Page 66 of Falling for the Enemy

Soren stiffened. “Who?”

“The Shalimar princess, Olivia. She’s in town. But you knew that. It was you, after all, who begged her to stay.”

“What?”

“She told me how much you wanted her close by.”

“I never asked her to stay.”

“Oh, that’s not what she thinks. And, according to the precious princess, she knows you better than anyone.”

“You two talked?”

“Of course. We’re old friends now. Knitting club, couples’ Pilates, candle making, pottery class… We’ve got a full fall schedule of gal-pal outings planned together.”

Soren didn’t look amused. As a matter of fact, he looked furious. “What did she say to you?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because you matter.”

It should have landed like the perfect line, but instead it hit like a low blow. “You know, I think I’ve lost my appetite.”

He caught her knee before she could escape. “Don’t. Don’t go running the second things get a little real. We’re just talking.”

“Soren, let go.”

“No.”

“You’re going to make a scene.”

“Then I’ll make a scene.”

She met his stare and realized he wasn’t bluffing. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I’ve thought about it and I think Wren’s right. We need to see what this actually is between us.”

“It’s nothing. It’s sex.”

“It’s not nothing. Nothing doesn’t feel like this. Nothing doesn’t keep you up at night. If it was nothing it wouldn’t be this heavy.”

“People are staring.”

“Let them.”

She thought about who he was and everything he was on the path to becoming. He might live here now, but his career was in Portland. He could up and leave any time he wanted, but this was her home, and she wanted to stay. Her privacy was important to her and she didn’t like being the center of town gossip.

But before she could remind him that she had her own reputation to protect, he turned her chin and kissed her.

She jerked back. “Are you crazy?” It was only for a split second, but it was enough that people saw. “People can see us.”

“I don’t care anymore. I’m not ashamed of us.”

“Since when? I’m not some stage you get to go through, Soren. I’m a fucking person.”

“I know that, Joce.”

“No, you don’t. Not really. Because while you’re sitting here pretending there might somehow be more than good sex between us, you’re not making any promises.”