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Jase droppedand then opened the door He h calluses on his palhs I shivered in spite of the heat, and ripping o of rip

His shoulders shook with a laugh, and then the front of my body slid down his Air halted in my throat at the unexpected frisson Awareness shimmered over certain parts in ered on o," he said, his voice deeper than before as he dropped his hands "You can cli the hair out of my face, I took a deep breath "I’m not an invalid"

"I didn’t say you were"

"I can walk, you know, and climb into Jeeps"

He picked upit in the backseat "I’m sure you can"

When he raised an eyebrow, I realized that he was literally going to stand there until I got into the car Sighing, I turned and clirin, closed the door, and then loped around the front

He started the Jeep and war the hair around ray when they landed on ive you a ride?"

Seeing that all the humor had disappeared, I squirive lasses froainst his seat Locks of hair fell forward, brushing the riood in sunglasses

Even though his eyes were shielded, there was no escaping his stare No one looked at you like Jase Winstead did It was like he was seeing right through ht? I was pretty inebriated Shit, I don’t re from the moment I stepped into your dor?"

He shook his head "So God only knohat I said and did, and I et in this Jeep with h I knew beyond a doubt that he’d been drunk--­drunk enough to have no recollection of telling me that I was a reason for why he’d visited Cam so much or our little interlude on the floor It took a lot for me not to blast him over that, but what point would it serve? He’d been sloshed, and I had been the one ent out to meet him and then let him in my dorm All this was temporary, and I couldn’t let this make an already crappy situation worse

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly "You didn’t do or say anything to make me mad"

He didn’t respond for a moment "But I slept on your floor and you slept on the couch?"

"Yeahuh, you sort of fell down and stayed there" I shrugged a shoulder "I fell asleep on the couch"

"Nice" He coughed out a short laugh Several seconds passed, and I considered ht?"

My heart sunk in spite of my convictions on the state of hiive friends rides, right?"

I nodded, knohere this conversation was heading

"So what’s the big deal?"

Looking away, I blew out a long breath Spending any amount of time in his presence didn’t help my determination to put an end to this stupid crush, but there was another reason "I don’t want ­people thinking" Picking at the hes I can’t do right now--­dance, work out, run, or even jog at a sedate pace I can walk That’s about all I can do"

I kind of felt stupid after saying that and I doubted he’d understand how hard it was fora sloth And not even the cute baby sloths

"Ah, here I was thinking you were secretly hoping I’d pick you up" He switched gears into reverse

I laughed "Sorry to disappoint you"

"You’d never be a disappoint over his shoulder as he backed up, he smiled, and I wondered if he could see the wayIt’s hard when you’re used to doing so to you"

"It is" I tugged on the string dangling offYou know? The energy It’s cal any sense "And I don’t have that anyrip on the steering wheel He was quiet as he navigated the parking lot "You know there are other things you could do"

Like sex? I bet that was relaxing when it was all said and done

"You know one of theno idea that "

I blinked "Ah"

He grinned "There really isn’t anything like it I’ when you’re dancing?"

"Yeah," I whispered, sort of stunned I missed that most of all

He nodded "That’s how it feels to be on top of a horse You should try it I think you’d love it"

I shifted, having no idea what to say to that Was it an invitation to his parents’ far in a saddle was tanta chicken with a pissed-­off T rex tothe subject before I could answer "I’ot to have better food than the dining hall"