Page 62 of Tangled Up

“You do?” He steps forward and puts his hand beside me on the countertop.

Right on top of…

“Oh shit!” I lunge around to grab it, but it’s too late.

He lifts the pro-con list, frowning as he scans it faster than I can take it away.

“What’s this?” He steps back. Blue eyes flicker to mine, and that damn wicked dimple appears. “Good in bed?”

“Stop!” I snatch it out of his hand, taking off in a dash to my bedroom.

His feet thud rapidly on the wooden floor behind me, and I scream. He’s chasing me, and my stomach flips. I’m thrilled and terrified he’ll catch me and see all my feelings written down on paper. It’s ridiculous and silly and everything we used to be. I start to laugh, and I hear him laughing behind me.

Running to my small desk, I pull open a drawer and attempt to shove the paper inside. He’s behind me, but he’s not touching me. Instead, he leans to the side, looking over my shoulder.

“What did you write?”

“None of your business!” I turn around and face him, eyes shining.

Our gazes meet and mingle, and he blinks at me in a way that makes me hot all over.

Inhaling, he steps back and nods. “Okay, have it your way.” He holds up both hands. “It was clearly something about me, but I get it. It’s your business.”

“It’s something stupid Jessica wanted me to do. It’s really dumb, and you don’t need to worry about it.” I’m talking too fast, and I sound sixteen again.

Sixteen was the year he taught me to kiss, and it wasso good…

Stepping back, he crosses his muscular arms and looks around the space. “Damn. Your bedroom has not changed at all.”

“I know, isn’t it weird?” I look around as well, casting my eyes over the sheer, butterfly curtains, the butterfly wallpaper, to him, standing in the middle of it all like the most amazing dream come true.

His eyes move to me. “Will you show me your list?”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s just to help me think.”

“But it’s about me.” He grins, and slides a finger along my forearm, making my stomach jump.

“My room hasn’t changed, but you have.” I narrow my eyes. “You’re bigger, and you’re naughty.”

“Are you saying I’m big and bad?” He steps closer to me, and I step back, moving until my legs hit the desk.

I’m looking up at him. He leans down, resting his hands on either side of me, caging me against his powerful body.

“I’m not bad, Carly. I’m good.” He lowers his head to kiss the side of my neck.

Heat shoots down my shoulders to the tips of my toes. My eyes flutter closed, and I agree.Oh yes, he’s very good.

His hand moves beside me, and I hear the slide of paper. We both look down, and he’s holding a different note this time—one only a few people have seen.

“What’s this?” His eyes scan the page, and everything changes in an instant. His muscles stiffen, and protective anger ripples off him in waves. “Is someone threatening you?”

Reaching for the letter, I push a tendril of hair behind my ears. “It’s just a work thing.”

“It says, ‘I’m going to hurt you.’” His eyes are laser-sharp. “Who wrote this?”

“It’s really not a threat.” I don’t meet his eyes as I fold the letter, putting it away.

I can’t believe I left it lying around. Aunt Viv could’ve seen it.

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