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I searched his hypnotic eyes, trying to remember what it was he was asking—what I’d said.
I sucked in a ragged breath and had to force my eyes not to shut when the movement pressed my breasts against his muscled chest.
This wasn’t sane.
Nothing could be this addictive. Nothing could be this consuming.
And yet, Dare was.
“I can’t be near you like this,” I finally managed to say, “for so many reasons . . .”
He dipped his head, his nose trailing down the side of mine until his lips were hovering just a breath above my own. “Funny,” he murmured, the word somewhere between a growl and a bite. “Because I don’t want you anywhere near me or my family.”
The air in my lungs rushed out when he suddenly shoved away from the wall, a scowl on his beautiful face.
“Get out,” he demanded between gritted teeth.
I blinked quickly, trying to gain my bearings. “What?”
He jerked his head toward the right. “Get out. Don’t come near my family again.”
I’d had every intention of leaving before Dare had stopped me. If I’d found my way out of the house before I’d seen him, I would’ve done exactly that.
I’d just said I couldn’t be near him like this . . . and I’d meant it. I had a life that was complicated enough without mixing in this man who left me feeling intoxicated and aching to be closer to him. But I’d also felt lost not knowing how I was supposed to be apart from him.
But I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. Couldn’t register what he meant or the anger radiating from him and directed at me. Couldn’t look at him and see the same man who saved me with his words.
“You were supposed to be an easy fuck. You were supposed to be someone I ignored after last night—but I couldn’t even get you back to my place,” he said with an aggravated laugh. “All those people you met last night? They’re like family. And you somehow inserted yourself in the middle of them like you had a right to fucking be there, and created chaos.”
His words stole my already shallow breaths. They pierced at my chest . . . at the shattered parts of me he’d pieced back together.
“I didn’t . . . I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry for hurting Johnny,” I whispered, honesty dripping from my hollow words. “I’m so—”
“Walk away before I drag you out of the house.”
I jerked back, stunned by the hate in his tone. It was like listening to Johnny’s words coming from Dare’s mouth. It sounded wrong . . . felt wrong.
But then again, I didn’t know him.
Like he said, I wasn’t supposed to be here—I was never supposed to see him outside of Brooks Street. For all I knew, the Dare who’d lit my world on fire could’ve been an act . . . and the man in front of me was who he truly was.
I turned, but I wasn’t sure if I was hurrying away from him or barely moving. I was too stunned to know. Too stunned to hold my emotionless façade as I followed the hall into a larger room.
It took a few seconds to realize there were other people in there, and that I recognized most of the faces. I caught glimpses of an older woman glaring at something—or someone—behind me, Einstein’s worried expression, and Libby attempting to cover her shock with her hands, but I didn’t stop to acknowledge them.
I was too embarrassed knowing they’d most likely overheard everything. I was too humiliated. I was horrified that Dare’s words had hurt so much. And I was frustratingly aware he was somewhere close behind me because my body was begging to turn around, to acknowledge the current running along my skin and the reason behind it.
But he’d made himself clear, and I couldn’t handle being rejected so harshly again.
So I left.
I spent the better part of two hours wandering around, trying to find my way out of the strange neighborhoods and back to the main streets of our tiny town, Dare’s words playing in my mind the entire time.
“You were supposed to be an easy fuck.”
“Walk away before I drag you out . . .”
With each tormenting echo, the ache in my chest spread—grew heavy.
