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I sigh, a full sigh of contentment. I didn’t want to come on this tour, but now that I’m here? I can’t imagine another place I want to be. Right here with this man. This honest, gorgeous, sexy man—
“Did you just moan?”
I jolt in surprise. Did I? No, of course I didn’t. “No,” I say way too emphatically.
“Thinking about anyone in particular?” There’s a slight edge to his tone now.
“One, I didn’t moan—”
“You totally did.” His lips curl slightly. “Thought you weren’t into Man Bun.”
My jaw falls open. “I’m not!”
“Then who are you all starry-eyed and moaning about?” The edge has become a bite, as if the thought of me fantasizing about anyone is absolutely not cool with him. “Rudd?”
“No way,” I say instantly. “I told you, there’s nothing there with Rudd.”
“So then we’re back to Man Bun,” he says flatly, getting to his feet. He shifts so that his back is half turned to me. “Just so you know, a lot of managers have the rep for being sleazebags.”
Oh, for Pete’s sake. “I am not lusting over Threat Alert’s manager!” I burst out. “Jeez, if you must know, I was thinking about you!”
I regret it the second the confession leaves my mouth. Damn it! Why did I have to go and say that? We were having a nice moment!
Adam pivots toward me. A shaft of light hits the top of his forehead, illuminating his face enough that I can see he’s frowning. “What?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly. Perfect. Maybe he didn’t hear me. I was talking pretty fast, so there’s a chance that he might have misheard—
“You were thinking about me?”
No, he heard me loud and clear.
“Maybe a little bit,” I mumble under my breath.
“What was that?”
I peek up from under my lashes and see that he’s no longer frowning. He just looks stunned.
I take a deep breath. “Oh, fine. In the interest of full disclosure, since we’re getting along so well right now, you should know that I have this tiny crush on you.”
“What?” he says again, and he sounds as if he’s choking.
In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose. “Look, it’s not like I want to jump you. It’s that there’s this warm, fluttery feeling I get when you’re around.”
He gives a strangled laugh. “That sounds like a condition that I should take you to the hospital for, not a crush.”
There’s a crinkly sound. In the dim light, I see his hand crushing the matchbook. I pluck it from his grip and smooth it out. All but one match is broken. I pull it out and scrape it against the striking strip. When the flame flares, I hold it up to Adam’s mouth. The flame highlights his gorgeous lips and cheekbones so sharp they could cut glass.
He stares at me, two pools of dark against his too-handsome face. Then, with a sigh, slides the cigarette between his lips.
“Don’t worry,” I tell him, cupping my hand around the flame. “Davis told me you’re not a relationship type of guy, and I’m not looking for a relationship, either. I’m not going to act on the crush. I’m just enjoying how it feels. It’s…safe. It’s like…” I struggle to put the words to the emotions. “It’s like evidence that I’m really over the fear that I felt after Marrow attacked me. The first time,” I clarify. “God, I sound like a nutcase. It played out perfectly in my head. Listen, I’m harmless.”
He shakes his head slightly before lighting his cigarette. I drop the match to the ground and he stamps his big boot on top of it. He inhales deeply and then pulls the cigarette out. “You know that I have a dick, right?”
“Yes?” I don’t know what he means by that.
He sighs, sticks the cigarette in his mouth again and puffs on it heavily. “Let me get this straight. You have a crush on me because I’m…safe?”
“That’s about right.”
