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And Killian stared at me with an open awe I’d never expected to see on his face He was so closed off, so good at hiding positive eht I felt my heart skip a beat at the naked warmth in his eyes

"Ithat makes sense" He sounded winded by the realization

The waitress appeared with our food, breaking our gazes

I felt a little off-balance, my skin flushed After the way he’d treated me at the label, I’d promised et that voas an apology and those dark eyeslike chocolate as he stared at me

I wanted Killian O’Dea

I couldn’t help myself

I was tethered to him somehow and I didn’t think I’d be able to cut myself loose so easily

"Skylar?"

I loved the way his deep, accented voice wrapped aroundto break the electric tension between us

He didn’t smile He appeared unsure before he said, "I didn’t just want to apologize for the way I treated you I wanted to reiterate soot a sinking feeling in my stomach and dropped the tomato I’d been about to shove in

"I won’t pretend when you confided in et you where you needed to be enuinely wanted to be that person"

I clearedit "I appreciate that"

Killian’s expression turned al "But II can’t be your friend any a line into territory that would only confuse things We can’t co to be stressful for you at first and you don’t need any extra pressure And I’ht about my uncle, but I still need to be the best My job is my passion and I can’t risk it Not" He broke off, looking away

Not for me

The few times I’d been vulnerable with Killian, I’d felt safe It had been a purging of e in it, and it had been like Killian was there to pull me to the surface

But this time I only felt naked and cold and alone

I needed hi career over whatever it was between us wasn’t a big deal I needed his on rateful that , my tone neutral "A lot is about to happen and I need to be focused"

He assessed ly unconcerned When I was about to throw the salt shaker at hi at me like a wounded animal, Killian nodded "Good"

How could it be so easy for him?

Was it only physical attraction for him? Was that why? Did he not feel the pull between us, like there was a cord that drew us together despite our resistance?

Was that all in my head?

I stabbed some salad with my fork, unable to look at him "So, what’s next?"

"Next?"

"With the album?"

"Well, how’s the wrist?"

"Not quite ready I tried playing and I was in pain for the rest of the day"

"I’m sorry to hear that" He sounded so for," I teased in an uppity voice

He gave ether a PR andwith them See hoe can find ways to handle the inevitable circus when the news of your return hits And then we can look at how to make sure, once the initial interest fades, that your publicity is career-focused We don’t want your personal life becoood if we avoided that"

"I’ll arrange the , then? You’re ready for that?"