Page 159 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

She turns her head, “Okay.”

“What if you moved in with me?”

Her smile disappears. “What?”

“Move in with me.”

She searches my face. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. You’re already here most of the time anyway.”

She swallows. “Michael—“

“You’re alone in that house,” I say, cutting her off before she can say more. “And after everything that’s happened—“

I stop. I don’t finish it for her.

“Go on,” she says, quieter now, biting at her cheek.

I lean in just enough that she has to look at me.

“Let me take care of you.”

“But my job. When school starts, that’s a pretty far drive.”

“I know.” I exhale slowly. “I wanted to talk about that too.”

Her brow tightens. She already knows she’s not going to like what I say next.

“What did you tell me your dream was?”

“Michael—“

“No.” My hand comes up, guiding her face back to me when she tries to look away. “Say it.”

She presses her lips together but gives in. “I want to be an artist.”

“Then be one.”

“I can’t just quit.”

“Why not?”

She lets out a sharp breath. “Because I live in the real world. Because I don’t have the luxury of just deciding I want something and getting it.”

“You do now.”

Her eyes snap to mine.

“Michael, we’ve known each other a month. This is insane.”

“Is it?” I ask calmly.

She shakes her head. “This isn’t normal.”

“Why does it have to be normal?”

She doesn’t say anything, just crosses her arms and looks back out at the pond. I watch her profile, the tight line of her jaw and the way she holds herself there. She’s gorgeous, smart, and insanely stubborn, and I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more than to take care of her.