He moves toward me, and I find myself taking a step back. Rationally, I know he’s no predator. He’s a lawyer, for heaven’s sake.
But he did sneak into my closed rehearsal to watch me dance, and now we’re completely alone, and…
He needs to leave.
Clearing my throat, I attempt a firm tone and tell him, “I believe we concluded our business yesterday, and I really have to be getting home to my daughter, so if you’ll excuse me…”
He doesn’t stop moving toward me, and I don’t stop retreating.
“This is very inappropriate,” I tell him as I’m forced to continue backing up.
His lips tug up in a smirk, amusement sparking in his dark eyes. They’re the color of the ocean at night. “You use that word a lot.”
“Only when I’m around you.”
His gaze rakes over me. “Turquoise today, huh? I like it.”
“Why are you stalking me?” I demand since he’s still advancing on me.
“Why are you letting me?” he returns, cocking an eyebrow.
I’m right up against the stage now. I can’t retreat any farther, so I stop, jutting my chin up and meeting his gaze. “I’m not letting you. I just can’t seem to stop you.”
He stops too, but he’s right on top of me. Far too close. His nearness makes my heart hammer in my chest.
“I think I’m beginning to understand why your neighbor loves tormenting you,” he states.
Narrowing my eyes, I say, “You would sympathize with theassholein this scenario.”
He smiles at my insult as though he finds me adorable. “I didn’t say I sympathized with him, just that I understood. There’s a difference between empathy and sympathy.”
“I’m aware of that,” I mutter.
“I want to take you out for a drink,” he states.
“While Iempathizewith you wanting that,” I tell him, lightly mocking, “I am not going anywhere with you, least of all for a drink.”
“Why are you so determined not to go out with me?”
“Has it occurred to you that maybe I just don’t like you?”
“No,” he says plainly.
I roll my eyes in disgust.
“I know you’re attracted to me. I make you nervous.”
“Do you think every woman you make nervous must be attracted to you? Because I’m afraid I have some bad news…”
“I don’t ordinarily spend time with women I make nervous. I’m making an exception for you.”
“How delightful for me.”
He grins. “Isn’t it? Now, are you going home to change first, or do you want to just wear your little scarves to the bar? We can make it a tradition.”
I shake my head. Since he isn’t advancing on me anymore, I brush past him and walk quickly toward the exit. “I already told you, the answer is no. It’s still no. It will always be no. I also told you my daughter is waiting on me to start dinner, so why you think there’s even achanceI’ll go out with you right now—”
“Tell her something came up. I’ll order her a pizza,” he offers.