Page 201 of Devil's Bargain

He runs a hand through his dark hair, then lowers it down by his side. “Sure.”

I stare at him before shaking myself off and opening the fridge. “Soda? Beer? I have coffee if you would prefer something warm?”

He’s looking at photographs pinned to the wall beside the door. They’re all pictures from our high school days. “I’ll have a beer, please. Do you see them a lot?”

I remove the lid and hand him the bottle. “I live with Nina. Ben is at university, so I can only get up there to visit him and Dallas once a year, but we stay in regular contact. Same with Matt. Steph and Josh live here in Hedgewood, so I see them regularly.”

“I’m glad things worked out for them!” he says, looking at a photograph of Ben, Dallas, and his ex, Emily.”

I smile. “Me too. Ben was miserable without her.” I make my way into the living room. He follows behind, taking it all in with his hazel eyes.

I roll up to the couch and lift myself onto it, conscious of Rick watching me move the wheelchair to the side.

The couch dips as he takes a seat and shifts his body to face me. He takes a sip of beer, his eyes roaming over my face.

I feel a blush creep up my neck. “What are you doing here?”

He lowers the bottle. “I’ve been thinking about you.”

“Oh.”

He cringes. “That came out wrong. I think about you every day! I never stopped!”

“Okay.” I sound stupid. What am I doing?

He looks down at the bottle in his hands.

As he picks at the corner of the label, he says, “I needed to see you!”

“What about that model?” Trust me to bring up a girl he’s been seeing. I haven’t stalked him, but it was in every gossip magazine. The memory turns my stomach.

He looks uncomfortable as he peels away the corner. He clears his throat. “I ended it.”

“Oh.” My mouth remains in an O before I catch myself and look away. I wish I would’ve got a drink for myself.

“Did you date anyone?”

I shake my head. “I wasn’t ready.”

I can feel his eyes on my profile as I sweep mine over the dark gray walls. Nina has done a great job decorating the place. She likes plants. There’s a large fern in the corner, her pride and joy.

“And now? Are you ready?”

I drag my eyes away from the plants lining a shelf on the wall. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’d love to meet someone, but it’s not so straightforward anymore.”

“Why?”

I give him a look. “I’ve been through years of therapy. I have a spinal cord injury. It’s not complete, so I still have some sensation down there, but I can’t…” My voice drifts off. I draw in a shaky breath. Why am I discussing something this intimate with him? “I can’t just climb on top of someone and take charge like I used to, you know?” My voice is weak.

His eyes are on me. “Any man who gets to be with you is a lucky guy!”

I snort a laugh, but the lone tear trailing down my cheek betrays me. I wipe it away. “Is the beer okay?”

He peels off the label. “It’s perfect.”

I watch him crumple it up and put it on the glass coffee table.

“Go out with me?”

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