Page 32 of Her Dirty Secret
“You mean, you can’t give me what you think I deserve.”
“Is there a difference?”
He strokes a finger under his chin. “Yes. But perhaps you’re not ready to see that yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t belong with someone like you,” I reply a little more angrily than I intended. I close my eyes, pushing back the tears, the rage. The truth is something I didn’t expect. He cares about me in a way I struggle to even care for myself. He’s way too good for me. He makes me wish I was more. Better. And I can’t handle that kind of pressure. That’s what’s making me angry. I’m mad at myself for not being what he needs. I shove it all down deep, steel myself, and look up into his eyes.
He’s strangely calm, watching my internal battle play out on my face. When I catch his eye, he gives me a hard look.
“Tell me honestly that you don’t want me,” he says in a low, even tone.
“It’s not that simple,” I hedge.
He steps closer, lifting my chin to force me to look in his eyes. “It never is, Cara Mia. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth fighting for.” He kisses me gently, completely in control this time as he ends it quickly. It leaves me wanting, brief as it was.
I shake my head, not knowing what to say. He’s still watching me intently, with those dark, expressive eyes of his. He lifts his hand to my cheek, stroking it gently.
“I had an amazing night with you. Go, get some sleep. Think about things. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “What, you’re not even going to try to come in?”
He shakes his head and laughs. He looks down at me, with a dangerously sexy glint in his eye. “We’re not going to fuck so you don’t have to think, Cara Mia.”
My eyes go wide. How did he know that that was exactly what I wanted?
“I see you,” he says. “Just as you see me. Remember that.”
With that, he turns and walks away. I go inside, dumbstruck as I undress and clean up for bed. And when I go to sleep, try though I might, all I see is his face.
* * *
Sunday morning brings no rest. Literally. I have to drag ass out of bed and get ready for brunch at Mom’s. And prepare myself for the inquisition. Not going would only be worse, because then Bryce would be pissed, and I’d still have to make an appearance.
I resign myself to the trip, and I’m about to call for a ride when Sera texts asking if I want to go with them. I accept, though I’m not as excited by the prospect as I normally would be. Though it does occur to me if I could get her on her own, she’d be the best person to talk to about this whole mess. After all, she knows me pretty well by now. And obviously she knows Alessandro in ways pretty much nobody else I could talk to would.
Ugh. I realize that means I do want to talk about it. He’s getting under my skin, the persistent bastard.
When I get downstairs to meet Sera and Bryce, I’m actually pretty relieved to see them both. They’re out of the car, and Sera gets to me first, wrapping me in a big hug.
“Hey,” she greets me.
“Hey.”
Bryce gives me a little wave. I let Sera go and throw myself bodily into him, hugging him tightly.
“Oof,” he grunts. “Geez, Em.”
I let him go and swing a fake punch toward his soft spot. He instinctively reaches out to stop me with a surprised look on his face. I stop my fist in midair, laughing. “Hey, bro.”
He shakes his head and climbs in the back seat, and Sera gets in on the driver’s side. “Hop in,” she invites, gesturing to the front passenger door.
“Huh,” I remark, climbing into the passenger seat. “I feel special.”
Sera pulls out, giving Bryce a look in the rearview mirror. “Just pretend he’s not here. You know, if you need to talk before we get to your mom’s.”
“Ugh,” I remark. “She’s pretty worried, huh?”
“We all are,” she says quietly. “But you look good, Em. I missed you.”