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“This isn’t . . . we can’t do this. Maybe I don’t feel anything for you. Did you think of that?” She was desperately trying to pull herself together. She should push him away in order to protect herself from further hurt.
But she was pretty sure that it was too late.
He smiled gently. “Not even for a minute, darlin’.”
Great. So she wasn’t fooling him at all.
Good to know.
“Come sit down. Have your ice cream. Just live in the moment and try not to worry about the future.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
“If you let yourself get to know me, you might find you like me.” There was a hint of vulnerability in his face that shocked her.
He always seemed so ultra-confident. She didn’t think he would have doubts.
“Too late.”
“What?”
“I already like you.”
“Yeah?” he asked, a slow smile crossing his face.
“Yeah. But I don’t think it’s a good thing. My life . . . it’s not simple. I don’t get to decide who I’m with.”
He frowned. “Why not? If His Lordship is doing something to threaten you, then you need to tell us.”
“It’s more complicated than that.” She rubbed at her temples. “I don’t . . . I just want . . . my head hurts.”
“Come on. Stop thinking about this right now. Stop thinking about everything and let me do the worrying. I’ll call the shots for a while.”
“Why would you want to do that?” she asked as she let him lead her over to the table they’d been sitting at.
“Well, when you make your own decisions you make very poor ones.”
“I do not.”
“Uh, you just ran away from a magnificent sundae that was being served to you by the most gorgeous, wonderful, smart man in the world.”
“In the world?”
“Maybe the universe.”
“When is he turning up?” she asked, pretending to look around.
He gasped, placing his hand on his chest. “There’s that mean streak again!”
“Sorry,” she whispered, feeling bad. Had she taken it too far?
He placed his finger under her chin. “Hey, I’m just kidding around. Okay?”
She gave him a small smile.
“I like your mean side. It’s hot.”
It was? She didn’t really think she had a mean side, though.
“It means you feel safe enough with me to joke around. You know what? I have an idea. Let’s eat up.”
He fed her a bite of ice cream. But she pulled away after two more. “I can’t. Sorry.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
She wasn’t sure where he was planning on taking her, but she followed him out the door of the ice cream parlor and down a few shops. And into . . . a toy store?
“Why are we in a toy store?” she asked in confusion.
“I’m going to buy you something.”
“You’re going to buy me a toy?” she asked.
“Yep. What would you like? A squishy toy?” He picked up a toy that looked more like a pillow. It was a cat with a unicorn horn.
A catcorn!
“Or what about a baby doll? You want a baby you can feed and change their diapers? Or an older one to dress up? Or some Legos? Or do you want one of these cuddly kittens.”
She really wanted to touch the toy kitten he held out. It looked so soft. She adored anything that she could cuddle. Amy Alpaca did a great job, but she was small. What would it be like to have the giant unicorn he was now holding up in her bed?
“Oh this? Do you like this one, little darlin’?” He brought the unicorn over to where she stood, frozen.
He was a whirlwind, moving around, picking things up and putting them down. Trying to entice her.
She shook her head.
“No? Well, it would take up most of the bed, I guess.” He put the enormous unicorn down. “Ooh, these chairs look nice.” He jumped on one. She stared around them, waiting for a shop assistant to come tell him off. Should he be doing that?
The beanbags all looked like different animals. They were fluffy with faces on them.
“Come here. Try this one.” He was sitting on a bear. He patted the giraffe next to him.
She shook her head.
“You know you want to.”
“But I shouldn’t.”
“It’s okay. No one is going to tell you off if you sit in one. I promise. And if they try, I’ll protect you.” He patted his chest. “Me, big bad dude. Can protect little woman.” He leered at her.
She rolled her eyes at him. But she sat in the beanbag chair. It was enormous and it felt like it was hugging her. She let out a sigh. It was so good. She wondered if they had these in London? It would be awesome on those days she needed a hug and there was no one around. But she’d never sneak it past Jonathan.
“I think we should go,” she said, trying to get out.
Oh no.
Trapped.
She could roll off the chair but that would look ridiculous. She’d look stupid. Her breath came in sharp pants.
