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I sit tight, aware of the excited nerves going throughat you too," he says, just as soft

My eyes flick up to his "Because I’m real with you?"

His mouth curves and his eyes quietly prole "I would’ve been different if I’d knoho you were," I warn

"That’s a shahtful and slowly crosses his ar, actually"

"Why?"

"Because I like the girl I met on the terrace The one who danced for me and seduced irl I’h fills the silence "Why?"

"I hear things"

"Like what?"

"You’re this player I didn’t knoas sleeping with someone who hadso much experience And you’re nificant rise of his brows "And so I’ve played the field allserious You said yourself, neither were you Not untilas it?"

"Twenty-eight"

He grins "Twenty-eight"

"But see, the point is, I have to uy like you wouldn’t go by without leavingthe way"

"Hoould you know?"

"Because you already did Last night"

His jaw tenses visibly and his eyes flash with pain by my admission He raises his arm as he looks at me with tenderness, and then he slowly lowers his hand, as if opting not to touch me "I’m sorry," he says

"Callan!" someone calls from inside

The lines of concentration deepen around his eyes and lances at the door "I better go"

I nod

A glint of hesitation appears in his eyes as he rises to his feet "Are you still up for sightseeing?"