Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
I open my mouth and then shut it. I should just let it go, but that’s not who I am. “Can I ask you something, Jason?”
He tenses, and I’m not surprised. It’s obvious he doesn’t like to talk about himself. “You can ask me anything.”
I nod. “Yeah, but does that mean you’re going to answer me? And are you going to tell me the truth?”
He blows out a breath. “I’ll answer you, and I’ll never lie to you. What do you want to know?”
I tap him with my shoulder. “Wow! Promises, promises. You’ll never lie to me, huh? I’m going to hold you to that.”
He’s still sitting rigidly next to me, but the soft way he’s holding my hand is surprising. “Relax, I’m not asking you for state secrets or anything.”
He sighs and nods his head, but he’s still tense.
I pry my hand from his but just so I can curl my fingers into his chest. “I’m wondering why you haven’t contacted me these last three weeks. I mean, I don’t get it.”
He doesn’t answer me, and I start to ramble. “I just thought we had a connection, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was the only one that felt anything, and here I am showing up at your door and you obviously don’t want me here. I should go.”
I’m about to get up when he grips my hand harder and puts his other hand on my knee. “You’re not leaving until we talk this out.”
I bite on to my lower lip. I’ve always hated it when people try to tell me what to do. When you’ve been on your own for as long as I have been, you get used to doing what you want when you want. But there’s something about the way Jason commands me. I suck in a breath and bite my lip. Even now, just sitting next to him, my heart is racing. “Look, I know I’ve put you in a weird position—”
He cuts me off. “I’m glad you are here.”
I like hearing it, but it’s not enough. “But…”
“There’s no buts… I do like having you here.”
I pull from his grip and lean away from him. “Okay, so you do want me here.”
“Yes.”
I don’t know if I’m just being difficult or what, but I need more. I’ve pretty much stalked him to his house, and I need something that tells me this is not all one-sided. I feel foolish, and I hate this feeling. “And?”
He reaches for me, but I dodge his grip. He frowns and holds his hands out to me. “Olivia.”
“What?”
“Fuck,” he says in frustration before running his hand roughly through his hair. “What do you want from me?”
I get up and stand with my arms crossed over my chest. “I want to know what you’re thinking.”
He moves to the end of the couch and lets his elbows rest on his knees. “Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. Of course, I felt something with you. I told you that I did. The reason I haven’t contacted you in the last three weeks is because I figured I’d freaked you out. I thought for sure you thought I was some kind of freak or something, and—”
“Why? Why would I think that?”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Uh, because…” He gestures to himself. “You know.”
I bite my lip to try and contain my smile. “What? You thought you admitting having an erection would offend me?”
He nods his head. “Well, yeah.”
I move closer to him. “No, I wasn’t offended. I was flattered actually. And you weren’t crude about it or anything. It didn’t make me feel weird or violated in any way. It made me feel… good.”
He blows out a breath. “So you’re telling me I have a chance.”
I can’t just give in. Yeah, I chased him down, and yeah, I’m practically throwing myself at him, but he’s going to have to show some interest. “Well, I mean, I came here, didn’t I?”
I move across the room and finish cleaning up and putting my things away, and Jason stands up. “What are you doing?”
Guilt floods me, but I’m not going to lie to him. I had promised Rick a second date, and I’m not going to go back on it. “I have to go.” With my voice softer, I tell him, “I have a date tonight.”
His voice drops, and he huskily replies, “A date? You have a date tonight?”
I grab my bag and sling it over my arm. “Yeah, I have a date.”
He stands up and comes toward me. I don’t try and dodge him. I wait until he’s close, and I put my hand on his shirt. The forlorn look on his face is almost my undoing. “So you’re seeing someone?”
I run my hand from his shirt to his shoulder and squeeze. “This is our second date.”