Page 38 of The Deadbeat Next Door

“I just want to reiterate that I think this is a bad idea,” Harrison said. “But I’ll be here for you when it all goes to hell.”

“Great.” I didn’t like that he was seeming like the more responsible one. “I’ll call you after I talk to Mom and Dad and let you know the official story.”

He hugged me, punched Cody’s shoulder harder than necessary, and left. After the door shut behind him, I turned to Cody. “In the future, when Harrison’s here, stay out of our conversation.”

“I was just trying to help.” Cody frowned, but amusement sparked in his eyes and I remembered what he’d said about me being cute when I was riled. That only made me angrier.

“Next time, don’t help. I’ve managed just fine for twenty-eight years without your help and I sure as hell don’t need it now.”

“Except for the part where I pretend to be your fiancé.”

I glared at him, glad I didn’t have anything in my hand, because I’d definitely be throwing it at him. “Let’s just go to dinner.”

I tried to move past him, but he grabbed my elbow to stop me. I pulled my arm free and faced him. “What?”

He frowned, all amusement wiped from his face. “For what’s it worth, Harrison wasn’t wrong. I don’t like to see you hurt or upset. I’m attracted to you and I’m pretty sure you’re attracted to me, but I think he’s right and it would be a terrible idea to act on it. I just want to make sure we both remember what this is really all about and we end this if it gets too be too much for either of us. Even if I lose the deal on the property.”

His words touched me, as did the concern in his eyes, but I didn’t want to soften toward him. I didn’t want to like him even a little bit. It was much safer to hate him. “Like he said, I wouldn’t be the one getting hurt. I could handle a physical relationship with you without getting attached. Despite what you may think, you aren’t impossible to resist.”

He just stared at me and I didn’t blame him, even I was confused about what I’d just said. “You’re saying you do want to get physical with me?” He stepped into my personal space and ran his fingers lightly up and down my arms.

“Not at all.” His touch was making me want to lean into him, to wrap my arms around him and pull him in close, but I didn’t back up. Leaning in or backing up would suggest I was affected by his touch and I absolutely wasn’t. “I’m just saying I could handle it.”

“I’m saying that this attraction between us is beyond amazing. I feel it every time I look at you. If I fucked you, it would blow your mind and neither of us would ever be quite the same again.”

His crass words should have offended me, but the husky tone he used to speak them and his bedroom eyes made them anything but offensive. I forced a laugh, my voice wavering. “You certainly have a healthy ego. I’m starving. Can we just get to dinner?”

“Of course we can.” He led the way out of my house and I followed, locking up behind us.

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