Page 71 of Just One Night Together
“Lost?” he asked. His tone was less than welcoming and she figured resistance was starting immediately.
“You got a ride with Joe from the hospital one night. He told me where you lived.”
“Spy network?”
“He likes to tease me. I didn’t intend to ever come here.”
“But you did.” Damon didn’t move past her, didn’t unlock the door, didn’t take any chance of her coming inside. He stood eight feet away from her, his expression wary, and she wondered if he was afraid to come closer. “What did I say to change your mind?”
“Nothing. It was what you did.” She took two steps forward and saw him inhale.
Ha. Haley understood that she had power in this transaction, that he was worried about losing control if she touched him. He must be close to letting it slip.
So, she would touch him. Haley was sure that she had to break Damon’s composure to make a difference.
“What did I do?”
“You thanked me so very well that I can’t forget it.”
He frowned again. “Haley...”
“I’m sorry about your mom,” she said, interrupting him. “She was a nice lady.” When he didn’t reply to that, she offered her hand, as if to shake hands. “I came to give you my condolences.”
“You must have come for more than that,” he accused, the corner of his mouth lifting just a little. “Nothing is ever that simple with you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
The smile almost broke free, then he shook his head and heaved a sigh. “It’s an interesting thing,” he admitted with caution.
Haley would take interesting over the other possibilities. “Why?”
“Because you’re fearless. You think you can poke and prod me without repercussions, like I’m a great big teddy bear, but you’re wrong, Haley. You don’t want to provoke me. I don’t want you to provoke me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to hurt you. You saw the other night...”
“You won’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” Haley lifted her chin. “You have the strongest moral compass of anyone I’ve ever known. I’m not afraid of you, Damon.”
“Maybe you should be.” He made to step past her.
“Because you’re determined to protect me from yourself?”
He stiffened but continued to the door without looking back. “It was great, Haley, but don’t make more of it than it was.”
“I thought it was romantic.”
“Check your definitions again.”
“I don’t have to. Making sure your partner is pleased is romantic. Period.”
He gave her one of those simmering looks and stepped past her.
“Even if it’s just sex.”
