Page 18 of King of My Heart

“Sometimes, you’re better off alone.”

“You would know that,” I shot back mockingly.

He scoffed. “I’ve had many people around me all my life. I think I deserve to be alone for once.”

“Fair enough.” I leaned back on the couch, getting more comfortable as more minutes passed. “And what do you do all day, all alone?”

“I mind my business,” he said bluntly.

“That sounds…exciting.”

“Works for me,” he said with a shrug. “Not everyone needs to be entertained every second of the day.”

I didn’t press him. He didn’t want to open up, and I wasn’t about to push my luck.

“So then…” I said, forcing a casual tone. “Can you tell me what people around here do for fun at night?”

“Fun?” He snorted as if the concept of it was foreign to this village.

“Yes, fun,” I said, giving him an expectant look.

He sighed, leaning forward again to rest his elbows on his knees. “The locals go to the bar. They play pool. Drink. That’s about it.”

“Are you going?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t enjoy sitting around listening to half-drunk idiots argue over who gets to break first.”

“Fair point. I might go. Check out what the locals are like. Unless you say they’re all like Theresa. Then I won’t go.”

That got a laugh out of him.

A real one.

Then his expression went back to serious. The grump was back.

“Theresa’s a witch. But she’s a good friend.”

“That’s not how I would want to be talked about by a friend,” I said honestly, pursing my lips. I set the mug back on the coffee table in front of me.

He didn’t respond; he just watched me as I got up and put on my brown leather jacket. His gaze felt heavy, and when I glanced back at him, his eyes were locked on mine, intense and merciless.

“What?” I asked.

“You think I’m an asshole.”

That came as a surprise.

I turned toward him and shook my head. That wasn’t what I thought of him. He was grumpy, in a bad mood, and kind of dry. But he wasn’t an asshole. “I think thatyouthink you’re an asshole.”

His furrowed brows softened, and my words made him think.

I smiled, wanting to leave him with that. Think about what I said.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come to the bar?” I asked, my voice softer now.

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