Page 27 of False Assumptions

Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t think you did strings.”

“This again?” He rubbed a hand over his face, blowing out a breath in frustration. But he was already pushing. May as well lay it all out. “Layla. I like you. From the way you reacted, I think you like me too. I like spending time with you. I really liked kissing you. I don’t hang out and watch movies with girls I’m only interested in screwing. Can you quit assuming you know how I operate and give me a fucking chance?”

Her lips parted, and he had to hold back the urge to kiss her again. He waited, keeping his gaze steady while her eyes darted back and forth between his. Her shoulders drooped a little, and she lost the defiant tilt to her chin. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll give you a chance. But how will this work exactly?”

He let his hand rest on her hip, leaning closer. “The usual way, I figured.” He dipped his head for a kiss, but stopped a fraction of an inch from her lips when she pushed on his chest.

“So that means you’re asking me on a date?”

Pulling back, he looked into her eyes. That hadn’t been what he’d meant. But if that’s what she wanted. “Yeah. I’m asking you on a date.”

There went her eyes narrowing again. “A real date. Not a movie in my apartment.”

He smirked. “Of course a real date. Dinner. Somewhere nice. Sound good?”

“When?”

Now his eyes darted back and forth between hers. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. What time?”

“Six?”

“Okay.” She smiled, and it dazzled him. He had to kiss her again. She let him this time, but not for long, and he groaned again, this time from distress, when she cut it off.

“Evan. I do like you. And I’d like this to work. So I can’t keep kissing you like that without wanting … more. And I think it would be a bad idea if we went for more tonight.”

The vulnerability in her soft voice did him in. Even though it killed him to agree with her. He wanted her. Bad. He was used to moving fast, and slowing things down like this was … hard. In more ways than one. But for her he’d take it slow. Let her set the pace.

Placing one last kiss on her forehead, he met her eyes. “Okay. You’re right. But I should go, because I’m going to have a tough time keeping my hands to myself if I stay.”

She shivered at his words, and that brought a smile to his face. But she held her ground. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.”

She stood in the entry to the kitchen while he gathered his things from the living room, her gaze on him a tangible thing. But he forced himself to leave without touching her again. Just repeating, “See you tomorrow,” before he closed the door behind him and headed for his car.

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