Free Drunk Dial (Hard Core #1) (Hard Core Series) by Carly Michaels Page A

for this,” she claimed, turning toward the door. “I need to talk to my brother, then get out of here.”
    Before she could turn the knob, I wedged my body between her and the door. “That’s it, isn’t? The last guy cheated on you, and you think I will too?”
    “Don’t feel sorry for me,” she said, trying to side-step me.
    “Can you just give me a second?” I asked, feeling pathetic for having to work so hard. I raised my hands in supplication. “I won’t even touch you.” Though I was dying to use my mouth to convince her since I was sure pretty words would fail me.
    “Fine, say what you have to say so I can leave.”
    I knew if she really wanted to leave, she wouldn’t stay to hear me out. I took that as a promising sign. “The truth is my last relationship kind of messed me up.”
    She looked wary, her eyes raking over me. “You look fine to me. That chick you were banging the night you called me would probably agree.”
    “Maybe I’ve been doing what you do,” I said, testing her, hoping she wouldn’t retreat further. “Sticking to safe bets, people I know can’t hurt me.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She paced the small room. “And I really don’t have time for your psycho-babble bullshit. I’ve got real problems.”
    I wanted to hear more about those problems, but that would never happen until she believed she could trust me. “If I’m not too invested, it won’t bother me if she walks away.”
    The flash of light in her eyes when she looked at me told me she got it. She got me.
    “But seeing you walk away today did bother me, Lace. In fact, it bugged the shit out of me.” I stepped closer, daring her to let me. “That’s how I knew you weren’t a safe bet.” My breath was fanning her face, but I was keeping my promise. I wasn’t touching her. “You’re dangerous. You think the same of me.”
    She let out a ragged breath, shaking her head even though the truth was in her eyes. “No.”
    “You want me, and that scares you because it’s been a long time since you’ve wanted someone. I mean, really wanted them.” I knew exactly how she felt. Hell, I could read her mind right now because I was thinking the same thing she was. Bail or risk it?
    “No.” The word came out as a broken sob before she cleared her throat and shook her head furiously. I didn’t know if she was mad at me for backing her into a corner or at herself for showing some real emotion, but her vulnerability only made me want her more.
    “No you don’t feel it or… no you can’t take a chance on me?”
    “I can’t. I won’t.”
    She tried to be so strong all the time. I wondered if she ever let anyone in, aside from her brothers.
    “Then this is the end of the road for us?” I’d never felt such loss over something I’d never really had.
    “It has to be,” she said, looking as disappointed as I felt. “Maybe if we’d met some other time—”
    “Sssh.” I didn’t want to hear her excuses. If she couldn’t be with me, the reasons didn’t matter. “It’s okay. You don’t owe me an explanation. I mean, we barely got started, right? Hell, we haven’t even slept together.”
    But I knew that didn’t make what I felt for her any less real. I’d slept with some women dozens of times and felt nothing when I said good-bye to them. But with Lacy, it was different. She was different.
    “Good luck against Morales.” She tried to smile, but it never reached her eyes. “I’ll be watching you kick his ass.”
    Sure, she would—on the TV screen, from her comfortable sofa. Where her heart wasn’t at risk. Where I couldn’t touch her and she couldn’t touch me. Where it was safe.
    “Thanks.” I reached the door, and I felt her chest brushing my back. She may have just been anxious to leave, but I preferred to think she wanted the same thing I did. I turned and cradled her face, remembering my promise not to touch her. “One more kiss.”
    She responded by thrusting