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“There are only two possible reasons,” Ben continued. “One, you want to torture me. Or two, you want to be more than friends, but are scared or just don’t want to admit it.”

I scoffed. “You think you know everything.”

“Maybe not everything, but I’m pretty darn sure you want to kiss me again, almost as bad as I want to kiss you.” He glanced at my lips.

I looked away and swallowed hard, because he was right.

“Eye contact.” He grinned.

I returned my gaze to his, thinking about what he had said earlier.

I knew full well the effect my perfume would have on him when I sprayed it on my inner wrists, the base of the throat, and behind my ear lobes.

Why would I do such a thing? I must have had about ten thousand songs in the database called my brain, but one particular title popped into my head to answer the question.

“I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick.

And I certainly wasn’t going to deny it. I wanted Ben to want me, even though I wasn’t sure I would let him have me. Weird, I know, but there was nothing in the world like the feeling of being wanted.

The song ended and Ben winked at me.

There was a flutter in my belly and my limbs started to tingle.

Then Ben surprised me with a last-second dip.

His body hovered over mine.

Ben’s face and lips were just inches from mine and I couldn’t look away.

We were both out of breath, gazes locked, in our own worlds.

In a room of approximately thirty people, everyone else just seemed to disappear.

My willpower was fading faster than my favorite pair of jeans.

There was only one thing I could do at that point.

I reached up with my hand, pulled Ben closer, and kissed him.

Chapter Eighteen

BEN

I slid on my headphones and pressed the microphone button. “It’s another beautiful day in San Diego for the Dr. Tough Love show. We’re here for you, whatever your affliction, heartbreak, or anguish might be.”

“What happened towoes?” Lori asked. “People have woes or have you forgotten already?”

“I’ve expanded my vocabulary, thanks to you. Woes are dead to me.” I chuckled. “And please welcome my amazing cohost, the oh-so-lovely Lori Martin.”

“Thank you. Good to be here again.”

“I see you’ve got your favorite mocha there, so you must be amped and ready to go.”

Lori nodded. “I am.”

“Glad one of us has a mocha.”

Lori crossed her arms. “Do you expect me to bring you one every morning?”