Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas #2) - Alison Bliss Page 0,95

just been rushing around like a mad woman trying to get some stuff done. I had a busy day at the library and have things to take care of.”

“What’s this? You brushing me off?”

I shook my head. “No, I just…” Eager to escape the way he was looking at me, I tried to hurry the conversation along. “Look, I’m feeling a little strange about what happened between us and I need some time to process it all. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“No, it’s not fucking okay.” He scowled. “If this is your way of sending me packing, then I want to know why.”

“I don’t want to talk right now. I just want to—hey!”

Without my permission, he shoved open the door and stepped over the threshold. His eyes took in the disheveled room until they finally zeroed in on the luggage I’d placed on the floor next to the kitchen counter. His green eyes flashed to me, but his expression was unreadable. “Going somewhere?”

“I…” My heart thumped against my rib cage. “Yes, I’m leaving town.”

“You weren’t even going to tell me?”

I cringed at the harshness of his tone. “No.”

His mouth settled into a disapproving, grim line. “Why?”

“This is all happening too fast. You and me. I told you before we were too different. Our relationship is based solely on sex and I don’t want—”

“Stop it, Anna. If you’re going to stand here and give me a line of bullshit, then don’t bother. This has nothing to do with us and you know it. So either tell me the truth or don’t waste my fucking time.”

“I…I don’t want this, okay?” My voice warbled unconvincingly. God, I was such a bad liar. “I only want to be left alone to live my life as I see fit. I don’t need the complication of a relationship.” At least that part was true, but I knew it would take more than that to make him leave. “You’re never going to be anything more than a playboy and I refuse to be another Kelly Deter.”

“Kelly Deter? Who the hell is… Wait, the girl from camp?”

At least my eye roll was genuine. “I’m surprised you even remember her name at all.”

“Well, why wouldn’t I? She’s the bitch who told everyone that she and I slept together the night of the bonfire. All I’d done was ask her out. I hadn’t laid a finger on her. The next day, when I found out she spread the rumor among the other counselors, I called the whole thing off.”

“But you weren’t at the bonfire,” I said, shaking my head furiously. “I didn’t see you there.”

“I was on my way when I heard a commotion and ran to see what happened. I thought one of the kids had gotten hurt, but it was you. You were lying on the ground with all the kids standing around you as one of the other female counselors yelled for help. I picked you up and carried you to the nurse’s station, then waited outside until I heard you were going to be okay. They’d told me you had a panic attack and fainted.”

“Y-you carried me…” My heart squeezed and my eyes filled with blinding tears. I turned away from him. “I never knew. By the next morning, word had gotten around about what had happened and a few of the other counselors had started calling me ‘Sparky.’ I didn’t want to be reminded of how I’d panicked and fainted in front of everyone when they’d lit the bonfire, so I packed my things and left.”

“I know. I went to see you the following night to make sure you were okay, but Bobbie Jo told me you were already gone.” He paused, then his tone laced with anger. “Guess that’s what you do, though. You leave without saying good-bye.”

I swallowed hard.

“Take care of yourself,” he said solemnly. His boots clomped on the floor, the sound growing softer with distance as he made his way to the door.

Tears leaked down my face. I knew if I spoke again my shaky voice would tell him everything he needed to know. But despite everything I’d said, I wanted him. Now more than ever. He’d given me his trust. Maybe it was about time I did the same.

“I’m not,” I whispered.

He must’ve stopped at the door because suddenly I couldn’t hear his footfalls anymore. “Not what?”

It was a pivotal moment, dependent entirely on what words came out of my mouth next. Because if things went wrong… But I couldn’t