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it will make you happy, I’ll do it. And I promise not to complain about how long you’re taking to decide over which of the exact same thing you should buy. I’ll even – ”  
    She shuddered. Being in his arms with his low voice in her ear made her achy and needy all over. Her own attraction was riding her hard as Nate stopped talking suddenly and loosened his hold. Though she was still in the circle of his arms, she felt like he’d just run the few yards back to where they’d started. Confused, she turned to face him.  
    “I – Sorry. I’ll eventually figure out when to back the hell off,” he muttered. He looked – contrite – and more than a little – uncertain? For such an outspoken man to wear such an expression confounded her.  
    What the – ? “I – You don’t have to – ” Her face practically burst into flames as she looked up at him. She realized she was just about to tell him he didn’t have to back off. Only minutes ago, she’d been giving him heck for allowing his desire to show. What the hell was she doing?  
    “Oh God. I am all over the place,” she groaned. “I – I’m the one who should be sorry. ‘Slow down.’ Don’t slow down.’ ‘Chase me.’ ‘Don’t let me see how much you want me.’ ‘Want me.’ I seriously need to make up my freaking mind. Suffice it to say, I’m – What?”  
    Nate was coughing and spluttering all of a sudden. Now he was looking – shocked. Alicia replayed everything she’d just said in her mind and realized exactly how much she’d revealed. Mortified, she looked everywhere but up into his face. If not for the fact he was so close, she would have hugged herself.  
    He probably thinks you’re a complete nut bar, she thought, scowling down at the sand.  
    Unexpectedly, he took her face in his hands and turned it upward so she was forced to look at him. He looked – relieved? Before she could comment, he planted a sweet and not completely unsexy kiss on her forehead. He might have even whispered “Thank you” but she was too surprised by the kiss.  
    Then there was the fact she was suddenly finding it difficult to fully comprehend anything beyond the fact he was oh-so-gently touching her. Alicia wanted nothing more than to have him bring the kiss he’d just given her down south toward her mouth. The desire was so strong, she very nearly tilted her face up further. Thankfully, logic took over before she made a complete ass of herself.  
    No you don’t, her subconscious told her. It went on to nag her about falling for strangers and having her heart broken when the week was up. Alicia tried to quell the voice with no success. With a reluctant sigh, she stepped back.  
    “The voice of reason prevails?” he asked, catching her by surprise again.  
    “Are you sure you’re not a mind reader?” she asked, scowling.  
    “Nope. Simply intuitive. On occasion, that is,” he answered, turning toward the boardwalk. He took her hand and they started walking as he continued. “I’ve been doubting my abilities more often than not lately. It’s a big, messy story which I’m not in the mood to rehash right now, So I’ll just guess at what is going through your mind and you’ll tell me if I’m right.”  
    Alicia waited to hear what Nate would say, wondering at the “big, messy story”. She suspected a break-up, possibly even one which fell into the “nasty” range. Her subconscious screamed at her to say her goodbyes. The last thing she needed was to end up being a rebound fling.  
    But you won’t be his any-kind of fling if you keep your distance, the voice of logic, firmly trapped in her head, for now, ranted. No more games. No more touching. And for God’s sake, when he looks at you with those ‘I want to eat you up’ eyes of his, LOOK AWAY! Her face flaming, she just barely managed to pull herself back to the moment before Nate went into his incredibly accurate explanation for her reluctance.  
    “You, Alicia