Page 111 of Romancing His Heart

Tap-tap-slide.

What the heck is he doing here?Protect yourself, Sloane. He said he’s never met anyone worth sticking around for—that means you. Run before he can hurt you.

“What are you doing here, Loki?” My body deflates faster than it should, but the adrenalin I had moments ago is now eating away at my heart.

“Ashton said you’re leaving,” he accuses.

“Tattletale,” I whisper.

Loki attempts to close the distance between us, but I take a step back and use the table as a shield. Without paying attention to what I’m doing, I open my notebook with all my plans for Vermont. He glances down, and his face transforms into a scowl.

“Where are you going?” he growls.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but since I’m in the clear, it’s time to move onto my next story. I’m going to stay with Lexi for a while and finish my book.”

“Who is Stephen?” he asks through gritted teeth.

Dropping my gaze, I realize what I’ve just shown him.

“Ah, he works at Lexi’s lodge.”

“Why do you have notes on him?” His voice rumbles through the room, making me wish I had run tonight.

Keep it together, Sloane. You don’t owe him anything. He made his position very clear.

Shrugging my shoulders, I walk backward toward the kitchen. “He’s single. Lexi thought he would be a good fit.”

“A good fit for what?” he spits, barely containing his emotions as he stalks me.

“I don’t know, to hang out in case I needed inspiration.” I turn and take three quick steps, putting the island between us. I know Loki would never hurt me, but I’m beginning to feel like prey. I know him well enough to know that when he’s hunting, he never loses.

He slams his palms on the counter with such force I feel the floor shake on impact. “Explain to me why you would go hang out with a random stranger without even speaking to me first.”

“I didn’t realize I needed your permission. I’ve never had a dad, Loki, and I don’t need one now.”

“I’m not trying to be your father, Red. We both know that’s the furthest thing from my mind when it comes to you.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t have to be anything to me. You have a job to do, one that requires you to be commitment-free, and honestly? That’s just fine with me. I don’t do relationships. You know that, and I know that. I was a fun distraction, nothing more. I get it.”

The flash of hurt that crosses his face makes my stomach leap into my throat.Don’t let him in, Sloane. You heard him. In his own words, he said you weren’t worth it. I’m not worth it. He said I’m not worth it.I repeat the words in my head, drowning out any shred of hope that tries to fight through.

I swallow hard as I look anywhere but at him. The pained sound coming from him is almost my undoing, but I’m in self-preservation mode here, and I hold tight to my pain.Everyone leaves you, Sloane. Everyone leaves in the end—that’s why we always leave first.

“Look at me,” he hisses, sending shivers up my spine. When I don’t respond, he yells it again, “Look at me, Sloane.” Using my actual name is like a slap to the face, and I react as if he had.

When my gaze finds his, I’m shocked to see tears there.

“Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t have feelings for me.”

“Why? Why do you care? You have a job to do, so my feelings don’t matter.”

You’ve been here before, Sloane. Men always want what they can’t have. You have firsthand, painful memories of this. Don’t let him do it to you, too.

“You’re a goddamn liar,” he bellows.

“Why are you doing this?” My voice cracks as a single tear fights to be set free.

“Why do I care? Are you seriously that dense? Don’t you get that I’m not like this with everyone? I’ve never had what I felt with you in that cabin. I told you already that was a relationship whether you wanted to believe it or not. I care about you, Sloane. I lo—”