Tempting Love (Cowboys & Angels 3)

He nodded. “Sure.”

It was clear Mitchell was still hurt about the whole Lane comment. If we were going to be living together for a few weeks, I needed to play nice. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I was trying to hurt you, and I think I went a little far.”

Not bothering to look at me, Mitchell replied, “Not sure what you’re talking about. Everything’s fine.”

Sitting next to him, I let out a sigh. “I’m talking about when I wondered out loud if Lane was a dirty talker.”

He tossed the ice on the coffee table. “No worries. If you want to date a douche like him, have at it. Who am I to stop you, right?”

“How can you call him a douche when you had a one-night stand with me and never even called me again? It took you months to even look at me, Mitch!”

“That’s different. I care about you.”

I laughed. “You care about me? Well, if this is you caring about me, I think I’ll pass. I’d hate to see what you loving me would be like.”

His whole body slumped, and I wished I could take back my last comment. This was never going to work. I was fooling myself.

Again.

Mitchell stared at me for the longest time. He opened his mouth twice to speak, then shut it.

I stood and gazed down at him. “This isn’t going to work. Us living together like this. I’ll start looking for a place tomorrow.”

Not saying a word, he got up and walked back into his place.

I followed him, my hands shaking as I grew angrier by the second. “That’s it? You’re going to let me move out?”

Mitchell reached for his keys, then turned to me. “I can’t force you to stay here, Corina. If you’re unhappy, then yes, you should leave. Do I want you to? No, I don’t. I know I fucked up, but if you’re going to throw it in my face every goddamn chance you get, then you’re right, this won’t work.”

He headed to the stairs that led down to his front door. My heart raced, and I knew I couldn’t leave it like this. Closing my eyes, I called out to him. “Mitch! You never asked me to the Pecan Street Honky Tonk.”

Stopping, he looked back up at me. “What?”

I swallowed hard and took in a quick breath. “The dance, you never asked me. And well, Lane asked me.”

Sadness swept over his face. “What did you tell him?”

Wringing my hands together, I answered, “I haven’t responded…yet. I was waiting for you.”

Mitchell rushed back up the steps and stopped in front of me. I don’t think I’d ever felt my stomach dip like it did when he raced toward me. He cupped my face and leaned in. My chest rose and fell with each breath as I waited for him to speak. His touch sent a flurry of butterflies through my chest.

“Corina, will you go with me to the street dance next weekend?”

My teeth sank into my lip, and I watched as his eyes filled with lust.

“Yes.” I smiled and added, “But only as friends.”

The corner of his mouth rose into a sexy smirk. God, how I loved that smile of his. “It’s a date, then.”

“As friends,” I added.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Before I could even process his lips, they were gone and he was stepping back. “I’ll take it. For now.”

Turning on the heel of his boot, he headed down the steps. Once I heard the door shut, my fingers slid across my tingling lips, and I couldn’t help the huge smile that formed.

I flopped down on the sofa and dropped my head back as I stared up at the ceiling. My emotions were everywhere. I was still angry at Mitchell, but I could feel the wall slowly beginning to fall. Milo jumped up next to me and meowed.

“Shut up. I know I said I was mad at him and I am.”

Milo added more to the conversation with one of his bark meows.

Lifting my head, I stared at him. “Keep your thoughts to yourself, buddy. I know what I’m doing. I think. Besides, you’re a traitor.”

Milo tilted his head and stared at me with his blue eyes. “That’s right. I saw you rubbing all up against his leg.”

He looked away.

“And the guilty shall prove they are guilty by avoiding eye contact!”

When he jumped off the sofa, I let out a chuckle. Goodness, I’m talking to my cat.

My cell rang, and I quickly ran into the guest room to get my phone.

“H-hello?”

“Please tell me you’re out of breath because you and my brother got your shit figured out and did the dirty deed…again.”

Laughing, I shook my head and laid back on the bed. “Nope, sorry to disappoint you, Waylynn. I’m still angry with him.”