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“I’m not…” He stopped and shook his head.
He’d known before he got here that he was stepping far over his boundaries. Worse, he was proving exactly what he’d been trying to deny—that his feelings for Grace were getting way too messy and intense. Challenging her choices was forcing him to look hard at his own damned life—and introspection pissed him off.
“Haven’t you ever wanted more?” he snapped.
She stared at him. A flush crested her cheekbones. “Like what kind ofmore?”
“More than this town.” He gestured sharply to the windows. “More than a leaky ceiling and a pile of essays to grade. More than mac and cheese and game shows on a Friday night when you should be on a date.”
“Oh, for god’s sake.” She threw her hands into the air and rolled her eyes. “Just because I don’t want a relationship—”
“That’s another thing,” he interrupted. “Why not? I’m not a big marriage advocate…honestly, I could care less if people get married, but I’ve seen you. People gravitate toward you. You’re a natural—warm, friendly, caring. Why the hell would you activelynot wanta relationship?”
“What business is it of yours?” Irritation flashed in her eyes. “Are you offering?”
Shit.
He stalked across the room, pulling a hand impatiently through his hair. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
“This from the man who keeps his own personal life locked in a safe?” Grace retorted. “Aside from the parade of beautiful women, of course.”
He shot her a dark glare. “Jealous?”
“No! It’s not as if you’re in arelationshipwith any of them, are you?”
“I told you I’m not good at relationships. Whereas you—”
“Iwhat?”
“You’re goddamned made for…for being with someone. For…”
For being with me.The words almost flew out of his mouth before he could even process them. What the hell was he thinking?
Grace blew out her breath in an exasperated sigh. “I’m busy, all right? I don’t have time for a relationship.”
“Bullshit.”
“Lincoln! My classes and drama club take up a lot of time, I’m prepping for summer school, and I have to help my father.”
“Your father doesn’t need your help.”
Her eyes hardened. “You don’t know him. Or me, for that matter. You certainly have no business questioning my love life.”
“Given the way you kissed me the other night, yes I do,” he snapped.
She pressed her lips together, her flush deepening. “You made it quite clear you’re not interested.”
“That’s not what I was doing!” He turned abruptly, spreading his arms out. “The problem is that I’m too fuckinginterested. You’re damned right I’m fixated on you, and it’s driving me crazy. I’ve wanted you from the second I saw you sitting at the diner, I can’t stop staring at you in class, and all I want to do is kiss you again. Hell, half the time I can’t even think about anything except how much I want to touch you. If I had any intention of staying here, I—”
“Lincoln, will you have sex with me?”
