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“About that? Nah. Soak up my hotness. Maybe you’ll get hooked and every time you get chilly, I can look forward to having you pressed against me.” He rubs his hand over my arm, pulling me in closer. “But I do mind how off base you are about me.”
All those muscles that had gone lax in his arms ratchet tight. “You think I’m off base?”
“Yeah, George, I do. I’m not the guy you think I am.”
I hate this feeling in my chest, but hearing Quinn tell me I’m wrong about him is exactly what I need to remind me not to let him any closer.
“Okay, over the years there have been a lot of girls. And I don’t know what happened with your friend, but I’ve never, ever lied or tried to hustle them to get in my bed.” He rubs a hand over his jaw and cuts me an apologetic look. “And—Christ, I can’t believe I’m actually going to say this, but I think it matters, so here it is—I don’t have to.”
For a beat I’m too stunned to respond. To do more than blink and eventually suck some air into my lungs, but then I’m shrugging out of Quinn’s hold and stepping to the far side of the table he just moved.
His shoulders drop and a slow breath eases out. “I know how arrogant that sounds, but this job is different—”
“I know how easy it is for you to find women. I don’t care about any of that.” Which is mostly true, anyway. Or at least I wish it was. “I care that you’re telling me you’ve never lied or hustled a girl into your bed. Ever.” My vision starts to tunnel, my heart beating too fast.
I shouldn’t care. I don’t want to.
Except he’s hustling me right now! I can still feel him inside me, still feel the ache of wanting more… and he’s looking at me with those heartfelt eyes thatpromisehe’d never lie… and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Only this time, it’s not to get me into his bed. It’s to get something else. It’s to get me to trust him, when right now he’s proving he doesn’t deserve it.
“George, I haven’t. Aside from having a reputation for being with a lot of women, I’m pretty sure that’s as bad as it gets. Check the bunny boards or search my name, you’re not going to find a lot of scorned girls.”
He says it with such confidence. I almost want to laugh, because what? Does that mean I reallyamspecial? I don’t think so.
“God, you’re a liar.”
I can’t believe a damn word he says.
And now he’s on his feet, raking a frustrated hand through his hair. “Why do you keep saying that?”
“Because you’re lying to me right now, Quinn!”
His head snaps back and honestly this guy deserves an Oscar for the bewildered look on his face.
Throwing my hands out to the sides, I let out a bitter laugh and turn. “I’m done.”
Whatever this guy’s game is, it doesn’t matter. He’s never going to work me again.
I got what I wanted from him. I’m out.
“Jesus, Georgie, you’re killing me.”
He’d have to have feelings to be hurt and the more he tries to convince me they exist, the less I believe him. “Then why keep coming back for more?”
“Because every time I try to stop, it feels like I can’t fucking breathe. Like something vital is slipping through my fingers and if I let it go, I’ll never be okay again.”
I don’t believe him. Of course, I don’t. So why does it feel like I’m the one letting something slip through my fingers? That I’m the one tossing away something infinitely valuable?
This needs to stop. And there’s only one way to make it.
“Quinn, the reason I can’t believe you is that I’ve heard all this before.”
* * *
Quinn
Everything grinds to a stop.Finally we’re getting somewhere.
“Okay, George, I want to understand, so let’s back up. Who are we talking about here?”
