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“You should see this place. I’m not the outdoors type, but I put myself in a kid’s shoes who doesn’t have access to wide open outdoor space, and it would be paradise. To spend a week on a working ranch, riding horses, stargazing, making s’mores around a fire—” he broke off, chuckling self-consciously. “Shana is really convincing and passionate. She made Elena and me want to fly out to Wyoming to check out this ranch ourselves.”
Theo slapped Lock’s arm. “You know that place? It’s your stomping ground.”
Lock’s eyes hit mine again. “I’m familiar.”
“You should hook Elena’s girl up with a connection. It sounds like a cool program,” Theo said.
Lock inclined his head ever so slightly. “It does.”
After a few minutes, the subject shifted to Salvatore’s dating life, which had picked up significantly since I’d started the rumor about his giant schlong. I hoped he was doing me proud.
I went inside to grab another hard seltzer and get some space from the massive weight of Lock’s stare, but that was an incredibly stupid move. As soon as I turned around from the refrigerator, he was stepping into the kitchen, closing the sliding door behind him.
Shaking my head, I started around the other side of the island, hoping he’d let me go, but that was stupid too. Of course he didn’t.
He blocked my path, not caging me in, but making it clear I wasn’t going to get past him. I didn’t feel unsafe, just frustrated out of my mind.
“Is that how you knew about the ranch? From the project?” he asked.
“No. Well, I didn’t know it was yours. Not until my dad checked up on you. I had to pretend he wasn’t dropping a bomb on me.”
“I should have told you.”
“You should have.” I flicked my fingers. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I think it does.”
Sighing, I put my drink down on the counter and clasped my hands at my chest. “You have to stop this, Lock. You’re making this so much harder for me. Why do you keep coming around? Why are you sending me pictures?”
“So, you did look at them. What did you think?”
Naturally, he would ignore everything but what he wanted to hear.
“I thought you were an adorable kid and the ranch is as pretty as the pictures online. I hope Shana is able to find a way to bring kids there, because I think a place like that should be shared with people who will appreciate it.”
“It’s prettier in person. I’ve never seen a place that tops it.”
“Okay. Well, thanks for sharing, but it’s enough. I really can’t take anymore, and I don’t know why you’re sending me pictures, but it needs to stop.”
He ignored me once again. “I should have asked. I’d made up my mind—had things a certain way in my head. I didn’t think we had a chance because I never once asked if you’dgiveme a chance. So, I’m going to sell you on it.”
“On what?”
“On what it would look like if you decided on me.”
My mouth fell open. He’d obviously lost his mind. Either that or he got off on torturing me.
I shoved at his chest, and immediately regretted it. I liked the way he felt far too much. It stung that I couldn’t lay my head on what had been my spot. He’d taken that from me without any warning.
“I don’t trust a word you say, Lock.”
He nodded, but he didn’t back off. If anything, my declaration seemed to make him even more resolved. “I understand that. I went back on my word and broke it. The thing about me is, when something is broken, I fix it, no matter how long it takes.”
“Some things can’t be fixed. My trust was always tenuous, but you were really good at convincing me I should hand it over to you. I won’t ever make that mistake again, no matter how many pretty pictures you send me. We should give each other a break and end this charade.”
“Did you enjoy the coffee this morning?”
I threw my head back and screamed at the ceiling, then I pushed around him, storming back outside. He let me go, but not before quietly laughing in my wake.
