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“Ooooh-kaaaay,” the guy on the other side drawled.
Horror burned Violet’s cheeks. Someone might have heard them and guessed what they were doing. Oh, God, what the hell was wrong with her? Casey would never forgive her if he heard from someone else.
She finally got her bearings and dropped her arms from Dean’s neck, placing her palms on his chest to push him off. “I have to go.”
Dean didn’t release her right away. “Are we going to talk about this?”
“No. No, we’re not.” Ducking under his arm, she put some distance between them, taking a few deep breaths before she faced him again, his back now to the door. This poor guy seemed to always be there whenever she was at her worst, and he’d definitely felt the whip of her emotions. It wasn’t fair, any of it.
“I am sorry for what I said. I was being defensive, and you didn’t deserve it.” It was true, but more than that, they couldn’t keep doing this. Especially not here.
What does that mean? That it’s okay to kiss him like you can’t get enough as long as no one knows?
No, that wasn’t what she was thinking. It just seemed like every time they ended up in the same room together, they were always drawing closer, touching. As if they couldn’t help themselves, which sounded completely insane, even in her head. Human beings could control their urges.
Except for when the subject of her uncontrollable attraction was giving her that half smile with the teasing edge. The one that made her warm all over.
“I don’t know, that wounded me deeply. I might need more than an apology,” he said.
Violet shook her head, fighting the urge to smile back. “You never give up, do you?”
“No, I do. Lucky for you, though, it takes a lot to make me write someone off.”
The sin
cerity in his expression tugged at her emotions, making her feel almost shy. Definitely awkward, so she joked, “I wouldn’t say lucky . . . ”
“Ouch again. You definitely owe me.” He opened the door but stepped back into the doorway, blocking her escape.
“And what is it that you want?” Her heart skipped into a gallop as his eyes raked her from her toes back up to meet her gaze.
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll think about it.”
The insinuation wasn’t lost on her, and her snark returned as she walked through the doorframe, inches away from him. “I don’t want you to hurt your brain.”
He dropped his head, his mouth so close she almost thought he was about to kiss her again. She silently screamed at herself, but her body wouldn’t move, as if dying to know if he’d dare. The hallway looked empty, but that didn’t mean it would stay that way.
Dean didn’t kiss her, though. Instead, his warm breath fanned over her lips as he whispered, “I promise that whatever I come up with won’t put you out in the slightest.”
If it involves being near you, it will more than put me out. It will put me in danger of getting too close.
AN HOUR LATER, Dean sat at his desk keeping a tight rein on his temper. Across from him stood Casey, with his arms crossed and a stubborn expression plastered across his face.
“I’m not going to some stupid counselor, and you can’t make me.”
Dean leaned back in his chair, studying the boy. He was lucky Dean hadn’t grabbed him by the scruff of the neck after the way he’d talked to Violet. It had taken every ounce of discipline to remember the kid was hurting and lashing out. That he needed normalcy and understanding, not more violence.
Still, Casey knew how to push every button Dean had.
“Actually, as you are still under my care for the next few weeks, I can. It is my decision whether or not you need a professional to talk to, and I believe it is in your best interest.”
“You don’t know dick about me or what’s best for me!”
“Actually, I know quite a lot about you,” Dean said, standing. “Your mom died ten years ago when you were four, your father left, and you have been raised by your older sister ever since.”
Casey glared at him mutely, and Dean softened his tone. “I know something bad happened to you, and I am not going to push you to tell me about it, but you need to tell someone. Otherwise, you’ll never move past it.”
Dean could see the internal struggle in Casey’s face. He hadn’t quite mastered the ability to mask his emotions, and Dean could tell he’d struck a nerve.
