Page 21 of Burn for You (Flirting with Forever 3)

Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: Probable, you mean.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: I mean, a sociopath has volatile behavioral patterns, characterized by emotional outbursts and a lack of self-control. They can form attachments to other people and even enjoy being around them.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Now, someone with Asperger’s has a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: General rule of thumb, if I’m not mistaken, is that people with Asperger’s have emotions, they just process differently and present them differently to people. They emote in different ways.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Sociopaths are generally dysfunctional, their issues usually caused by something like a troubled childhood or a history of abuse.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Which is also different than a psychopath, who would try to hide the fact that they don’t feel those emotions to blend in with society. They’re very cunning and manipulative, with no empathy whatsoever. And, in contrast, their issues are more likely rooted in genetics, or possibly head injury.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: So, sociopathy or Asperger’s for Sherlock, I’m still not sure we can definitively say. You realize we are trying to diagnose a fictional character, right?

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Where’d you go? I thought we were having a real discussion.

Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: I was just trying to get a rise out of you. It totally worked.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: You’re evil.

Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: Moriarty is my name.

Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: I should have known better. :)

With that, I tuck my phone into the clutch I’d brought with me. I’m suddenly regretting my choice of footwear as I open my car door to find I’m parked in a pile of slush and ice. Great. With my luck, I’ll bite the big one on my way in. My fancy heels are not so great in this weather. Deciding against taking my coat in—because where am I going to put it?—I adjust the straps of my dress, brush the tulle of the skirt into place, and exit my car as gracefully as I can.

Grumbling to myself that we should totally have valet parking at events like this, I painstakingly make my way across the parking lot to the back door of the gym where the dance is taking place, freezing my ass off the whole way.

Out of nowhere, my heels hit a patch of ice, and I feel myself about to go down when a firm hand grasps my elbow, preventing my fall.

Heart in my throat, my head swivels to the side. Strong hand. My eyes flick up. Broad man chest in a dark-gray suit coat. My eyes shift higher. Corded neck, rugged jaw.

Dark eyes. My breath stutters out.

Damon.

“Hi.” I shake my head. “I mean, thanks.”

He gives me a tight smile. “Do you have things under control now?”

Exhaling carefully, I nod.

“Then let’s go in.” He releases my elbow, but before I know what he intends, I find my arm tucked against his side, my hand folded into the crook of his elbow.

My mind shrieks to snatch my arm away, but I don’t. He’s strong and warm and looks so freaking good in his suit. I’d have to be crazy to pull away.

Or am I crazy because I’m allowing him to lead me into the dance like we’re here together? Jesus, we’re technically working, and I know if I turned my head just a little more to the right …

Yep. His manly scent drifts right off him and up my nose, a tantalizing mixture of cologne, deodorant, and something that just screams Damon, though for the life of me, I don’t know what it is.

A little whimper escapes my lips just as we walk through the doorway. Damon’s gaze snaps to mine, and he gives me the sliest grin—like he knows the thoughts running through my head or can feel the sensations coursing through my body like warmed honey. I’m feeling decidedly like I may melt when I take a deep breath and pat his arm. “Thank you for the assist.”

He looks at me, a strange glint in his eyes. “Anytime, Piper.”

I blink, then edge away, finally tearing my eyes from him to go in search of my friends. I spot Sophia and Heath looking gorgeous in a shimmery dark-pink gown and navy suit and tie, respectively. Damn, they are a dreamy couple.

The gym floor is crowded as I make my way to where they are watching over students near one of the tables full of heart-shaped, pink-frosted cookies, sodas, and bottled water. It strikes me when I reach them that I’ve barely noticed all the red and pink balloons floating about, the paper heart decorations hanging down from the rafters, or the giddy teenagers dancing and having a good time. Awesome chaperone I’m going to be tonight.

With eyes wide, Sophia pulls me in to her and whispers in my ear, “What the hell was that?”

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