Chapter 60

Something was off with him. The shot, though? Awesome. Color and light blended together through the canopy. Summer days at their best.

When she realized he hadn't responded, she rolled on her side to face him. Setting the camera down, she propped her head in her hand. Mere inches separated them as he looked down at her. After a moment, he sighed and glanced away, his expression revealing nothing.

"If you don't tell me what's on your mind, I'll start my own dialogue. I can choose some very interesting topics on your behalf." She brushed a wayward strand of hair from her cheek and lowered her tone to mimic his voice. "Amy, I'm thinking of dyeing my hair pink and getting a butterfly tattoo. What do you think?" She brought her voice higher. "Well, Nakos, where would you get this tattoo? Somewhere forbidden?"

His gaze cut to hers, dark and irritated, even though there was the slightest quirk of his lips as if he were amused. "I'd shave my head before dyeing it pink."

"Travesty," she gasped. "Don't you ever chop off that hair. It's beautiful." Shoulder-length raven strands, which he usually had in a low ponytail, and looked as soft as his heart.

And there was the intense stare again, boring through her. "Beautiful?"

"You want a more manly word? There isn't one. That thick mane of yours is nothing short of beautiful." Darn. She was supposed to be shutting up in regards to the compliments. He hadn't reacted well to them before. Or, more precisely, to her attention.

Eyes narrowed, he reached out and touched her hair resting on the grass, his gaze following the movement. A barely there caress with his fingertips like he was curious about the texture but scared for the result. Shocked, she tried to keep still.

His jaw clenched, and he lifted a few strands, rubbing the ends between his thumb and index finger. "Can I ask you a question?"

She felt the touch through her whole system as if her hair had mysteriously grown nerve endings. "You can ask me anything."

His long lashes fluttered as he met her gaze. Seductive, that. "Have you...thought about dating again? Are you ready to, I mean?"

The breath seeped from her lungs. Slowly, she sat up and crossed her legs, causing him to let go of her hair and drop his hand. "Is this a ploy to remarry me off and get me out of your house?"

Not so much as a blink. He held her gaze, trapping her, and she couldn't figure out what was going on. His expression was locked down tight, and he wasn't caving to offer a clue.

"I guess so," she said slowly, answering his initial question. "I'm not hung up on Chris or anything. But there's not exactly a line of guys waiting to step up to the plate."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

Why couldn't she breathe? "I wouldn't say no if Charlie Hunnam asked me to dinner."

"Who?"

"The actor from Sons of Anarchy." She shrugged when he merely stared. "Blond hottie with an accent and"

"I'm being serious right now and you're cracking jokes?"

She didn't like this entire conversation. Her Spidey sense was tingling, telling her to glue her mouth shut or bad things would happen. "I was being serious. If you saw him, you'd understand."

Growling, he dragged his hat off his head, tossed it next to her camera, and pressed his palms to his eyes. Long, long seconds ticked by. Cicadas buzzed and a whippoorwill cooed.

Finally, without looking at her, he mumbled, "Why can't you answer one question without turning it into a root canal?"

Growing irritated herselfand panickyshe shot to her feet, ready to bolt the second he backed her into a proverbial corner. And he would. The signs were all there. "Since when do you give a rat's ass about my sex life?"

He pulled his head away from his hands with such deliberation a chill shot up her spine. The glare he whipped her rendered her immobile. But when he lumbered to his feet, it numbed her to the bone.

"Just what in the hell do you mean by that?" His low, carefully controlled tone sliced like a blade.

Dang it. She should've just lied and said no. No, she wasn't ready to date again, and no, she didn't have anyone in mind. But she had a hard time not being truthful with him and a diversion had seemed the best course. Now what?

"Not once have you shown any interest, Nakos. Not who I spend time with, date, take to bed, or marry."

"Oh hell no, you didn't go there." Nostrils flaring, he vibrated where he stood. Muscles rippled and tendons straineda panther ready to strike prey. "I"

"Don't deny it." Yes. Anger was so much better than vulnerability. She let it boil in her bloodstream. "Name one instance, in our entire friendship, where you gave an opinion. You stood right in front of me on the dance floor last night and told me I'd hurt you by not having you at my wedding. But you didn't speak up about your contempt for Chris before or after we got married." Though it had been obvious, that was beside the point. "So explain to me how your sudden interest now isn't supposed to confuse me."

