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There was no way she had misheard him.

Having feelings for her and being attracted to her weren’t nearly as big as falling in love.

This was all happening too fast. She couldn’t breathe. Grace ducked out from where he had her pinned with his gaze and hurried down the sidewalk. He couldn’t love her. Not yet. That was too crazy for even her to believe at this point.

“Grace. Wait,” his voice followed her.

She ducked her head down, bracing herself against the cold wind that tugged at her hair and clothes. Shaking her head, she waved him off. “Nope. Not right now, Riley. I need to sort some things out.”

He jogged up beside her. “I’m not going to apologize for anything I just said because I mean every single thing.”

Grace shot him a disbelieving look.

Riley ran a ragged hand down his face. “Look, I’m not an idiot. I know that these feelings are just beginning. We don’t even know if whatever this is between us will last the month. I’m not going to make the assumption that we’re soulmates or anything. But I’m also not going to walk away from this place wondering if I made the biggest mistake of my life in not asking you out.”

17

Riley

Riley couldn’t tellif he was breathing heavy because he’d had to run to catch up to her or if it was because he was terrified that she’d tear him down.

One word was all it would take for him to regret everything he’d done and said in the last twenty-four hours. Not only did he risk losing her as hissponsor, but he also risked losing out on the chance to have something more.

He took a deep breath, then released it and let his shoulders drop. “I’m not good with my words. I have a hard time fighting for things that I want. All I know is that I want to be with you.”

She certainly stared at him like she thought he was crazy. He couldn’t blame her. From the first day they’d met, he’d been someone even he wouldn’t want to be around. But he’d gotten out of his shell, and now he just prayed she wouldn’t turn him down.

Grace stopped her escape and he had to hurry back to her after going a little too far. His approach was slow as he strode toward her. He felt like he was approaching a skittish rabbit. She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you took my phone.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“And told Shane all of those things.”

Riley gave her a pointed look. “That wasn’t for his benefit.”

She clamped her mouth shut. If it weren’t for the cooler weather, he would have bet that her cheeks would have filled with color from his statement and not the wind. “I don’t want you to do stuff like that.”

“Noted.”

She dropped her arms to her sides. “I guess there’s no going back anyway. You can’t take back what you said to Shane, and I know he wouldn’t believe me if I said you were teasing.” Grace looked down at her feet and shuffled her toe against the concrete before peering up at him. “I guess I just can’t wrap my head around our age difference. That’s the one thing that has me wondering if we’re doing something wrong.”

He chuckled and reached for her hand. His fingers played with hers before he wove his fingers between hers. “Sometimes it’s best not to question something, especially when your heart is telling you to take a chance.”

Grace snickered.

He glanced up at her, a frown creasing his brows. “What?”

“You said you’re not good with your words. I’d say you’re just fine expressing how you feel.” She tilted her head, peering at him with her large eyes. “I’m probably going to live to regret this.”

“Nothing in life worth having is going to be gained without some degree of risk.”

She shook her head again. “I mean with Shane. Like I said, you don’t know him. Even if I don’t get fired, he’s not going to let me off without a warning of some kind. He’s probably going to ask me how long this has been going on.”

“Well, that’s easy. You just tell him the truth.”

Grace laughed. It wasn’t one of her soft, timid ones, either. She tossed back her head and her shoulders shook. Her laughter was so contagious that he chuckled right along with her. She shook her head as soon as her laughter died down. “You don’t want me to do that. Based on how things started, I’d say a lie would be more believable.”

“What are you saying?” he scoffed. “I was a perfect gentleman despite being attracted to you.”