Page 80 of Hooked
“The only danger I can see with Tayla is… she might have a hard time being honest with herself,” Cary said. “So my advice is to be a safe place for her to be herself. Listen to what she’s saying and what she’snotsaying. And don’t be a dick.”
“Yeah, I think I got that part. Thanks.”
He drove backto town and went immediately to the bookshop. He parked in front and texted her.U home?
A few minutes later, he saw a light turn on. She walked to the door and opened it. Her eyes were wary, and he hated that he’d been the one to cause that.
“Hey,” she said.
Jeremy spread his arms out. “I was a dick.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “I should have told you before we—”
“I don’t regret last night. Not a single minute of it. Not a second. If I made you think that, I’m sorry. That was shitty of me to do.”
“Okay.” Her eyes softened.
“But also, I wish you’d felt like you could tell me about the second interview, because yeah, it surprised me. And I didn’t react well.”
She leaned against the door. Her hair was up in a messy bun, she was wearing leggings and a sweatshirt, and as always, she looked gorgeous. “Truth time? I don’t know what I’m doing here,” she said quietly. “I don’t date, Jeremy. Not like this. You are like the complete opposite of the kind of guys I usually hang out with.”
Damn right I am.“Good.”
“And don’t pretend I’m like the girls you’ve dated either. We aresodifferent.”
“I like that about us,” he said. “You keep me sharp.”
She stuck her hands in her pockets. “I’m breaking all these rules for you, and I don’t know why I’m doing it. It’s probably a really bad idea. For both of us. So if you want to stop seeing me—”
“I don’t.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“Why don’t we talk about that over dinner tomorrow night? At my house. I’ll cook. And you bring a bag.”
She let out a breath and gave him a reluctant smile. “See? This is another rule. I don’t stay over at guys’ houses. Ever.”
“You’re not staying over at some guy’s house.”Not ever again, if I have anything to say about it.“You’re staying over atmyhouse. You know I make good coffee, and mychilaquilesare even better.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s really good. Trust me.”
“I do.” Her smile was tentative. “That’s kind of the problem.”
Oh Miss McKinnon, I see you now.He stepped toward her. “Come over tomorrow.”
She whispered, “Okay.”
“Stay the night.”
She nodded.
Jeremy bent down and kissed her softly.
Stay the night.
Stay in Metlin.
