Page 51 (1/2)

She blinked, shocked he'd analyzed her so deeply, thoroughly and possibly correctly

"I'll prove it," he said

She stiffened, readying herself for another verbal attack "Go ahead"

"I love you"

She reared back

And sainst the wall in the process "Ouch" She rubbed the sore spot with her hand and glared at Ryan Her heart galloped in her chest, fear of everything Ryan represented rising faster than any other e inside her

He lived in Boston She lived in Ocean Isle and she couldn't bear being separated from her faeous miniskirts No way his fancy partners and their wives would e His preferred the other side of the law and the only person they'd accept on their own terms was Sam because she was blood Zoe had already been frozen out by everyone in that house except Ryan At thirty years old, she was too old and wise to change everything about herself for a man

And in the end, that's what Ryan would not only expect, but what he would need It's what he deserved, someone who could fit into the lifestyle he had in Boston

That someone wasn't her

She realized he'd covered her hand with his

He squeezed hard "Did you hear me, Zoe? I said I love you"

A tremor shook her body "You don't mean that"

"I most certainly do Because unlike you, I know " Equal measures of what seemed like satisfaction and disappointood one I was a Secret Service agent I protect people for a living I thrive on a challenge and on new experiences, so don't tell rin that see from me and from what I make you feel"

"That's ridiculous" She rolled her eyes

"You admitted that I threaten you and your lifestyle" He spoke too sly for her pride to handle

"That's true It's also true and completely like a man to say I love you and when the woman doesn't say it back, clai her next words, she clenched her jaw shut tight

"Go on Say it I dare you," he said, getting into her personal space He'd taunted her, but even in the face of his dare, she couldn't bring herself to hurt him hat she knew to be a lie

"You can't say it, can you?" he asked, his voice softening "You can't say, as opposed to ad the woman doesn't feel the same way about hiaze "It's okay"

To her dismay, her eyes filled with tears and she couldn't speak, not without falling apart

"You don't have to say 'I love you' back" He wiped the moisture from her face with his thumb "I can wait and do you want to knohy?"

She sed hard and nodded

"Because you're worth waiting for"

Chapter Thirteen