The silence dragged on. “Are you mad?”
“Maybe a little. But I’m more shocked than anything.”
He stole a quick glance at her face. She was looking at him incredulously. “Why shocked?”
“Guys like you … don’t go for girls like me. Not really.” She turned her head away and muttered something under her breath.
“What was that?”
A sigh. “I said, ‘Not unless you want something.’”
Ouch. “Um …” he stammered. How was he supposed to respond tothatkind of insinuation?
“I’m speaking from experience, okay?” Her voice was exasperated; he’d hit a nerve.
Experience? Jake’s protective instincts flared again, but he kept his voice gentle like he was talking to one of his kids after a bad play. “Who hurt you?”
He caught her shrug from the corner of his eye. “It was a long time ago.”
“Olivia …”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Olivia turned silent again, and he stole another glance at her as they turned onto Route 64. She studied him with her lips pressed together and her brows drawn down. His heart squeezed in his chest. What the hell. Might as well lay it all on the line so there was no question where he stood.
“Last week was real for me. I’ll be whatever you need me to be this weekend, and we don’t have to talk about it again until we leave, but I’d really like a chance. With you.” He hated to take his eyes off the road again, but he needed her to see his sincerity. “Will you think about it?”
Olivia hummed. “We’ll see.”
