Tell Me You Need Me (Search and Seduce 1)

But he’d given a reason anyway. And it was just like him not to come down on her for making a mistake. Instead, he’d put the blame on himself.

He also said he’d see her soon, which probably meant the anniversary event. In the meantime she had to…trust him.

Natalie whistled and raised her eyebrows. “I know you’re new to this whole dating thing, but trust me, acts of kindness are a good thing.”

She shook her head. “That’s just it. He’s being kind when I should be the one apologizing.”

“Whoa.” Natalie held out her hands. “You mean you’re admitting you’re wrong?”

“No,” Chloe said quickly. “I mean it’s not a matter of right or wrong. I just…don’t want to like him.” She meant it. This need to see him, to want to be around him, this constant wondering what he was doing, it was taking over her mind. She was practically obsessed.

Not good.

“It’s a vulnerable place to be. Wanting someone and hoping they want you back.”

Natalie glanced away, and a flash of sadness crossed her face. But she blinked a few times then plastered on her trademark sunshine smile. “But Gage clearly wants you back so what are you worried about?”

“Because I know him.” Gage’s need for change, for adventure… He was a flight risk, and she knew better.

She glanced at the flowers again. Maybe he could stay—better, maybe he’d want to. Maybe he really did want more with her, and maybe she could make it work with him.

Maybe…

“I need to focus on getting ready for the event,” Chloe said.

“Ah yes, why acknowledge this when you could avoid it instead?” Natalie answered.

“What do you mean?”

“You have a man in front of you, Chloe. He’s trying to make this work. And you’re shutting it down.”

Chloe shook her head. “I have a good reason.” By age six, she’d stopped counting how many times her dad had taken off. She’d stopped keeping track of her mother’s tears and bouts of depression by age nine. It had come as no surprise that final time her dad left and never came back, or that her mom never stopped waiting for him.

Now, as an adult, there was an emptiness in Chloe that still wouldn’t go away. She wasn’t worth sticking around for, and she didn’t want another reminder. Not with Gage. To love someone and lose them was a special kind of torture.

Not that she was in love with him…

“You may have a good reason, but Gage has nothing to do with those reasons. He’s not your dad, but you’re making him pay for those mistakes.”

Oh crap. Natalie had a point.

“Maybe it’s time you try a different tactic. Otherwise you may lose out on something worth keeping.”

Chloe closed her eyes. If that didn’t seal the fear in her heart, nothing would.

Maybe…

It was terrifying how a single word gave her hope and fear all at once. The last thing she wanted to risk losing was Gage.

“I need to focus on the event,” she finally said and walked back to the kitchen. But she didn’t make it. She turned around and bolted back to the counter, fishing her cell phone out of her pocket.

“What are you doing?” Natalie asked.

“I have to talk to Gage.” She dialed his number and held the ringing phone to her ear. She had to tell him she cared. Had to say…something. Anything. Because for once, she’d try feeling her emotions instead of hiding from them.

“Hey,” Gage answered quickly.

“Hi. Listen, I got the flowers and was wondering if maybe—”