I’m surprised, but pleasantly so, when I walk up to the cottage after dark and see light pouring from the windows. She stayed. I expected her to make other arrangements, and my mind races with curiosity about why she didn’t. Whatever her reasoning, though, this little game we unintentionally started is about to get kicked up a notch.

When I step inside, she’s the first thing I smell, and then the first thing I see. She’s on the loveseat in the small living room, the lamplight turning her hair to copper. She’s watching me, and for some reason, all I can think of is what she looked like when she came apart in my arms—head thrown back, mouth open, brow wrinkled. I can still hear that hot panting of hers when it’s quiet. Like now.

I grit my teeth. A hard on is not the way I’d like to start the night. Not unless she’s changed her mind and plans to do something about it.

“Surprised?” she finally asks.

“Yep.” I close the door and walk farther into the room.

“I think we need some ground rules.”

“You think too much.”

“Regardless, we need to come to an agreement on some things.”

“No, I don’t mind if you strut around nude after your shower. I can live with that.”

She comes to her feet. “That’s the perfect example of what can’t happen, Nixon. I made a mistake coming to your hotel room, but I could at least console myself with the fact that I’d never see you again. But now here you are. And…and…”

“And?”

“And you just can’t say things like that.”

“You grew up on a ranch, surrounded by rough ranch hands and cowboys. I’m sure you’ve heard worse.”

“Of course I have, but this is different.”

I take a few steps toward her. “It is. Wanna know why?”

“I…I…”

“Because you want me, too. You’re trying to play it off, say you made a mistake, pretend you didn’t feel a thing, but that’s not the case, is it?”

I take another step toward her. She stands her ground even though I’m close enough to catch the scent of her shampoo, which smells like strawberries.

“I’m not…that’s not what I’m doing.”

“Sure you are. But I’m not willing to let it go so easily.”

She straightens her spine, her eyes spitting fire and defiant determination. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”

“That’s fine. Of the many, many, many things I want to do with and to you, sleeping isn’t even on the list.”

“You know what I mean.”

“You’ve heard the expression ‘never say never’, right?”

“I didn’t say ‘never.’ I just said I’m not going to do it.”

“We’ll see,” I say. “What other rules do you have besides not sleeping with me?”

“I’d just like…I’d just like for us to be friends.”

“I’d love to be your friend.”

“You would?” Her expression softens, so much so that it tweaks my protective side. Suddenly, she seems tiny and fragile. Vulnerable and breakable.

Or maybe broken.

I reach up to smooth my knuckles down her cheek, putting aside all banter for the moment. “Yes, I would.”

“Why?”

“Because I think you’re worth knowing.”

I see her gulp. I see her eyes flicker down to my mouth seconds before she wets her lips with a swipe of her tongue. She wasn’t expecting that. Hell, neither was I. Not really. The last thing I need is for her to get attached to me or to let her get involved on an emotional level. That’s not what this is about. It can’t be. The situation is far too complicated. And I’m far too jaded.

I grin down at her and try to recapture the previous tone. “If you want to kiss me right now, feel free.” Her eyes widen, confirming my suspicion. She definitely does. “Any time you have an…urge you need to take care of, consider me your man of the moment. Use me however you’d like.”

Rather than backing away, Haley takes a step closer to me, peering up into my eyes. “Now I see.”

I frown. “See what?”

She searches my eyes in silence, her mouth spread into a small, bittersweet smile. “I see what you’re hiding.”

“What am I hiding?”

“You’ve been hurt.”

I shrug. “Everyone’s been hurt.”

“By someone you loved.”

“Those are the ones who usually hurt us.”

It isn’t until she reaches up to touch my face with the tips of her fingers that I feel anything other than nonchalant about it. “I’m sorry. Whoever she was, whatever she did, I’m sorry.”

After a few seconds of staring into my soul without my permission, Haley drops her hand and turns to leave the room. I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.