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I suck in a deep breath, trying to find some serenity.
“Do you want some help yet?” The smugness in his expression is infuriating.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “I’ll find someone else to help me.”
He points to a skinny, shirtless man rollerblading nearby. “Are you waiting for that guy to help you?” His hair is long and greasy, and there’s a sheen of sweat on his hairy chest. “Because I can call him over if you want.” His arm gestures out to the man. “Hey, buddy!”
“Stop!” I push his shoulder.
“Okay, what about that lady?” He points behind us to an old woman with a walker. “I’m sure she can bend down and help you out. No problem.”
“Fine.” I grit my teeth. “You can help me.”
“Nah, I don’t want to force you.”
“Stop being a word that I don’t say, and get my shoe unstuck.”
His lips twitch. “If you’re desperate.”
“Yes, I’m desperate.”
Wasn’t my failed kiss from earlier proof enough of that?
* * *
TYLER
I’m an idiot.
When the beautiful girl came at me, I panicked. I haven’t been touched by another woman besides Kristen in thirteen years.
Thirteen years.
And to strengthen my case, it’s been eighteen months since I’ve touched a woman…period.
The defense rests its case—I’m innocent in the matter.
Okay. Notentirelyinnocent.
If someone had told me earlier that my face would be inches away from a beautiful woman’s leg tonight, I wouldn’t have believed them.
And yet, here I am.
The Bible width between us is uncomfortably awkward, so I decide to break the tension. “You missed a spot shaving.”
She whacks me on the shoulder with her purse. “I was in a hurry!”
My finger grazes over the top of her knee. “Right here on your kneecap.”
“Don’t touch my leg,” she hisses.
I look up. My hands have been, and currentlyare,all over her leg as I try to get enough leverage to pull her shoe out.
She shakes her head. “You know what I mean. Don’t touch my legmorethan you have to. And why are you even looking at my legs? Your eyes should be focused on the shoe only.”
I smile as I drop my head. “Your thick patch of knee stubble distracted me.”
She whacks me on the shoulder with her purse…again.
