Page 119 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

“No more evading, huh?” When she gave me a slight smile but didn’t speak, I continued. “I like you. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I really do like you.”

“You say it like you’re surprised.” Robyn pulled her dress down farther over her knees. I suspected she didn’t even recognize she’d done it. This retreat was getting to me. I doubted I would have noticed it a month ago.

I took a deep breath, hoping to find words that wouldn’t offend her. “It’s not the normal way I start a relationship.” When she gave me a puzzled look, I bumbled on. “I mean, it never starts this way. Everyone I’ve ever been with starts out with this hot and heavy physical attraction.”

“So what you’re saying is you don’t find me attractive.”

“No! That’s not what I meant.” I pushed on when I noticed the twinkle in her eyes. “You’re screwing with me, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “Not exactly screwing with you. I want to understand. Although it was kinda fun to see your reaction.”

Robyn made me want to be honest. “When I met you, I wasn’t immediately attracted, which is how it works for me. This...” I waved my hands between us. “This is foreign to me. It snuck up on me. Then it hit me right between the eyes when we danced.” I touched my head. “It started here without me knowing it.” I moved my hand to my chest. “Then it moved to here.”

Robyn narrowed her eyes. “And that’s not typical for you?”

As much as I hated to admit it, I had to be honest. “No, it usually starts much lower for me.”

“Lower?” The puzzled look in her eyes turned to understanding. “Oh, you mean sexual?”

My cheeks heated, and I nodded. “What about you?”

She glanced at the ceiling with a faraway look in her eye. “Since I’ve been in Madison, I’ve only dated casually. But in the past, it’s always been an emotional connection first.”

I swallowed hard, hoping she didn’t notice. Was she hinting this could be more than casual? “So what is this?”Ugh.Where had my filter disappeared to?

“I’m not certain.”

“Would you let me get away with that?” I asked.

She grinned. “No.” I stared at her, waiting for her to continue. “Fine. I like you, too. It feels more than just casual, but it makes little sense. We haven’t known each other long. And I’m out of practice with this dating stuff.”

“I thought you said you’d dated.”

“Casually.”

“Which winds us back to where we started. Could this be more than casual?”

Robyn exhaled and stared at me. “It can’t.”

“Why?”

“First.” Robyn held up her finger. Something about the gesture was adorable, but I didn’t think she’d appreciate me saying it, so I kept it to myself. “This never should have happened. I’ve never crossed any lines the entire time I’ve been teaching at the resort.” She held up another finger. “Two. You’re here for two more weeks, and then you return to New York City. Why create such an entanglement?” She looked down at the couch and held up her third finger. “Plus, you’ve never experienced an attraction like this. What if it’s not real? Just a reaction to being at the resort.”

Her first two points hadn’t surprised me, but the third did. “What do we need to do to move you past feeling guilty about crossing the imaginary lines you’ve created?”

Robyn’s jaw tightened. “They’re not imaginary.”

“I wasn’t trying to be offensive. But you realize it’s not like I’m getting a grade for these classes, so we don’t have an uneven power dynamic.”

“But I’ve facilitated your group. I know it’s not like I’m your counselor, but still.”

“Are you okay with Katlynn and Helena’s relationship?”

Robyn smiled. “It warms my heart. It’s wonderful for both of them.”

“Then what’s the difference?”

Robyn scowled. “I’ll say it again. I’m your facilitator. How do you know the attraction is real, especially since this isn’t how you normally date?”