Page 25 of Hard to Resist

“I didn’t get caught. I’m guessing your friend’s brother did?”

“Touché.” She raises a brow. “It’s interesting. One moment you’re waxing poetic, the next you’re revealing misdeeds. You’re a hard man to pin down.”

“You only have to ask, Verity. I’m yours to pin down anytime, anywhere.”

“That–that’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s what you were thinking.”

“Was not.”

“Fine, then what were you thinking about?”

She puckers her lips, slightly puffing her cheeks as she refuses to respond.

It draws my attention to her mouth, to those plush pillows I’ve been dying to kiss. “Actually, why don’t you ask me what I’m thinking about?”

She releases the puff of air she was holding, glancing up at me.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“You.” I give her a sly grin. “Well, more specifically, kissing you.”

“You—wait–” Her steps falter, but I keep her upright, pulling her to face me.

“I have a new question for you.”

She blinks.

“Do you kiss on the second date, Verity?”

CHAPTER SIX

VERITY

His hazel eyes trap me with a mischievous glint. This close in the daylight, I can see flecks of green peppered throughout the light brown color. His breath ghosts over my lips as he leans in even closer, and I stop breathing for a second as I try to get my head on straight.

“Nope,” I choke out, my voice wobbly.

“Really?”

“Yup. I have a four-date minimum rule.”

I absolutely donothave this rule. Hell, I’ve kissed on the first date plenty of times. But I’m pretty sure if he kisses me right now, I will implode on the spot and cease to exist.

“Four dates?”

“Four dates. It’s my lucky number.”

More lies.

My lucky number is eight.

“Are you sure I can’t change your mind? Halve that into two?”

He hypnotizes me with his smirk, drawing my attention completely to his lips and tempting me even further. This is why I ran away from him the other night. The pull from being in his orbit is too strong—it totally messes with my alignment and causes my brain to melt.

I want to give in and kiss him, but I also promised myself that I’d go slow with the next guy I like. Which unfortunatelyjust happens to be Cullen. After wasting three pointless weeks canceling plans because of No-Show Mike, I refuse to fall into the same trap.

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