“You sure about this?” he asks low and slow. “You’d have to talk to me. Maybe even touch me. And we both know how hard that’d be for you. Right?” The deep gruff to his voice sends a chill up my arms, making the hair stand up.
He looks down at me, waiting for me to answer. It’s a good reminder of why I can’t give in to him. That voice. That face.He’s used to getting what he wants, and I don’t have time to be a puddle on the floor at his feet. I am a successful and driven independent woman who hasn’t ruined her career. At least, that’s who I want to be.
“I think I’ll manage,” I say with narrowed eyes, over-enunciating each word.
“I feel bad about some of the wild shit that’s happened every time we’ve hung out, and maybe I owe you one,” he acknowledges. “I’ll be your fake boyfriend.”
Okay, then. We’re doing this.
I give a closed-mouth smile and back away from him, headed to the door to send him on his way now that this is settled.
“Right after you admit that you need me,” Warren’s voice echoes behind me, stopping me in my tracks.
I scowl and ignore the tingle between my legs hearing his cocky request and I slowly turn back around to face him. I should have known it wouldn’t be easy.
“I don’t need you,” I stand my ground. “If you don’t want to help me, I’ll figure something out.”
He cocks one eyebrow. It nearly brushes against the thick lock of dirty blonde hair falling down the side of his forehead.
“You need me.”
I take a sharp breath in and out of my nose, tilting my head and rolling my eyes at the same time. Hopefully, the slight shrug of my shoulders is enough to appease him. He knows the truth. Idoneed him.
“Say it,” he demands.
I hate this. My teeth clamp together so hard my jaw cramps.
“I need you,” I whisper without making eye contact with him.
He leaves the spot he was standing in and approaches me with a few even and steady strides. I swear my internal body temperature rises to a dangerous level when his lips meet my temple in a quick kiss.
“See you this weekend, then.Sweetheart.”
12
WARREN
It’s the Sunday of the barbecue at the Grants’ and I have a few hours before I go pick up Savannah. The only thing I could think to make the time go faster was to stop by my sister’s house on the other end of the ranch. As happy as I am that she decided to move back here and take a residency within driving distance of Westridge, her busy schedule still keeps her in the city most of the time. If I know she’s around for the weekend, I always make time and stop in.
I don’t even make it up the first step of their porch before the door swings open and she’s waving me inside. Good thing she hates surprises, because I’d never be able to sneak up on her around this place. Gage has it like Fort Knox nowadays. She’s holding a plate of cookies and I snag one as I walk through the doorway and into the house.
“Damn, these are good. Did you make them?” I ask.
She snort-laughs and follows me into the kitchen. “Hell no. It’s cute that you think I have time to cook.”
“Right,” I chuckle. “How’s the job going by the way?”
“It’s pretty great,” she sighs as she sinks into one of the tall bar chairs. “It’s more studying for boards and scut work than ideal, but I expected that. What are you all dressed up for?”
“I’m not dressed up,” I scoff. Okay, maybe I wore jeans without holes or stains in them. And a button-up shirt. But it’s short-sleeved, so I don’t think it counts as dressing up but what do I know about clothes? Judging by my normal attire of old work pants and a threadbare T-shirt, I’d say not a whole lot.
“Yes you are and I hope it’s for Savannah.” She claps her hands and smiles bigger than I thought was even humanly possible. “Mama told me about y’all and that she was coming over to the Grants’ for Sunday lunch with you today.” Her eyebrows wiggle and she shimmies her shoulders.
“Of course she did,” I say with a straight face fighting off an eye roll.
“You’re great and all but I’ve always dreamed of having a sister. I knew I had a good feeling about her.” Her eyes close and she covers her hand over her chest. “I wish we didn’t already have plans today so that I can get to know her better at the barbecue.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
