Page 62 of The Wedding Crush

“Oh, well, in that case, please continue confusing the hell out of me.” She releases a scornful laugh. “Yes, let’s play tug-o-war with my emotions since this is all a game to you, and you’re the only one involved with feelings.”

She arches an eyebrow.

Still, I inch closer.

“Please don’t deny it.” She frowns. “I saw the looks you and Dante exchanged, and the whispering with Marcello. You’ve barely strung together two words to talk to me. Even now, it’s killing you beingalonewith me out here.”

Her shoulders relax.

Every cell on my body tingles with the urge to tell her how wrong she is. How the last time we were together, I had to physically restrain myself from reaching for her because how could something that felt so right, be wrong? How could I say I loved my ex-wife, then jump so quickly, willingly into another woman’s arms?

But I don’t say any of that.

Avery shakes her head, disappointment underscoring her sigh.

“Not that it matters to you, but I knew from the second you pulled back…” She breaks off, emotion steeping her silence. “When I left, I called my girls, and the first thing Monica said was to take my cues from you. Well, I’ve been paying attention. All the signs are telling me not to care. Not to make excuses. I should be running…”

But she doesn’t run.

Like her feet are rooted to the ground, she’s completely still, and I’m the one moved.

Strangely, my world shifts into focus.

Something I’ve done upset her. Affected her. Shouldn’t I be paying attention to the people, theperson, fighting for space in my life?

Hell, I’ve been giving Dante shit about delaying his engagement, but maybe he’s got the right idea. Maybe, I should just screw all the podcasts telling me not to rush into a relationship. Maybe, time, maturity, age, none of it matters.

I tuck my phone away, step closer, and take her hand in mine, lifting it to my chest, so she can feel what she does to me.

“Don’t run,” I plead, quietly.

Avery looks like she’s going to protest then thinks better of it. Her eyes brighten to a firework display of ambers and golden browns as she slowly registers the undeniable, racing evidence of my nerves.

Surveying me with caution, she softly asks, “Why?”

My voice, gruff with desperation, cuts against my own ears.

“Because I’d be a fool not to tear down every emotional and physical barrier for you, Avery Ellis. Because it’s been a while, and I’m learning how to start over. Because I’d be the luckiest man alive to have the chance to try with you…ifyou’re willing to be patient with a grumpy silver fox with ‘Big Prick Energy’.”

“You know that little cactus is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.” Avery giggles.

“Hey, people say we’ve got a lot in common.”

She smiles sweetly. “Are you ever going to let me live the silver-fox thing down?”

“Not a chance, Pollyanna.”

Tracing her teeth over her lower lip, she crawls her fingers over the taut slopes of my chest, like fuel, driving me wild.

“You should know that name has a very ‘yes, daddy, I’ve been a bad,badgirl,’ feel to it.” Avery giggles again, like she didn’t, with a single sentence, harden every muscle in my body.

My Adam’s apple bobs. “I’m sorry. I’m a little out of practice.”

“Oh, don’t go selling yourself short. If you play your cards right, I might let you bend me over your knee…”

Is she for real?

Almost like she hears the questions flashing across my mind, Avery tugs me down by my tie, holding me a breath apart. Scanning the empty alley, she lowers her voice. “How bad do you want me, Stefano?”

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