Page 79 of Falling for the Pucking Grump

“Well, I’m not done,” I argue back. “Tell me what you want from me.”

Hollyn takes a step back, but that’s all she’s allowed. “I—you can’t give me that.”

“Try me.”

She scoffs, trying to loosen the moment up, but this is it. There won’t be another one, and we both know it.

There’s no reason for us to be within the same space unless we’re together.

Everything else is just torture at that point.

“It won’t work,” she replies evenly. “Besides, I wasn’t looking for anything when we—I’m not expecting anything from you. I think I at least deserved a good-bye. I thought we were friends, at the very least. Did the past three weeks mean nothing to you?”

“You’ve actually become my best friend over the past few weeks. I wasn’t looking for anything, but then you came along, and all that’s changed. Maybe I am looking for something, now.”

Her brows clash. “No, you’re not.”

A mirthless chuckle rumbles from my chest because, of course, this would happen to me. I had no intention of falling in love with Hollyn, and now she’s playing coy.

Not that I don’t think she takes shit like this seriously. She’s just mild-mannered as hell about it, and I want her to fight for me.

“It sounds like you’re not, Hollyn,” I retort with a lifted brow. “And I thought I was the reserved one. Are you scared to move forward with me?”

“Well, I wasn’t,” she clips back. “However, I’m not about to beg you for it.”

“For what?”

“To…talk to me.”

“I said I’d speak with you.”

“But you acted as though I’m some crazy one-night stand that drove all the way to New Brunswick to yell at you.” She frowns then, realizing that’s exactly what she did. “Crap.”

I step forward, regaining that space between us so that she has to look up at me. “What are you gonna do now that you have me alone, Shorty? Not a lot of people get me exactly how you do right now.”

Her crystal blues lock onto mine, and I want her to make a move.

However, I have no problem making this one.

“I…can’t keep having sex like it’s not going to turn into something,” she mutters. “I’m not built like that.”

“I don’t want you to be built like that.” I reach for her face and gently cup her cheek. “I like you just the way you are.”

“Really?”

“Come to my house and find out.”

“I’m not going to have sex with you again.”

“Really?” I hedge. “Because I beg to differ for several reasons.”

“Reid, I—”

“Don’t back out on me now,” I chide lightly, bending forward. “You said it yourself. You drove your ass up here to get results. I’m here to offer them.”

“I don’t think we’re on the same page,” she breathes, focusing on my mouth.

“You want a relationship,” I fill in for her. “I’m not the best at this shit, but I’m going to try. From here on out, you’re mine.”

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