Page 19 of Gone for You

I sputter out a laugh. “Uh, no. No way. No.”

“Are you sure? You seem a little undecided on that,” he jokes.

“Ha, ha, ha.” I deadpan. “It’s just that… no. It’s too personal.”

“But you’d let millions of people read it?”

“Well yeah. Because they don’t know me. But it doesn’t matter because I don’t think I’d ever publish.”

He rolls those sexy deep brown eyes. “I’ll drop it.” Then he adds with a smirk, “For now.”

“There you go again,” I tease. “You’re so sure there will be more, aren’t you?”

“Never been more sure – surer? – whatever it is, of anything.”

I smile at the way he’s trying to correct himself as he speaks. “We barely know each other and I don’t even live around here.”

He shrugs, those wide, strong shoulders raise, thumb tracing a line around my palm sending tingles down my spine. “Yeah, but I have a secret to tell you.”

Resting my chin in my other hand, I lean in close. “Oh really? What’s that?”

“I have a wee bit of a crush on you.”

My stomach flips.

“I had no idea.”

“I know. I was being pretty subtle about how adorable I think you are.”

“Obviously. It completely escaped me.”

“Please accept my apologies for not being as obvious as I should have been. So in case you were wondering, you’re not just adorable. You’re funny, sweet, kindhearted. I like you.”

I can barely squeak out the word, “You do?”

“Mm hmm.”

“Wow. Must be some crush.”

We stare into each other’s eyes.

“Wanna come with me somewhere?”

Absolutely.He could be taking me ice fishing and I’d be willing to go sit in the frozen tundra for a chance to continue spending time with him. Rather than jumping into it like I want to, I hesitate. I know I need to be careful. Yes, he’s an old friend of my brother’s but how much do I really know about him? “I don’t know.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Should I? Look how many people trusted that Bundy guy. Or the guy on thatYoushow. People are crazy.”

He chuckles. “That they are. If you’d feel more comfortable, you can drive and follow me in your own car.”

Whether it’s me being stupid or not, my instincts are telling me to trust him so I go with it. “I’ll ride with you.”

“Are you sure? I’m fine either way.”

I believe him which is why I reassure him. “I’m positive. I trust you.”

“Thank you,” he says simply but I can see the relief in his expression.

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