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“Not what you need? It was a mistake?”
He nodded. “It was. And I’m so sorry. Can we please just forget it happened? I came here to put on new locks so you are safer and to check on you after the late night you had. My family owes you a debt—”
“No, you don’t,” she interrupted.
“Pardon?”
“You don’t owe me a debt. I didn’t do anything. And I think you should leave.”
He didn’t want to leave things like this. Not with her looking at him like he’d slapped her. “You went running into a dangerous situation to help my sister. Anything could have happened to you. Many people would have stayed hidden or left to get help but you didn’t.” He gave her a stern frown. “Of course, if that situation ever happens again, that is exactly what you should do.”
“You would expect me to leave your sister there on her own with those assholes?” she asked.
An uncomfortable feeling filled him. The thought of anything happening to Eden made him nauseous. But he also had this growing protectiveness towards the woman sitting as far away from him as she could on the couch.
“It won’t happen to Eden again.”
“I hope not,” she said quietly.
“It won’t,” he repeated firmly. “Sanctuary takes care of its own. Eden is going to find herself much more closely watched.” He knew Clint was already beating himself up for not taking a firmer stance with their sister. They tended to indulge her where they could. She’d been through so much in her short life and she was the baby of the family.
“Okay, well, you don’t owe me a debt. Or if you did it’s been paid with the new locks on my doors. So, you can leave now.”
He didn’t want to go.
It was ridiculous. He’d just pushed her away. He should be taking the out she gave him and going.
“Abby, it’s not what you think,” he told her gently. “It was a slip of the tongue. We’re just not well-matched.”
“That’s one way to put it,” she said stiffly. “I get it. A mistake. I’m tired.”
Except it hadn’t felt like a mistake. Not the kiss. Not even calling himself Daddy. An uncomfortable feeling filled him. Why had the kiss felt so intense? Was it just chemistry? Or more?
Was he making a mistake?
He studied her. The cutesy pajamas she wore. He remembered the stuffed toy she’d been hugging when he woke her earlier.
To take things further wasn’t fair to her. Not when what she needed wasn’t him.
“Abby, how many men have you kissed?” he asked.
She stiffened even further. “None of your business.”
He sighed. “I’m betting it’s not many.”
“Sorry if I wasn’t any good.”
“No, that wasn’t what I meant,” he said, his frustration building.
She stood up. “I really want you to go now.”
He stood as well. He couldn’t insist on staying when she asked him to go. Well, demanded that he go.
“I don’t want to leave things with you like this. I’m not saying that your needs are wrong just that they’re not for me. I’m not even sure why I—”
“I get it.” She stomped her way towards the door. Her ass jiggled slightly. He’d always been an ass man. And quite frankly, hers was magnificent.
He was aware of his erection pressing painfully against his jeans as he stared after her. She opened the door. “Leave, please.”
