Page 43 of Wanting the Winger

“So did I.”

That deep, husky voice gets me every time.Bash would sound sexy saying literally anything.And now, I don’t have to feel guilty for thinking so because I’m single.

I’m still not fully used to it.I never thought I’d be single again.It doesn’t feel bad; it just feels different.

Bash is wiping down the counters and Bruce is curled up on the rug in front of the sink.It’s the first time I’ve been at his house on the weekend.I explored Cleveland to avoid him the first weekend and I was at Mara’s last weekend.

“Your range was everything I hoped it would be.”I smooth a hand over the front of his sleek, high-end kitchen appliance.“I can’t wait to make more sourdough in it.”

He finishes wiping the counters and washes his hands, then takes off his backward baseball cap and runs a hand through his hair.“I’m glad you like it.”

Awareness dances down my spine as he looks at me, his arms folded.I must be imagining there’s an intensity in his gaze.Or maybe I’m mistaking the look of a concerned friend for something else.

“How are you feeling?”he asks.

“A little tired.”I laugh lightly.“Believe it or not, making sourdough can be stressful.”

He scoffs.“Fuck yeah, I believe it.”

“I’m not usually that bad.But knowing Harry was going to eat it, I wanted it to be my best.”

He comes closer to me until I’m standing with my back against the island counter and he’s right across from me, his back to the kitchen counter.

“Has Shane contacted you?”

I shake my head.“I think he knows that door is closed.”

“And how are you feeling about that?”

I consider.“Pretty good, actually.I’ve been thinking about what this means for me.I was planning to stay in Ohio, but now...”I smile.“Stanford has an incredible program for me to get my doctorate.There’s also a place in Cambridge and one in Israel that are dream research jobs.I can go anywhere.”

Bash’s expression is serious.“Yeah, but...that’s really far away.”

“It doesn’t matter, though.I’m spending this entire year on research, even though I don’t know where I’ll be next semester.I’m seriously considering applying to the Cambridge and Israel places.Why not?”

He takes a step forward, now standing so close I have to crane my neck to keep our eyes locked.

“Don’t run away,” he says gruffly.“I know you’re hurt, but you won’t be proving anything to anyone by running to the other side of the world.”

I laugh lightly.“That’s not it at all, though.I didn’t think I could even consider those places and now I’m not tied down.”

He puts a palm on the island right beside me and then does the same with his other hand, so close now that I can feel the heat of his body.My heart races with anticipation.

“Maybe you need to consider other options.”

My breathing turns shallow.What’s happening here?I’m an empirical person—I like facts and verifiable data more than vibes.But everything in me is telling me that Bash is talking abouthim.

Facts: he’s so close I can feel him and smell his addictive cologne; he’s giving me sex eyes; he’s looking dead serious as he tells me to consider things that don’t involve me leaving the country.

“Wha...”I clear my throat.“What do you mean?”

His lips quirk slightly.He eases closer to me, sliding a foot between mine.I lean back, gasping as his chest meets mine.

“I know you’re newly single, but I’m saying maybe you’ll consider a real man who knows he’s damn lucky to even have a chance with you.”

He glances at my cleavage and then his eyes flick back up to mine, hunger swirling in them.

I realize all at once what he’s doing, and my heart plummets to my feet.Bash assumes my confidence is in the gutter because of Shane.He wants me to know there are other men out there who will want me.

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