Page 53 of My Fault

“You’re not built for this. I shouldn’t have brought you.”

I wasn’t built for this? His response didn’t bother me per se; it was the tone he said it in.

“I’m the one who decided to come here. And now I’m the one who’s deciding to go.”

He laughed.

“I don’t know what I expected, but this definitely wasn’t it. I thought you were tougher, Freckles. You didn’t flinch when you and Ronnie got into it. I sure didn’t think a couple of guys punching each other would do this to you.”

What he couldn’t see, as we stood there looking at each other, was the cold sweat coating my body, the soft tremors in my hands…

“I guess my bravery comes and goes,” I said, opening my palm so he’d hand me back my phone. But he kept toying with it, and his mind seemed elsewhere.

“I wanted to ask you. Where’d you learn to race like that?”

“Beginner’s luck. Phone, please.”

He grinned.

“You’ve got more secrets than I would have imagined, Freckles.” He stepped toward me, and I stepped away until my back touched the door of his car.

“We’ve all got secrets,” I said, quieter now.

“I should warn you, I’m a pretty good detective,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. I stopped him as best I could.

I woke from the spell he cast on me. My pulse started racing.

“Stay away from me, Nicholas,” I said, more serious than ever.

Discovering my past—that was the last thing I wanted. The mere thought of it made me panic. I’d always kept my demons in check—no one knew anything—but with just a wall between him and me, there were things that I wasn’t going to be able to hide. I hardly knew him, and already, he was unearthing things I never let anyone see.

“You want me to stay away from you? That’s not what your body seems to be saying…”

Damn him. Nobody had ever gotten to me like this before. Seeing him there before me, so big, so masculine, I felt like a cornered animal someone was getting ready to slaughter at any minute. And I didn’t like that, that sensation of feeling so small and vulnerable.

He placed a hand on either side of my head, almost like a cage.

“What are you so scared of?” he asked, his mouth close to mine, his breath heating up my face. His eyes were so blue, with bits of aquamarine in the pupils.

“I’m scared of you,” I whispered.

Nick grinned. Maybe he liked my answer. It was as if someone had tossed a jar of ice water over my head. I shoved him and got away from his grasp.

“Asshole,” I said. I couldn’t believe I’d been sincere with him.

“Why? Because I think it’s funny that you’re scared? That’s normal, Freckles. If you weren’t, it would have worried me.”

“I’m scared you’ll get me into trouble,” I lied, hoping he’d forget what I’d just said. I didn’t want him having that much power over me.

“I’ve got a talent for wriggling out of it. You don’t need to worry there.”

“That’s exactly it. I don’t want to worry. Now give me my phone so I can get out of here.”

Nicholas sighed, but his expression didn’t change.

“It’s too bad you’re so stiff. I thought you and I could have fun together.”

“There is no you and I… and there never will be.”