When he finally turned her way, his expression was pained. “Mia, you know I like you, right? And respect you and admire you?”
His words were nice. But the way he said them? She didn’t know where he was going, but she got the distinct impression she didn’t want to follow him there.
“Are you breaking up with me?” she joked, trying to lessen the strange tension permeating the fuselage.
He looked positively apoplectic when he sputtered, “S-see? Ithoughtyou might have read too much into it. Mia, if you haven’t heard, I’m not exactly the relationship type and—”
“Wait a minute.” She held up a hand, feeling her cheeks heat. “Do you seriously think after one night together, oneplatonicnight together, that I’m under the impression we’re an item?”
“An item?” One black brow formed a perfect arch over his eye. “Who says that?”
“Me, apparently.”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “What are you? Seventy?”
“No, but my grandmother, who raised me from the time I was seven was. So blame my antiquated choice of words on her. And then answer the question, Spiro.”
His eyes softened as they had every time she’d called him by his given name. “Well, not anitemnecessarily,” he admitted. “But, I mean, the way you’ve been acting around me today is different, you know? Yesterday, I could barely say a word without you jumping or giving me the side-eye.”
“I’m nervous by nature,” she said in her own defense. Not to mention that she was highly aware of him as a man. So sure, she was agitated anytime he got close.
“And now today, after we slept together in your bed,” he went on, “you’ve been acting like—”
She usually didn’t interrupt. She’d learned people gave themselves away when they were allowed to run off at the mouth. So she was surprised when she heard herself cut in with, “Like what? Like we lived through a harrowing event together? Like we got to know each other better and discovered we both like angsty, dark romance novels? Like maybe we were becomingfriends?”
“Is that all it’s been?” He eyed her skeptically. “Friendship?”
Okay, if she was being completely honest, shehadexperienced a thrill when she’d awoken in his arms. And an evenbiggerthrill when she’d felt the incessant throbbing of his morning wood against her thigh.
But she wasn’t an idiot. She hadn’t turned into Gigi Hadid overnight. She was still her and he was still him, so she’d known then, and she knew now, that his hardon hadn’t had anything to do withher.
It’d simply been male biology at work.
Embarrassment and indignation reddened her face. “If I’ve been acting differently today, it’s because, like I said, I thought yesterday and last night pushed us over the line from acquaintances to friends. And just in case it wasn’t obvious to you, I don’t make friends easily. I’m too reserved. Too quiet. It makes people uneasy around me. So imagine my happiness when I thought I’d found a friend inyou.”
“Mia, I—” He tried to get a word in, but she talked right over him.
“But you know what? I’m taking it back.” At his confused look, she clarified. “My friendship. I don’t want to be friends with a superciliousasswho thinks every woman he meets wants him so badly she can’t contain her ovaries and is determined to chase him down and make him her very own. Because I’ve got news for you, bud.”
Had she called himbud?Yes, she’d called him bud. She was on a roll.
“Why would I waste time chasing you whenIam the one who’s the catch, huh?” she finished, breathing heavily because she didn’t think she’d drawn a breath during that entire diatribe.
Of course, she didn’treallythink she was a catch. Not with her insanely dysfunctional family and her post traumatic stress. But it feltgoodto say she was. To pretend a confidence and courage she didn’t truly have.
Romeo blinked at her in astonishment. Then his expression grew…the only word she could come up with waslivid. “Hold on just a damned minute and try to see things from my perspective.”
She fought to hold her tongue, but lost the battle. “Oh, I’d dearlyloveto see things from your perspective. But I don’t think I can get my head that far up my own ass.”
“Look.” He cut a hand through the air. “A guy like me is used to women wanting one thing. So sue me for mistaking your sudden change in attitude for some romantic notion of the two of us together. I just wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding between us. To make sure you knew that I—that I—” He struggled for words, and it took everything she had not to supply some for him.
That you don’t like me like that? That you don’twantme like that? Well, message received!
This time, however, she managed to hold her tongue. She wished she hadn’t when he finally settled on, “That you and I are about as different as peas and pears. You’re nothing I need, and I’m not anything you should want.”
His bald words hit her so hard she recoiled.
He opened his mouth, but she stopped him with a raised hand. “No. Please. I would appreciate it if those were the final words you speak on the topic.”
