Page 70 of Always Be Mine

“I had no idea he was in town.” She tucked a leg underneath her and turned so she faced him.

Craig shrugged, trying hard to look casual and unaffected. “Does it matter? I mean, do you still?—”

“No.” She spoke so quickly and with such vehemence that he wanted to believe her, yet, she’d clearly been affected by him.

He turned so he, too, faced her. Their knees were close enough to touch.

“It’s not what you’re thinking, Craig. Really. I’m not…well, it’s just…”

The corner of his lip twitched. “And what am I thinking?”

“That I’m acting crazy.”

“I don’t think you’re crazy.” He reached for her and let his fingers rest gently on her knee. “Not at all.”

“I don’t really know why I did it, but I lied to him and told him you were my boyfriend.”

Boyfriend.

“Now you probably really think I’m crazy.”

He shook his head. “Not even a little bit.”

“Then you probably think I’m still in love with him and I was just trying to make him jealous.”

Craig pressed his lips together and took a breath. “Are you?”

“In love with him? No.” She inhaled slowly before exhaling with a wry grin. “Trying to make him jealous? Maybe a little.”

He laughed and leaned forward so he could take her hand in his. “Can I tell you something?”

She nodded.

“When I saw you with him, I…” He dropped his head and took a breath, unsure how much to say. Ultimately, he decided on the truth. All of it. “I was jealous. And then I realized who it was you were talking to, and I was angry because he made you cry.”

Lucy opened her mouth to say something, but he stopped her gently.

“Let me finish.” When she nodded, he continued. “And then I felt this overwhelming urge to swoop you up in my arms and keep you safe from assholes like him because no one should ever make you feel that way. Not even for a second. I’m glad you told him that I was your boyfriend, and I hope it made him think about anything he’d ever done to hurt you and, for even a second, he realized what a damn fool he’d been to let you walk away.”

“Craig. I…I don’t know what to say. No one has ever said anything like that to me.”

“That’s a damn shame.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I have spent the last few weeks trying not to think about kissing you again. And I’ve failed miserably.”

She bit her bottom lip and sucked it between her teeth.

Craig swallowed back a groan. “I know I probably shouldn’t be doing this. But there is no way I can stop myself.”

There was no probably about it. He knew he shouldn’t do what he was about to do. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the taste of her on his lips and the perfect way she fit into his arms.

It had been torture to be so close to her and not touch her. Not press her up against the wall and kiss her the way she deserved to be kissed.

And seeing her asshole ex had only magnified things. She’d told him that he was her boyfriend—well, dammit, maybe he could try to act like one. Even in the slightest way.

Craig twined his fingers through hers and tugged her toward him until she slid onto his lap. The warm weight of her felt right.

“Craig.”

“Lucy.”

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