Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark - By Jennifer Labrecque Page 0,137

what she did with Popsicles. “Have you been drinking?”

Her slow smile simmered through him, heating him up. “Only a Frappuccino.”

Focus, Simon. Not on her smile or Popsicles or the way her sundress hugged all of her curves. Focus on this conversation and getting her the hell out of this apartment before he did something really stupid like kiss her and beg her to stay. “What is this promise of intent?”

“You said if you had your lady love you’d know what to do with her.” Another step brought her seriously into his personal space. Only a few inches of very hot air separated them. She smoothed her hand down his belly to the elastic band of his shorts, and his heart pounded like mad. “Well, I’m here, fully expecting to be—what was it?—oh, yes, fucked senseless for a week.”

Bloody hell if that didn’t catch Mr. Winky’s attention. He had to get her out of here now. When she talked like that...

He sought to keep a cool head. Both of them. “What makes you think you’re her?” She couldn’t possibly know. He’d never breathed a word to anyone.

“Tell me I’m not.” She pulled a photo out of her purse and held it out. Him, caught in a moment of weakness and utter misery, looking at her.

“Convince me this is a lie,” she said.

He of all people knew the power of a photograph. How apropos. All these years he’d hidden behind his camera, only to be stripped naked, at his rawest in a photograph. He appreciated the irony.

He’d never convince her he didn’t love her. But he knew she didn’t really love him. She couldn’t. He bracketed her shoulders with his hands and put her away from him. “Tawny, you’re on the rebound. It’s too soon. You don’t really know me.”

“Okay, I think you pulled out just about every argument you could. Now I’m going to debunk these myths you’ve created in that sexy head of yours. First, let’s get it straight. Elliott wounded my pride.” She stabbed at him with her finger. “You broke my heart. Second, it’s too soon for what? Love doesn’t come on a time line. It’s not on-the-job training where you log in a certain number of hours for certification. And last, don’t tell me I don’t know you.” She took her hand in his and brought it to her lips. “I knew you the second you climbed out on that ledge after my cat. I knew you when you held my hand in the dark. I knew you when you covered for Elliott. I knew you when you ran to your parents, literally, because they needed you, despite your history with them. I knew you when you dried me off and carried me to bed when I was too tired to move. There may be facets of you that I don’t know yet, but don’t tell me I don’t know you.”

It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, because he really, really wanted to believe her. But he knew things she didn’t. He knew that if she really knew him, knew that hollow core inside him, she couldn’t possibly love him.

He pulled his hand away and put the width of the room between them. “Don’t you understand?” He struggled to make her understand. “I’m like Hades. Lord of the Dark. You’re Persephone. Light and beautiful. You don’t belong with me.”

Her mouth gaped open for a full five seconds. “Please tell me you don’t actually believe any of that hogwash that just came out of your mouth.”

Just when he thought he’d heard all of her Southernisms. “Did you just say ‘hogwash’?”

“Don’t you dare make fun of me and don’t think you can distract me. How about this—do you actually believe the load of crap you just shoveled my way? That’s just wrong. And why would I want to be that mealymouthed Persephone? If you’re going to draw some crazy mythical analogies, at least make me some kick-ass goddess like Athena or Artemis. Not some ninny whose mama had to come rescue her.” She tossed her backpack onto the sofa. “You know, I was going to call a therapist on Monday for myself. You should make an appointment instead.”

“I do not need a therapist,” he said. “And if I’m so wonderful, why are you already trying to change me?”

“I’m not trying to change you.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m trying to get some positive self-awareness through that thick skull of yours. And you