Nice Until Proven Naughty

Ben walks into my house, tosses his coat to the back of the couch, and doesn’t waste a second getting down to business. “The other night you mentioned being ready for love and having big plans. Those plans didn’t involve me, did they?”

“Of course they did,” I admonish. “Why do you think I was parading around in that fancy dress and those horrid heels?”

His eyes widen. “You did that for me?”

“Yes, you big dummy.”

“Dani.” Ben reaches for me, but I push his hand away.

“No, don’t,” I tell him. “I get it. I screwed things up and lost my chance with you, and—”

“No, you didn’t.”

My entire world stops, along with my heart and my breathing, and I hope Ben knows CPR because I think I just died. “I didn’t?”

He shakes his head, a sweet smile tilting his lips. This time when he reaches for me, I let him take hold of my hand and pull me in close.

“You mean you didn’t hit it off with Lesley? You aren’t going to fall in love with her and get married and have—”

He pushes a finger against my lips, shutting me up. “No. Heck no. I’m crazy about you, Dani. I thought I made myself pretty clear about that last Christmas when I told you I wanted us to be more.”

“You did. But then I screwed it up, and you sort of stopped looking at me the way you used to.”

“How did I used to look at you?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I just remember that every time you looked at me, I felt all warm and gooey. I could always tell by the look in your eyes that you loved me.”

“Nothing has changed. I still look at you like that; I just try to hide it when you’re around.”

“Why?”

“Why did you rush out of the party tonight?” he asks, changing the subject. “I thought you were having fun.”

“You want the truth?”

“You’ve never lied to me before. Don’t start now.”

I wring my hands together. “Actually, I have lied to you.”

His back stiffens. “When?”

“Last year when you gave me the card and asked me out. I told you I didn’t think it was a good idea.”

“You mean you wanted to say yes?”

I nod. “I also lied when I told you it was risky to mix business with pleasure. What was risky is the way I played with both of our emotions.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Then I told you the biggest lie of all.”

Ben’s eyes go round. He tightens his grip on my hand. “Tell me.”

“I told you we were better off as friends.” Tears spring to my eyes. “We’re not,” I whisper. “I didn’t feel that way then, and I don’t feel that way now.”

This is the moment where he’s supposed to pull me into his arms and kiss the hell out of me. Why isn’t that happening?

“If you felt that way, why did you push me away?”

“I was scared.”

“Of me? Because I would never hurt you.”