Page 49 of Trust Again

“Couldn’t I also be staring at whoever you’re talking to?”

He bumped his shoulder into mine. “Then you were just looking at Kaden like he was a piece of raw meat.”

I snorted and hastily took a sip of my pop to avoid having to respond. Looking around the room, I couldn’t help noticing Allie throwing her arms around Kaden’s shoulders and kissing him. God, I wanted to be kissing someone! And I wouldn’t stop there, either. How long had it been since…?

Wait. For a second I really had to think when the last time with Nate had been. It definitely felt like forever since I’d sworn off sex. I’d turned down every guy who’d asked me out. I’d shut myself off and withdrawn to avoid ever letting a guy get so close to me again. This was the first time I was seriously considering breaking my rule. Not on the emotional level, no way. But physically? Oh, yeah.

“You look like you might just take Kaden into the next room and do what Chelsea does with Jasper in Chapter 8 ofHot for You,” Spencer said, leaning in close.

“The desk scene is in Chapter 7,” I mumbled absentmindedly.

A second later I realized my mistake. It hit me like a ton of lead. After what seemed like an eternity, I turned slowly toward Spencer.

“Dawn Lily Edwards… I knew it,” he said and smiled almost gleefully. “I’m a damn good detective.”

Had that just happened? My day couldn’t end this way. Not today of all days. I stared at Spencer wide-eyed.

His smile deflated a bit. “Dawn, I…”

I stood abruptly and with mechanical steps crossed the living room to the kitchen. Supporting myself on the counter, I took several deep breaths. Everything was tight in my chest, as if a fist were clenching inside.

“When we were at my place, you said a few things that I didn’t understand,” came Spencer’s voice from behind me.

I turned toward him. My breathing was jagged, and I hated my body for losing control so easily.

“You had no right to—”

“No right to what? To Google the names ‘Chelsea’ and ‘Jasper’ because I was curious?” Spencer stepped toward me and I automatically backed away.

“No.”

“Okay.” He raised his hands in surrender. “All I wanted to say is that I love what you’re doing. That’s it.”

“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?” I asked in a panic, my hand clutching my chest.

Spencer frowned and looked at me darkly. “I’ll pretend you didn’t ask that.”

“Can… can we please not talk about it?”

“But, why not?” He looked completely confused.

“Because it’s private. I don’t want to be judged by everyone.” I clenched my teeth. This was not the night for a mental striptease in front of Spencer.

He took another slow step in my direction.

“Does it feel like I’m judging you?”

“No, but…” My voice was hoarse. I felt totally exposed and ashamed. In my novels I’d used some of my fantasies about Spencer—and now he’d read them? This was the worst, most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to me.

“If you had any idea what went through my mind when I read it, you wouldn’t look at me that way,” he said, stepping closer so I had to lean back to look up at him.

“I’d rather not know.”

His smile quirked into something wicked. “I don’t believe that, either. If you only let me, I’d do all those forbidden things that Jasper did with Chelsea. Starting with the shower scene.”

I swallowed. “But that scene is at the end.”

“I’ve always preferred to start behind and work my way forward.”