AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re not.”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, I won’t let you. This is your room as much as it is mine, and we both need a good night’s sleep if we’re going to be of any use tomorrow.”
He stared down at her, studying her, making her feel small. That was the Elijah way. From the moment she’d gotten into town, Elijah had made sure she knew where she stood. And that was at the bottom of the food chain.
Scarlett swallowed hard, losing her nerve the longer their gazes remained locked. She’d been dealing with a lot of mixed emotions since their kiss. It didn’t matter that Elijah had told her that it meant nothing or that she’d said the same thing. She’d scrutinized how the kiss had made her feel over and over until her head hurt and had come to an unfortunate conclusion.
There was one thing she knew without a doubt.
The kiss had meant something to her.
She hadn’t wanted it to. In fact, she’d done her best to make sure she didn’t let it affect her work or her friendship with Annabel.
And yet she couldn’t forget about it.
A month had gone by and Elijah had probably forgotten all about it.
“It’s a huge bed, Elijah. No one would say it’s inappropriate if we were to share it. We could stack pillows between us if that would make you feel better.”
His eyes seemed to darken, swirl with an energy that terrified her. He shook his head slower this time. “It’s highly inappropriate.”
She threw her arms into the air. “I know I can’t force you to sleep somewhere you don’t want to, but it’s fine. I don’t care if you’re on one side and I’m on the other. Nothing’s going to happen.” Scarlett turned away from him, unable to withstand his stare. But his hand darted out and captured hers, tugging her back toward him.
“Icare.”
Scarlett blinked. “Why?” It was the only thing she could think of to say, and it came out in a raspy sound that only made her more embarrassed.
Elijah didn’t speak right away. He’d seemed to master the dark, brooding, quiet type that she’d read about in books. Just when she thought he’d drop the conversation and let her go, he explained himself. “If I sleep in that bed… with you sleeping three feet away, I don’t know if I could control myself.”
A chill coursed through her body, her blood running cold. What was she supposed to say to something like that? He had to be messing with her. That was the only explanation. Elijah was upset with her for manipulating his family, so now he was taking it upon himself to do the same to her.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t play the game. If she were to join in—tease him a little—she had little doubt he’d be able to see the truth in her eyes, in the way her breathing grew shallow. So all she did was stare at him.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” he said.
She tugged on her arm, but his grip tightened slightly. “What do you want me to say?” she whispered.
“I want you to tell me you feel it too.”
“Feel what? That you have been doing nothing but judging me from the moment I got back? That every conversation we’ve had with one another has inevitably turned into an argument? How about the fact that you either boss me around or give me the cold shoulder? There is no in-between with you, Elijah. How do you expect me to believe a single word you’re saying?”
His jaw tightened. “You’re right. You don’t have to believe anything I’ve said. But let me point out one thing. I don’t have any reason to lie to you right now.”
“Sure you do.” She hurled the accusation toward him like it was a grenade—anything to keep this from escalating into something that could hurt her.
He lifted his brows but didn’t release her.
“You said so yourself. You didn’t think I’d last. You didn’t want me near your sister. Heck, you’ve told me I’m the reason something bad happened to her, and yet you won’t tell me what. I can’t bring it up to her because heaven forbid she lies to me and I’m left wondering which one of you is the liar. So, forgive me for not being willing to fall for whatever it is you’re trying to pull off right now.”
Elijah released her then as if she’d burst into flames and burned him on the spot. He didn’t move from his position, though, and they continued to glare at one another mere inches apart. “You don’t have to believe me,” he murmured, the low tone in his voice causing a fresh shiver to skitter down her spine. “Perhaps it’s better that you don’t. Because heaven knows we’d be a terrible fit.”
He brushed past her, his shoulder knocking against hers.
Scarlett spun around. “Why?”
Stopping, Elijah let out a defeated-sounding sigh. “Why what, Scarlett? Why, against my better judgment, do I find you intoxicating, irresistible, and more tempting than any woman I’ve come across? Or why would we be a terrible fit?”
She shifted all her weight to one foot and dropped her gaze to the floor. “I suppose I want to know the answer to both.”
