She felt her brows fall inward with a frown. “What?”
When Lucky didn’t continue, her belly filled with a sudden rush of uncertainty.
“Is it me?” Becausethatdidn’t sound pathetic in the least. “It’s okay, if that’s it. I just thought…“Ellie licked her lipsnervously before beginning again. “The way you always flirted with me, and then kissing me just now…I guess I just thought that…”Words, Ellie. Use your freaking words.“I thought you wanted this.” Her throat worked with a hard swallow. “I thought you wanted…me.”
A flash of anger filled those gorgeous eyes half-a-second before Lucky slammed his lips to hers. When the breath-stealing kiss was over, and she could feel Lucky easing back once more, Ellie found herself even more confused than before.
But then—
“I want you, sweetheart.” A panted, almost growled confession. “I have since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
He had?
“You have?”
“More than any other woman I’ve ever known.” He confirmed this with a solemn nod.
The confession left her blinking and her eyes growing wide. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Would you have believed me if I had?” It was his turn to studyherclosely, that intense stare boring deep into her own.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Come on, El.” One corner of his mouth lifted with a knowing smirk. “I know what everyone thinks about me.”
“Do you?”
Those pretty blue eyes rolled with a sarcastic huff. “Of course, I do. Everyone thinks I’m this big player. A total ladies’ man who’s already slept his way through half of Seattle.”
“Are you saying the rumors aren’t true?”
“No.” There was a slight bite in his defensive tone. “They’renotfucking true. Yes, I go on dates, and yeah…I like to dance and have a good time, but…” Lucky took in another deep breath before huffing it out in one big rush. “Just because I take awoman out for dinner and a couple of hours of dancing doesn’t mean I automatically invite them into my bed.”
The stark truth in his words was there, staring straight into her eyes.
“If you’re not a player, then why do you let everyone think that you are?”
Why let me think that about you?
Looking slightly chagrined, the man still holding her body between his and the wall shrugged. “It’s easier than revealing the truth.”
“And what truth would that be?”
Lucky’s dark brows bunched together as the mouth she could still taste lifted into a sideways grin. “You sure you’re a lawyer and not a shrink?”
Ellie’s soft chuckle filled the air around them. “You’d be surprised how closely related the two can be.”
She couldn’t count the number of times she’d been a sounding board for her clients. But Lucky wasn’t a client. He was the man who’d willingly volunteered to protect her. An honest to goodness hero who’d risked his life for his country. For Nat and Cassie.
Now he’s doing the same for you.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” she prodded him a moment later. Resting the palms of her hands on his well-defined chest, Ellie asked again, “What is it you’re hiding from the world?”
What are you hiding from me?
“What Logan and Natalie have,” Lucky began. “And Archer and Cass…” His swallow was audible. “There’s a big part of me that wants that, too, but—”
“But what?” Her heart pounded hard inside her chest.