Page 55 of Second Chance Savior

“Why am I the only one making confessions?”

That was enough to quiet her down. More miles rolled by. Scenic landscapes straight out of a postcard. I focused on the road, but I felt her staring. Assessing. Plotting.

“How about this,” she said.

Oh, boy, I thought.Here it comes.

“We take turns asking questions, and the other has to answer honestly. We’ll see who balks first.”

“You want to play chicken at being honest? Never heard of that game.”

“I just invented it.”

I laughed, but my pulse had picked up. “I don’t want to wind up arguing with you again.”

“If you can’t handle it, you can say no.”

“I can handle it,” I countered automatically. Though Isuspected this was a terrible idea. “But I get to ask my question first.”

“Ask away.” Bending one leg, Charlie shifted in her seat so she faced me.

“You find me devastatingly attractive, don’t you?”

Her jaw dropped. “Out of everything in the universe, that’s what you ask first? Your arrogance knows no bounds.”

“Go ahead and forfeit.” This was my strategy. End the contest as soon as possible. Unless her honest answer wasno, but how likely was that?

“Yes, I’m attracted to you. Begrudgingly.”

Satisfaction swirled in my belly. But before I could fully enjoy it, she asked, “Are you attracted tome?”

“I said you’re stunning at the fundraiser. I already told you I was being honest.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Even that small glimpse was enough to warm my blood. If she only knew the ways I used to fantasize about us being together. Stripping her down and keeping her in my bed like some caveman.Mine, mine, mine.

“Yes, Charlie. I find you very attractive. I’ve always been drawn to you. Since puberty, anyway. Even when we didn’t like each other.”

Her chin dipped, the brunette strands of her wig hiding her face. “I never thought you noticed me that way.”

“Did you feel the same about me when we were teenagers?” I asked. “Did you want me?”

She whispered, “Yes. I had a crush on you.”

My heart squeezed, and blood pumped to all the parts of me that wanted to touch her. One most of all.

But I smiled breezily. “We’re equally embarrassed now. Let’s end this while we’re ahead.”

“So you forfeit?”

The engine revved. I realized my foot had inched down on the accelerator. “I didn’t say that.”

She shifted around in her seat. “Back when we were teenagers and got in trouble for that stupid archery bet, and we had to stay home together, I thought we became friends.”

I exhaled. “Is that your question?”

“Let me finish. A year later, you told me you were coming back to Colorado for one more summer visit. Then you changed your mind. Ross showed up without you and told me you’d enlisted earlier than planned. Suddenly, you were off at basic training, and it was like you’d forgotten me. I’ve always wanted to know why.”

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