Page 82 of I Knead You Tonight

“I care about you.”

“Stop saying that,” she urges.

“Why? It’s the truth.”

“It’s not. You’re just saying it.”

“Why would I just say it? What motivations do I have?”

She waves her hand up and down. “You literally just changed your entire outfit in hopes of getting me to sleep with you. Your intentions are very clear right now, so I don’t believe a word coming out of your mouth.”

“Are you serious?” I ask.

“Yes! This is what blows my mind when it comes to you, Winston. You think so far ahead that you change your outfit in hopes of getting me in the sack, but you can’t be bothered to do something about your future to make sure you’re always covered and not just working in your father’s pizzeria the rest of your life.”

“What’s so wrong with that plan? That’s what you want to do.”

“Yes, but that’s entirely different. Ilovecooking, love creating new, weird dishes, and I just happen to love pizza. Working my way into the kitchen at Slice is the perfect job for me to start with, but you have zero interest in any of it. Why are you still there?”

“That’s not true,” I dispute. “I love pizza.”

She growls, clearly irritated with me right now. “You know what I mean, Winston.”

“I do.” I nod. “I do know what you mean, but what I don’t get is why it’s so fucking important toyoufor me to do something withmylife. You got a heart-on for me too?”

“No, I don’t have a hard-on for you. I—”

“I didn’t say hard-on. We both already know I make you horny as fuck, Drew. I saidheart-on. Do youcareabout me too?”

Her eyes flit away when I say this, and I know the next words to leave her mouth are going to be complete and utter bullshit.

“No.”

“Liar,” I say, calling her on it. “You’re lying.”

“I am not,” she avers. “I don’t have a heart-on for you.”

“You do.” I stalk toward her, grasping her chin in my hand, pulling her attention to me because I want her to see the look in my eyes. “You care. You don’t want to because I drive you crazy because I don’t have my shit together, but you still fucking care.”

“Shut up, Winston,” she grumbles, trying to twist out of my hold, but I don’t let her move. “I don’t care.”

Instead, I yank her toward me, wrapping my arm around her waist and trapping her there. “Yes, you do. Admit it.”

“No.”

“Admit it. Say it and I’ll let you go.”

“N-No.” She tries to hold firm, but her voice waivers.

“Unless you don’twantme to let you go.” I pull her chin up, closer to my lips. “What do you want? Do you want me to let you go…letthisgo? Or do you wantme?”

She knows I’m referring to our first kiss.

There’s no doubt in my mind that if I hadn’t stopped us, Drew would have let me lay her down and have my way with her.

But I knew things would be different if we crossed that line.

Just like now.

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