Page 33 of Infatuation

He closed his eyes but the light remained on. He sighed and opened his eyes and found her watching him. She was still rumpled from sleep, her hair a tangle of curls down her back. With a smile, he set his hand on her thigh. “I do know what will help me sleep.”

Her eyes softened, but she shook her head. “I really do think you need to talk about it. I know having nightmares after a mission is routine, but it’s been months. I know when I talk about mine, they don’t seem so scary.”

He removed his hand from her leg and fought back the panic that rose to his throat. “I’m not scared. Just a messed up dream.”

“If you don’t face your problem how are you going to fix—“

“Is this about you fixing me?”

Irritated and needing space, he rose from the bed. He pulled on his pants.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I should have known you weren’t being truthful. Women are always trying to fix men. You think that youknow what’s best for us. I don’t need any help working through my issues. I’m fine.”

The silence in the room had him panicking. When he turned to face her, he was sure he would find her crying, but instead, she was staring at him. Expressionless.

“I was just offering a suggestion, but apparently, I hit a nerve.”

He didn’t like the way she looked now. As if she had shut down. She was normally so full of life. The contrast was stunning. The fact that it was his fault pissed him off even more. He knew it was wrong. He knew he was digging his grave. Still, he went on.

“No, what you’re trying to do is tell me how to live.”

She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She shut down even more. If she was expressionless before, she was downright icy cold.

“Fine.”

She scooted out of bed and moved away from him. His panic increased, and with it, his anger.

“That’s what’s wrong with women. Always trying to fix us.”

“I believe you already mentioned that. I have never tried to fix you, or whatever you’re talking about.” Her voice was low when she spoke, and he knew her temper was getting the better of her. “In fact, I have walked on eggshells around you since you showed up. It has been only a few days, and I have never asked what was coming up next. Never.”

“You were too busy trying to make sure you took care of me.”

She stared at him as if he had grown a second head. “You’re pissed at me because I cared for you?”

When she said it that way, it made him sound like an ass. He pushed that thought aside. He might only have his pride right now, well not much of it, but some.

“That’s not the real problem, though, is it, you stupid SEAL? You want to control everything. All the time. Is that why you can’t sleep through the night anymore? You went on a mission and things got out of control? So you found out you have no power in a lot of situations. Worse, you can’t control me. ”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“Because I didn’t act like some kind of clinging vine, you had to come up with another reason that I was ruining your life. Fine. Run. Be the coward.”

“What did you call me?” he asked. His temper was growing as the panic dissolved.

“You heard me. I’m willing to love you, give you all my love, but you are being such a thickheaded SEAL, you can’t accept that. Fine. Go. Get out of my house.”

“Where the hell am I supposed to go?”

“I have no idea, just get out of my room.”

He hesitated, trying to figure out if she was serious. From the fire sparking in her green eyes, he was pretty damned sure she wanted him to leave. He was just glad she didn’t believe in owning a handgun. He would worry about what appendage she would shoot off.

“Fine.”

Without another word, he walked to the door. Something had his stomach churning, and it wasn’t the nightmare. He slammed the door behind him and walked to the guest room. He knew he was probably wrong. What did his father always say? Men are always wrong if there was a woman involved.

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