Page 70 of Nefarious
“Not really. You touch me like I’m toxic. The last time I tried to kiss you, you seemed horrified.”
“You need proof?” She stood up and walked around the table, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his.
Dane was so shocked, he jerked his head back. “See? I don’t bite.”
“Maybe I want you to.”
Dane’s jaw dropped. What had gotten into her? “All you have to do is ask.”
“I’m asking.”
“For what exactly?”
“I’ve thought it over and decided maybe I’ll give you a chance. I’ll let you take me on a date if that’s what you still want.”
“You’llletme take you out?” He started to stand. “Excuse me if I say that’s not exactly the level of enthusiasm guys are hoping to hear.”
“What do you want me to say? That I promise to love you and cherish you from this day forward ‘til death do us part?” Noelle’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Seriously, Dane. I thought it would be nice to get a chance to know you better. I’m open to another date.”
Dane was so tempted to say yes. All he’d hoped for when he’d started this whole charade was a reversal of rejection. And here he had her wanting to date him for real. If he thought it could be that easy, he might have let go of everything else and accepted. But it would still be on her terms, and he wanted to break down her walls. He wanted her begging. “No. I don’t think so.”
“I don’t understand. You’ve done nothing but stalk me since I came here. You tricked me into going out with you.” Tears welled in her eyes, and Dane swallowed a feeling he didn’t usually entertain, one that felt like remorse. “I should be taking out a restraining order, but I thought there was more to you than your awkward attempts to ask me out. And now I’m saying yes. Why are you turning me down?”
“Look, Noelle. A part of me wants to take you up on your—whatever you call this. I want to take you out, get to know you better, wine you and dine you, and damn, I want to kiss you.” He wasn’t even lying. But he wanted to play to end game. He wanted her resistance to more than slip; he needed it to shatter.
Noelle sputtered out, “But—”
“You have no idea how hard this is, but I’m done chasing after you. I’m not a charity case. If the best you can do is capitulate to my desires, I’m afraid this relationship would have a very poor prognosis.”
“You’re being unreasonable. If you don’t think we need to get re-acquainted before jumping into something, then forget it.”
“Noelle, you don’t need to know me better to decide what you want. You already know me. And you know where to find me if you decide you’re interested in giving it an actual go.” He made a show of scanning the windows. Val would love to hear this conversation.
As he left, Noelle sat back against the table, unaware that she’d put one foot into a tangled web, and the spider surely watched from her window above.
From behind him, he thought he heard laughter. Or sobbing. He nearly turned around to find out, to drop to his knees, to tell her yes, whatever she wanted, but he was in the middle of a game with three potential outcomes, and he had no choice but to play.
Outcome one: Blitzkrieg.
He was confident he could seduce Noelle and have a delightfully torrid one-night affair and then end things. It was all he’d set out to do. The prize, besides the sex, would be the sweet taste of revenge, but he’d lose any chance of anything more with Noelle, the elusive outcome number two.
Outcome two: Sustained Occupation.
If there were any chance he could build a legitimate relationship with Noelle, he might set aside the long game he’d been playing with Val. But even if he did exactly what Noelle was asking, took his time, drew her out, gained her trust, he knew she’d eventually see through his deceptions, know him as the black-hearted villain he was. He’d just end up losing her the old-fashioned way. And he wasn’t about to give her a second opportunity to destroy his soul. Not when he had his eyes on another prize.
Outcome three: Scorched Earth
His sights had always been set on Val, and in order to gain her trust, he’d have to forget about any possibility with Noelle either in his bed or his life. He needed to drive Noelle so crazy that she’d say or do something foolish enough to put herself in jeopardy so Dane could deliver her on a platter. It was the only way to hook Val on the line—if Val actually honored the wager.
He hoped this would work or he’d be risking everything for nothing.
He ran his hands through his hair.
God, how he wished he could come up with a fourth scenario where he could win Val’s trust and keep Noelle. He was practical, however. Val would never consent to being the other woman. To take a shot at Val, his aim had to be true.
Sophie,
I’m sorry I haven’t been writing. Everything is fine. I just got busy with the internship and started to have a social life.
