“Did it help?”
He shrugged, because he doubted it.
“Why aren’t you getting PT?”
“I’m on a waiting list.”
She didn’t offer her forgiveness, or wrap him up in a warm embrace.She sighed heavily, her hands on her hips.“I understand that you’re on edge, and you’re sensitive about your injury, but I can’t accept your apology.”
His head tilted to one side.“You can’t?”
“No,” she said.“I can’t, and I’m not sure you deserve it.You were the one being reckless about personal safety, not me.You made the first move, not me.Then you shamed me for getting distracted by your kiss.”
“I didn’t shame you.”
“You did.”
“I liked the way you responded.”
“You flew off the handle when Emily interrupted us.”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“What if you’d blown up at her instead of me?”
He frowned at the question, because he hadn’t blown up at anyone.He wasn’t the kind of man who shouted down women and children.“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Well, I don’t trust you.”
Paul stared at her with narrowed eyes.She hadn’t accepted his apology.This was uncharted territory for him.Apologies were rare in his interactions with women.He liked women, and they liked him.He tended to keep things light and easy.Vanessa’s rejection rankled for reasons he couldn’t explain.It wasn’t as if he’d expected to start a relationship with her.“You’re using Emily as an excuse,” he said quietly.“You don’t trust me because you got burned in the divorce.It has nothing to do with me.”
“I don’t trust you because of your behavior!It has everything to do with you.”
He stepped forward and lowered his voice another notch.“I was out of line today, but I wasn’t out of control.I didn’t yell at you or Emily.I think what really rattled you is that kiss.You’re not afraid of me; you’re afraid of us.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re afraid I’ll kiss you again, and you’ll like it again.You’re afraid of what you’ll let me do to you in the dark.”
She let out a huff of indignation and shook her head.Then she rested her palm on his chest in a deceptively calm manner.“We won’t be in the dark together, Paul, and I’m not afraid of anything you’d do to me.You’re just a man like any other.You all have the same parts, and you all think they work better than a vibrator.”
Heat pooled to his groin, despite her suggestion that his dick was nothing special.“Would you respond the same way to any man?”
“Maybe I would.”
He felt a powerful urge to prove her wrong, which was ridiculous.It was impossible to dispute her claim without a direct comparison and he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else touching her.He wouldn’t mind a demonstration of how well her vibrator worked, however.He wasn’t intimidated by that challenge in the least.
He was also tempted to steal another kiss and risk getting his face slapped.He liked the idea of her hands on him, even in anger.He wanted to say more, do more, feel more.A light tussle with her would suit his mood perfectly.
Instead of surrendering to this dark impulse, he took a step back to give her space.Goading her into slapping him wasn’t a good idea.Not right now, with her brother and kid nearby.In the distance, Jackson appeared to be roasting marshmallows with Emily while keeping one eye on them.Paul returned his gaze to Vanessa.Her hand had fallen to her side as he retreated.He could still feel it like a brand on his skin.
She watched his chest rise and fall in agitation.“I don’t even know why you’re here.You said you didn’t want to see me.”
He hadn’t said that, not exactly.He’d said he didn’t think it was a good idea for them to see each other—and it wasn’t.He’d had no right to kiss her this afternoon.He shoved his hands into his pockets to avoid the temptation of reaching out to her again.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” she said, clearing her throat.
“Your brother told me.”
