Page 67 of Wild For You

This is it—that one moment I prayed wouldn’t come. I can’t hide from him. I don’t want to, but at the same time, I can’t proclaim what I’m not even ready to admit to myself.

My chin is trembling, my hands opening and closing into fists.

“I did. I am,” I murmur so low I hope he hasn’t heard me. “That’s why I asked my best friend to step in for me.”

His thumb strokes my chin gently. “Why did you decide to stay?”

“She didn’t find the idea of moving to Montana particularly appealing.”

Cash shakes his head slowly. “Now you’re lying, and we both know it. You could have easily found a suitable replacement if you really wanted to. You could also have up and left without so much as a glance back simply because no one could have forced you to stay. Why, Erin?”

I draw a sharp breath to push oxygen into my lungs. “You know why, Cash.” My eyes meet his, my gaze imploring him to stop forcing me to tell him the truth. “The same reason I let you kiss me and vice versa. The same reason why I agreed to sleep with you if I saw progress. I feel attracted to you. I’m—”

Falling for you.

I shake my head again and continue, “I want to sleep with you.”

Now.

That’s all I can think about.

“Why now?” Cash asks.

I hesitate, unsure how to put it. “I’ve been wanting it all along, but I couldn’t give in. You would have stopped therapy once you got what you wanted.”

“Maybe.” He falls silent, but we both know it’s the truth.

“Your assumption was probably correct,” he says at last, giving me a wry smile. “But that was yesterday. Today’s different. I’ve changed.”

“Changed how?”

“I was bitter and angry at the world, and took it out on everyone around me.” His words are spoken softly, but his turmoil is palpable. The idea of him hurting fills me with sadness. My fingers reach out to touch his hand.

He looks up, his eyes burning. There’s no smile on his face, but I can see his expression changing.

His gaze shifts to my fingers. I try to pull back, but his hand seizes mine, holding it in place.

“Being with you feels right,” Cash says. “You’re the only person who doesn’t make me feel like I’m only half of what I used to be. The accident opened my eyes and made me see.”

“See what?” I ask breathily.

“That I want more in life. A relationship. For things to evolve between us. That I want to get better, and that I can’t do that without you.” My heart starts to pump as his fingers begin to stroke my skin. His eyes are as wild as a raging fire as he speaks again. “I have a proposition for you.”

My chest rises and falls hard, the touch of his hand making me feel light-headed. “Which is?”

“I want to date you, while we’re working together.” My heart drops to the floor, then starts to gallop like a horse finding its way to freedom.

“We can’t date,” I say weakly.

Or can we? Do I even want to say no?

“You don’t want me, Erin. That’s what you’ve been saying, but wanting and needing are two different things. I know what you secretly desire…and that’s me.”

I take a sharp breath, unsure how to deny the fact that he’s spot on. “Aren’t you moving a little too fast?”

“Only with you.” He leans forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Fast should be my last name. I see something between us. And it’s not just me. I know you can feel it, too. We’re both adults here, so why not skip the pretend part, and just date?”

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “I’m not sure what’s best for you.”

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