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Did you already forget what Henry warned you about?
No, I haven’t.
My eyes sync to Dare’s mouth like a homing pigeon. Another thing I haven’t forgotten? Our kiss. The softness of his lips, the little breath he exhaled against me, the way it felt so right even though I knew it meant nothing.
Dare slowly leans toward me, erasing the distance between us. I inch my face upward, my hair falling back and off my shoulders. My eyes sweep closed in throat-clenching anticipation.
Something tight straps me to my seat and I gasp.
My eyes pop open.
And I writhe in abject horror.
Richard Sullivan II was not about to kiss me.
Frazzled, I dig my nails into the seatbelt that’s suddenly crossing my chest.
He retreats calmly to his side of the car where he fastens his seatbelt too. His gaze lands on me, an eyebrow arched in knowing amusement.
Sweet Gucci.
I jerk my eyes to the ground. Cheeks burning, I sink lower into my seat.
Idiot. Weren’t you JUST angry with him? Let’s go back to that!
I reach for my irritation again. Unfortunately, it’s been dulled by my earlier breathlessness and I can’t seem to remember why I should be angry that he picked me up. I can’t even remember why I didn’t want him to pick me up in the first place.
Dare’s reflection in the glass catches my eye. He’s got his phone balanced on one leg and a tablet on the other.
For a brief moment, I wishIwas the one sitting in his lap.
And then I brush that thought away like it’s diseased.
Ugh.
There’s something about Dare Sullivan that gets under my skin. The way he pushes and then retreats makes me curious. Makes me competitive. What game is he playing? What are the rules? I want to get closer and find out if he’s for real.
He has all the power to order me around.
And then he does.
But once he has me, there’s no further movement.
As if the ball is in my court.
As if I can do what I want as long as I do it in his line of sight.
It’s weird.
Puzzling as hell.
And I won’t fall for it.
Settling for folding my arms over my chest and staring moodily out the window, I ignore Sullivan for the rest of the ride. Once we arrive, Mosely offers an umbrella and I flounce out of the car, immediately being ushered into a whirlwind of hair and makeup.
The world momentarily goes back to normal…
Until I step onto the magazine set and see Dare looking like a bespoke tailor’s walking fantasy. The breath in my lungs shrivels up until it’s the size of a peanut.