Page 32 of Bryce

“Like if I everhad one.”

“Had one what?”She sank back down in the chair and felt her heart beatingunsteadily.

“A meaningfulrelationship.” His deep voice had lowered and taken on anintimate quality.

“It’snone of my business and I am sure you have had.”

“Yes.”

“Well…?”

“When I wasseventeen.”

The significance ofhis words slammed into her like a bolt of lightning and had her kneesgoing as weak as water. “Look…”

“I ran awayfrom you, from the most important part of my life.”

“Stop.”

“I was acoward,” he continued relentlessly, his eyes holding hers, “andI did not know how to handle any of it.” He was rising andcoming towards her, and she felt as if she was nailed to the sofa.“But nothing I ever did gave me that undiluted happiness, theone that we shared.”

“You’rebeing ridiculous.” She shrank back when he hunkered down infront of her. “We have both moved on.”

“Have we?”His smile was whimsical, and she sat there helpless as he wove hisspell and took her hands in his. “I thought I had. I thought ofyou every now and then and smiled when I did. You were the girl of mychildhood, the one who kept me sane. I wondered what you were doing,if you were married and had children.”

“That’s adamn lie.” She whispered hoarsely. His nearness was making herfeel things she had never felt before. Only once, when she wasseventeen and it paled in comparison to what she was feeling now.“You have been involved with hundreds of women…”

“A slightexaggeration!” He eased her fingers out and studied theunadorned nails. “I was trying to recapture what we had…”

“It’sthis place,” she interrupted desperately, “it weaves itsmagic and makes you think strange things. As soon as you leave, youwill realize that this is all nonsense. And…, and…”Her breath caught in her throat. “And then you will laugh andshake your head in wonder.”

She tried to pullaway, but he held fast. “I am not having sex with you becauseyou’re bored. I am involved!” Her voice rose, and she hadto stop herself from wincing at how loud she sounded. “His nameis William and we’ve been seeing each other since I got here.”

“So, it’sserious?” His blue eyes were like lasers.

“Yes, ofcourse.”

“You don’tlie very well, do you?” He asked her softly, unconsciouslymirroring Sandra’s words.

“How dareyou…!”

“Honesty hasalways been your thing.” He pressed on. “You’vealways been brutal about it. At first, I found it irritating anduncomfortable. You would tell me things I did not want to hear.

But over time, I cameto value your unbiased opinion. In my world, people tell you whatthey think you want to hear. You’re the opposite, have alwaysbeen. That’s why I cannot just be your friend.”

“Please don’tspoil this for us.” She gripped his hands in an unconsciousappeal, dark eyes huge. “We were getting along so well asfriends. And you’re spoiling it for us. Bryce…!”

“I cannotcontinue to pretend that’s only what I want,” he went onhis knees between her thighs. “I want more.”

“That’stoo damn bad.” Anger coated her words and made her lash out athim. How dare he change the rules! “That’s all I have tooffer. It’s that or nothing.”

“I am notprepared to settle for either of those things.”

Her heart hammered,and she hoped desperately that she was the only one hearing theuneven beats. “Is that how they do it in Hollywood?” Sheinjected scorn and tried to pull it off. “You decide that youwant something and just reach out and take it?”

“We’renot in Hollywood.” His deep voice was patient and let her knowthat he realized what she was doing. “What was between us wasnever resolved and that’s on me. I want a chance to…”

“No!” Sheshoved him with enough force to send him sprawling. Jumping to herfeet, she raced to the door. “Stay the hell away from me.”

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