“Don’t what?”
“Please don’t start something I can’t finish.”
“Can’t or won’t? Because there’s a difference.”
“You’re really putting me on the spot here.”
“Maybe, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned,” said Alex, “it’s that people appreciate honesty. They want to know where they stand. I never forgot you after that night at the tiki bar. And now…after what we shared last night, I don’t want to forget you. Not for a minute.”
“I didn’t realize I’d made that much of an impression.”
“Don’t lie to yourself. We have a connection. You feel it too.”
“It doesn’t matter what I feel. We’re from two different worlds. It wouldn’t work.”
“That’s a copout and you know it. I want to unravel you, Dana. I want to get to the heart of you.”
Long lashes blinked over big, brown eyes. The disbelief in those eyes hurt him worse than any rejection he’d ever experienced.
“You said something to me, something I can’t stop thinking about. That you’re broken. What would make you say that?”
“Drunken rambling, that’s all.”
“Boy, lying comes easily to you, doesn’t it?”
“I’m not lying,” she snapped. “It’s just…you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“Look, it’s not a good time for me.”
“Ah. Okay. If it’s convenient, I could circle back to you in another few months or so.”
“Alex.”
“There will never be a perfect time. I wasn’t expecting you to come into my life either, but here we are.” He leaned forward, bringing his face close to hers. “I want you.”
“I—”
“I want to know what makes you tick, what makes you smile. And I really want to know what makes you come.”
“Don’t. You really shouldn’t.” Despite her protest, she didn’t pull away. In fact, she leaned in.
“I don’t play games. Don’t play them with me.”
“I’m not, but…”
“But what? You’re not attracted to me? I think we already ruled that one out. But if that’s the case, we can end this conversation now. I’ll nurse my broken heart and you can go on with your life.”
“Broken heart. Yeah, right. Alex, it’s not that simple.”
“Yes, it is.”
He was pushing her, he knew it, but by the end of this discussion, she would be in no doubt as to his feelings. He could hold his cards close and act aloof. God knew he’d employed that tactic in the past. It had even worked several times.
He didn’t want to this time. Something about Dana made him want to come clean, not just about his feelings, but about everything. Even in this short space of time, he found himself wondering about her activities and her thoughts. He wanted to know it all and he didn’t want to wait.
He’d never been good at waiting.