The color drained from his face, and he reeled. "Ames..." He swiped his brow and looked away. Distress etched across his features, in his posture. "I didn't..." He sighed. "You're right. It wasn't my place to say anything and I didn't. That doesn't mean..." He closed his eyes, hung his head. "Doesn't mean I didn't care."

Deflating, she let out the breath she'd been holding. "I know you care. It's this conversation I don't get."

He gazed at the horizon, but his glazed expression told her he wasn't seeing anything but the inside of his own head. Contemplation knitted his brows. "You've been different." His voice was so quiet she had to strain to hear him. He looked at her, concern and something else she couldn't place in the dark depths. "You've not been the same since the day he hurt you. Neither have I. Something got...shifted between us."

He strode closer and stopped mere inches from her, a pleading in his eyes. "Are you attracted to me?"

On a dime, her throat closed. Most likely, it was a defensive response because even her body knew answering was stupid.

His eyes darted back and forth between hers. Searching. Seeking. Imploring. "Out of nowhere, you started saying things to me you never have before and..." He grabbed the back of his neck. "I don't know what to think."

Ah. There was the root of the issue. Her comments about his body and light flirtation had disrupted his carefully construed view of their dynamic. He wanted a handle on her motives so he could deal with it. So he could make it end.

Rejection tore at her insides, regardless of how many instances she'd been dismissed in her life. Strange how it still hurt. Every. Time. "I'll stop doing it. I'm sorry. You obviously hate the attention from me."

"I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth."

"You didn't have to. Your repulsion and uncomfortableness are apparent." She straightened. "Don't look at me like that. You know you were thinking it."

"I was?" He shook his head like he was baffled, then he blinked in clarity. "Knock it off. You're doing the Amy juju again and trying to derail me." He stepped flush against her and dipped to look in her eyes. "I want an answer and I want the truth. Are you attracted to me?"

"I already promised to stop"

"Are you attracted to me?"

"Nakos, drop it. This is ridiculous. It doesn't matter what I feel. You don't have to worry about your delicate sensibilities and"

"Quit avoiding." He grabbed her shoulders. "Are. You. Attracted. To. Me?"

She clamped her mouth shut. Hard. How, she hadn't a clue. But as her respirations flew into the triple digits and she trembled from the urge to escape one more epic pain she'd never recover from, he got his answer without her speaking a syllable.

A barely perceptible shake of his head, and he'd read her loud and clear. One by one, his fingers retracted from her shoulders and he stepped back. Arms splayed at his sides in shocked surrender, he stared at her. Lost. Bewildered. Dazed.

Teutonic plates shifted and the earth rotated the sun in the amount of time he attempted to get a grip. He tore his eyes away, gaze darting to the ground like he couldn't believe he was still standing. It would've broken her had she not known this would've been his response all along. Once, just once, could fate be on her side? Luck? Something, at least?

If she didn't play this moment off as nothing, didn't show him it was no big deal, she was going to lose him. She knew it as adamantly as she understood she'd never get her feelings reciprocated.

And because she was a total idiot, she said the first thing that came to mind. "Welcome to season three of my life. The writers are instilling outrageous antics just to keep it interesting." Please, God, keep him in the script. "A demon will be riding a unicorn next episode if you want to tune in."

His gaze whipped to hers with a what-the-hell. Once he appeared to digest her statement, his hands fisted and he held them to his forehead in a display of utter helplessness. He closed his eyes. Breathed heavily. Groaned.

"Nakos, I"

One second he was a few feet away and the next he was pressed against her. He cupped the sides of her head with both hands, his jaw set in determination. With the distance evaporated, they shared air. Brushed noses. Blasted heat.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, heart pounding. Because his gaze was darting between her mouth and her eyes like he might...

"Getting you to shut up so I can think."

Oh. "Is it working?"

"No." His throat formed a swallow. "I'm trying hard to get myself together to do the right thing, but I have no idea what that is at the moment."

Heat wove through her bloodstream and her head swam like she'd slammed ten shots of whiskey in the same amount of time. She was probably dreaming anyway. In reality, Nakos wouldn't be holding her, emanating sexual waves of frustration, and giving off want-to-kiss-her vibes.

Carefully, to not spook the beast, she set her hands on his waist. "If it makes things any clearer for you, about every other day I feel like I've got my life under control and headed in the right direction. Then, I pat myself on the back and say, that was a really great two minute effort."

He muttered something in his native tongue and...well, he did shut her up, after all.

With his lips.