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I finished squeezing the grapefruit and turned to hi with him to understand “Yes, because of the scar You have no idea what it means to me that you’re not bothered by it, but everyone else is It’s easier, formade a freak shohenever I leave the house”

He said nothing for a long tie of disappointment that he hadn’t immediately jumped to tell me I wasn’t a freak show, I appreciated that he didn’t lie just to make me feel better “People are assholes”

I grinned and reached for the ri salt “Yes, they are Now you know h I’et her way more, it’s just easier this way” And cowardly, but sometimes you just had to be a coward

“I want to take you out again, Jana You’re beautiful and I want to show you a good time”

“You have been showingabout in the bedroorinned, suddenly distracted by all the deliciously wicked sex I’d been having with the handsoood time I don’t need fancy restaurants and I certainly don’t need to be pointed at and whispered about?

?

“So the assholes win?”

“No, I do They point and stare and then they get bored, but I don’t forget their words so easily It’s not easy to finish a meal after that” Or sleep, or eat for the next few days “I’m sorry that’s not what you want to hear”

The constant chopping had stopped and he let out a long, frustrated sigh “It’s just, hell Jana, you deserve more than this”

“Thanks, Max It means a lot to hear you say that” It did No one in ood Certainly not Robert Sanborn, who thought I deserved whatever he wanted to give toeven more “Are we done with this topic?”

“For now”

I finisheddead in ht before one to reveal a tight gray tee that gave his eyes a lint that I found endlessly sexy Each time heout as he stirred vegetables, brows dipped low as he carefully seasoned two thick filets of white fish “I’ve never watched a man cook before It’s kind of erotic”

He froze, just his head swiveled to aze “Dirty hands and raw fish turn you on?”

I lickedyour bodyme on Cocktail?”

He nodded, a dark sexy twinkle lit his gaze as I walked the icy drink over to him “Dirty hands,” he said when I handed him the drink