“I was just being polite.”
“I don’t like polite. I like real.”
That was obvious.
“Although most people would prefer to be around the fake me rather than experience the real North.”
“I’d rather have the real person.”
He studied her for a long moment. “Don’t say anything you’re not sure of.”
“I’ve been around you now for six days and I can tell you that I would definitely rather deal with real North. Even if it means that I can’t always read you, I much prefer the truth. I don’t like lies or subterfuge. It feels like trickery. Why should we have to be someone we’re not just to appease other people, you know? Women are told all the time to smile, to not look so sad or get so angry or be so irritated. Smile and pretend everything is okay. But it’s not always okay. And a smile doesn’t change that. So I think it’s good that you can be who you really are. You shouldn’t smile unless you want to. Or be happy or friendly unless that’s what you feel. Maybe you’re the person who is right and all the rest of us are wrong.”
North just nodded, his head turning back to the large screen. “So, choose a movie.”
Jared placed the remote in her hand and sent her a wink. She wasn’t sure why, but she shrugged and settled in.
29
She was completely delusional.
Maybe you’re the person who is right and all the rest of us are wrong.
He shook his head at that bit of nonsense. However, North couldn’t help but glance over at her.
Why did she have to prefer the real him?
Shouldn’t she have said that he scared her? That she couldn’t handle him?
But no . . . not Angie.
She had to be different. Always fucking different.
She had to be the one woman his body reacted to. But it wasn’t just a physical thing. He was intrigued by her.
He hated it.
“Oh God!” She burst into laughter at something on the screen. He didn’t know what it was or why it was funny and he didn’t care.
Because he was too caught up in her. The flush of red on her cheeks, the way her eyes twinkled as she found something funny. She had a small dimple in her right cheek that he’d never really noticed before.
Also, she had ridiculously long eyelashes. How had he not seen that either?
He prided himself on taking in everything.
“What is it?” she asked.
And he suddenly realized that she’d turned to look at him.
“What?”
“Is there food on my face?” she asked. “There is, isn’t there? How embarrassing. Or is there something in my teeth? I need to go to the bathroom.”
She attempted to free herself from the blanket, trying to stand. But Jared reached out and lifted her onto his lap, holding her tight so she was facing North.
“There’s just a bit of chocolate,” North told her in a weirdly husky voice. “Right here.”
Without thought, he used his finger to swipe at a piece of chocolate at the edge of her mouth.
