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“You’re crazy. I can’t stay here—with you,” she says.

“Give me one good reason why not?”

“You don’t know me.” The jut of her jaw lets me know she’s serious.

“Not entirely accurate. I know youverywell.” I watch as colour spreads up her neck.

She stares at me like I really have lost my mind.

“We don’t even like one another.”

It’s my turn to frown.

“That’s not true. I certainly like you.”

Her cheeks darken further.

I think back to my dream. I know who I was dreaming about. The woman in front of me is tying me up in knots.

April is quiet for a moment.

“I still don’t get it,” she says.

“Get what?”

“Why do you think I can help you? Why do you want me to? I’ve done nothing but cause issues. The protests, the flash mob.”

I smile. The issues she’s raised have helped, not hindered, the process. It usually takes us months to get to the heart of a community and have them trust us. April has opened the door.

“You’re their mouthpiece. You know how they work, who’s who.”

“I’m just a dance teacher.”

April throws her hands in the air in frustration.

“Don’t do that. Don’t devalue yourself or what your community feels towards you. As for what you know, it’s about being a point of contact,” I say, having more faith in her than she does.

The sound she makes is like a grunt.

“Okay, so I can help with the community, but that doesn’t explain you and why you’re willing to let a stranger move into your home?”

“You’re not exactly acompletestranger,” I say, raising an eyebrow in her direction, watching in delight as more colour floods her cheeks.

“I won’t sleep with you if that’s what this is about,” she says, crossing her arms once again over her chest.

I drop the teasing and school my features.

“Is that what you think? That I brought you here to sleep with you?” A tightness forms in my chest. “You really don’t think very highly of me, do you? What’s so wrong with letting someone help you?” I shake my head. “If you want to go back to the hostel, I can get Mason to drop you off.”

“If I’m honest. I don’t know what to think.” Her gaze locks on mine. “We slept together in New York months ago. I never expected to see you again. Now, here you are. To saythe past few weeks have been a whirlwind…” She uncrosses her arms and closes her eyes, rubbing her temples. When she opens them again, she shakes her head. “Cal, look at it from my point of view. You are buying the building I rent. Tonight, you ride in and rescue me like some knight in shining armour and tell me you want nothing from me apart from to be your mouthpiece in the community.” She stops and sighs. “That’s not usually how life works. People always want something in return. Forgive me for being cynical.”

The colour remains in her cheeks, but her lips press together, her gaze ping-pongs, not quite connecting with mine.

“I promise you, that is not my aim.”

“It’s not the first time you’ve taken me back to yours,” she says, raising an eyebrow. “So forgive me for thinking the worst.”

”Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to take you upstairs and strip you naked, bury my cock deep in your pussy. However, that is not why I invited you here.”