Round

Natalie

It’s close to midnight as a silent, brooding Easton walks next to me along a short pier a few blocks from my hotel. Dots of brightly lit houses surround the water in the distance as I figuratively walk the plank toward whatever disaster lies ahead. As sleep deprived as I am and have been this past week, I’m surprisingly alert. As we reach the end of the pier, I palm the railing, wondering if I jumped in now, how far I would make it.

Sensing my hesitance, Easton steps closer to me, his quiet electricity surrounding me as I try to think of a way to explain my actions.

“Are you tired?” He asks softly, surprising me by speaking first, and with concern formebefore darting his gaze to the dark water.

“Not really. I was just thinking that. You?”

“No.”

“Either way, I’ll see myself back to my hotel. I’m sure you have more important things to do than babysit me.”

“Kind of necessary since I’m parked there.”

A burst of tense laughter escapes me, and I shake my head at my idiocy. “Maybe not tired, but it’s clear I’m in dire need of sleep.”

Turning, I step up on the wooden base hitching my arms on the railing. The breeze whips around my face, a few strands inevitably sticking to my freshly glossed lips. Just as I lift my hand to free it, Easton grips my arm, moving to stand in front of me. Stunned and immobile, he cups my jaw before running a sure thumb over my lips, completely wiping all traces of the gloss away. A stuttered breath leaves me as he leans in, palming my stomach before sliding his hand into the pocket of my jeans. Glancing down, I watch him retrieve my gloss before tossing it into a nearby trash bin. I gape at him in disbelief. “What the hell?”

He shrugs. “Seemed like the easiest fucking solution.”

“Yeah, but you see,” I manage to get out as he inches closer, “you just erased all the allure.”

“Not fucking possible,” he whispers heatedly, eyes probing as my libido lights fire, his every word stoking it. He dips dangerously close, and I palm his chest, determined to get my confession out. He steps back, his posture rigid.

I glance back at the water briefly to stop myself from tossing caution to the wind and giving in to my desire before looking back up at him. “You want honesty? I’ve never been so attracted to a man in my life.”

He stares down at me, expression unwavering as if that’s not news.

Tough room.

“Butif I entertain it, it will be the second-worst thing I’ve ever done.”

His jaw ticks as I start to defend that statement.

“However, not for the reasons you might think. I asked you to walk with me because I’m going to try to explain myself. I’ve just been stalling because I know when I do, you might turn around, walk away, and never speak to me again—and you’ll be well within your rights to.” I wince. “You probably should.”

His brows lift. “That bad?”

“For me, in my heart,” I press my hand where it lays, “it feels like the worst thing I’ve ever done, especially now, because I like you a lot, and I don’t want to deceive you another minute.”

“You’re not here for an interview,” he delivers with a relaxed tone.

I nod.

“I gathered that much,” he utters simply. “So, thisisabout our parents?”

I nod again. “Partially, but not for the reasons you might think. How mad are you?”

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