She was proud of the calm façade she was able to maintain. Because the truth was that hedidhave something to do with her leaving. She’d wanted him for so long but had convinced herself that there was no way a poor girl from Landreaux could ever be with one of the richest guys in town. Then, three years ago, on a night that she still dreamed about all too often, it had all changed. She’d fulfilled her longtime fantasy. And after just that one taste, she knew it would never be enough.
Paxton also knew she would never find someone living here in Gauthier who made her feel what Sawyer had made her feel that night. She’d left for Little Rock hoping to find his replacement out there somewhere.
It had been a fool’s mission. There was no one else who could replace him.
But, then again, after what she’d learned over the past few days, it was possible that finding a replacement was unnecessary. If Shayla was to be believed, the real thing had wanted her all along.
“I have a question for you,” Paxton said. “I was talking to Shayla yesterday and she mentioned that time in high school when she tutored you in math.”
“Okay,” Sawyer said.
“She pointed out something that I hadn’t really considered back then.” She backed herself up to the support beam opposite his and leaned against it. “You were one of the best students in our class. You didn’t really need tutoring.”
He slowly shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”
“So, why were you getting tutored?”
His focused gaze remained on her. “I’m going to let you figure that one out on your own,” he said. “Because, if I remember correctly, you were pretty sharp yourself.”
Shock coursed down her spine as her mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me? You really came to the animal shelter to see me?”
“What do you think?”
“But…why?” she asked.
“Why?It isn’t that hard to figure out.”
Her eyes widened even more. They grew so wide that Paxton was afraid she wouldn’t be able to close them again.
“That’s just crazy,” she said.
“Why is it so hard to believe that I had a thing for you back in high school?”
“Because it is,” she said. “Girls threw themselves at you left and right. Prettier girls. More popular girls. Girls who were known to put out. Why would you have wanted to date me back then?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said with a casual shrug, but his voice belied the nonchalant body language. “You were smart, cute, tough. You didn’t just fall in line with what everyone else did. You actually had a mind of your own, and you weren’t afraid to use it, no matter what other people thought about you.”
“And you found that…attractive?”
“Extremely attractive,” he said. “I still do.”
She sucked in the deepest breath possible. “Don’t say that.”
“Why?” He pushed away from the beam and started toward her, his slow and steady stride like a panther’s stalking its prey. He stopped mere inches from her, his hard chest incredibly close to hers.
The image of how it looked naked, shimmering with sweat, ripped with muscles, flashed before her eyes. That image was imprinted on her brain, a sexy, sensual reminder of her one unforgettable night with him.
Paxton’s eyes shut as a tidal wave of want crashed through her.
“Tell me, Pax,” he whispered. His warm breath fluttered against her skin. “Why don’t you want to hear how much I want you?”
“Because…” she managed to say past the lust wedged in her throat.
“Is it because it makes you think about how much you want me?” He leaned in closer, his lips a hairbreadth from hers. “Tell me you want me. Admit it.”
She shook her head. In a desperate whisper, she said, “I don’t want to fall for you, Sawyer.”
His deep chuckle reverberated against her skin.
