Page 68 of The Reluctant Hero

He tilts his head as he studies me. “He got his way with you in public, didn’t he?”

I open my mouth to give him a scathing comment and find I have nothing to say.

Did he?

I try to think back on the few dinner meetings I went to. The casual lunches. I know he said things that pissed me off and made me feel inferior to his college graduate buddies.

I can’t remember a time that I even protested it.

My brows furrow. “I gave in. Every time. No arguments needed. What the fuck did I do to myself?”

“Which is why Gabe said he wasn’t allowed in the buildin’,” his smug smile confuses me.

“Probably a good call,” I mutter. Can you kill someone with a highlighter in the eye? I’m willing to find out at this point. “What’s the difference in jail time for assault versus murder?”

“I got no idea, and you’re never gonna’ find out,” he tells me patiently.

“Tell that to the internet,” I whisper with wide eyes. “It knows all.”

“Don’t say that to Jake,” he warns me with a smirk.

“Why?” I fall back in my seat with a sigh.

“That boy would waste away to nothin’ without computers and games. You mention anythin’ like that, and we won’t be able to pry him off you.”

“Yeah, right. He couldn’t despise me more. It’s not possible.”

He makes a thoughtful noise and slides the other half of my sandwich closer to him.

“Hey,” I scowl down at his hand.

“I was gonna get lunch for you, but you went ahead without me. Why’d you leave?”

“I don’t want to hear that crap ever again,” I insist and yank my sandwich back. “I had enough of it over the years and the sad part is, I stopped noticing it. It took me months to realize that I squashed out every piece of me that he didn’t like to make him happy. I’m not doing it anymore, and listening to it will set me back.”

“You turnin’ over a new leaf?” He jokes and tries to move the sandwich again.

“More like regaining my old leaf. Whatever.” I glare and keep my fingers on the plate so he can’t move it.

He nods slowly and then snatches my wrist, pulling it to his face. I’m too stunned to react as he takes a bite of the half-eaten piece in my hand.

“What the hell?” I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let go. The smirk on his face makes my cheeks flush red.

“Share, darlin’. I’m starvin’,” he chastises me and takes another bite. His teeth scrape along my fingers and I’m suddenly a lot more interested in something that doesn’t involve eating.

“That doesn’t sound like a my problem thing,” I try to reinforce my single lady attitude and fail.

“But it is,” he smiles in a crooked way that draws my attention straight to his lips. “If you hadn’t left, we’d be at a restaurant by now. Maybe I’d be feedin’ you instead.”

“That sounds awkward,” I mutter as his face leans closer to mine.

“I’d make sure you liked it, darlin’.”

I don’t have a comeback for that. This man is full of innuendo. There’s no mistaking it now.

While I’m floundering to find some sass, his lips descend on mine. The first touch makes my whole body come to life. Has it been that long? The attraction to this man is either volcano level or I’m that hard up. Possibly both.

“You ignorin’ me?” He pulls back to raise a brow at my passive surprise.

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