Read Hurting To Feel (Carpool Dolls) for Free Online Page B

"No."
    "Are
you hurt anywhere else?" Her gaze dropped to his bare chest.
    "No."
    There
was smeared blood over his upper abdomen, but she found no visible wounds. Her
hand shook as she cleaned the cut on his lip. She glanced up into his eyes and
cringed. She couldn't read the intensity of his gaze, but his emotions he
directed at her as if she were the cause of him arriving at her house in this
condition.
    "Why?"
he said, not showing any sign that she caused him pain by pressing on his cut
lip.
    She
picked up the other towel filled with ice and handed it to him.
"What?"
    When
he let the cold pack fall to his lap, she pressed it on the side of his face
for him. When he let her help him, she tried again. "I don't know what
you're asking, Nate," she whispered.
    "You
didn't open the door," he said.
    She
used her free hand to clean his chest with the other towel. "I wasn't
home. Mrs. Lindsay called me from next door. Her breaker flipped, and she's
unable to go down the stairs to the basement. That happens at least once a
month, and it's easier for her to call me than a repairman who'll charge
her."
    He
touched the back of his hand to his mouth, and she barely had time to fall back
on her bottom to get out of his way as he stood. "You didn't fucking open
the door."
    She
scrambled to her feet. "I know. I told you, I was—"
    "I
know what you said." He whirled around and faced her. "You weren't
here. You didn't open the door."
    Angered
over his outburst, she scooped up the towels. "Whatever. There's the door,
use it."
    "Answer
me," he said.
    She
shook her head. "I don't answer to you or anyone. Please leave."
    He
remained.
    Used
to avoiding arguments, she marched out of the room, down the hallway, and
entered the laundry room at the back of the house. She threw the towels in the
empty washer and slammed the lid down. He had no reason to be mad at her.
    She
wasn't home when he came by the house. Yesterday, she'd told him not to come
over. It wasn't her fault he ignored her wishes and came looking for her. She
regretted calling him now.
    Deciding
she'd rather stay in the laundry room than face Nate, she folded her gym
clothes she pulled out of the dryer prior to helping Mrs. Lindsay. She
should've thrown away his business card he'd left at her house in the first
place, and not called him. That's what she gets for being stupid, and thinking
the polite thing to do is thank him for the flowers he'd left.
    God,
he could be a problem.
    She'd
thought of nothing else, but him, since climbing into his car, and she hated
and loved the feelings he brought out in her. But, she couldn't continue seeing
him. He represented everything she'd sworn to stay far, far away from her whole
life.
    She
eyed the stack of clothes. Someone had to put a stop to the insanity, and considering
he was in her house, she walked out of the room to send him away.
    Nate
stood in front of the living room window, gazing out into the night. She
hesitated, studying his back. Still shirtless, his muscles twitched. From all appearances,
he hadn't calmed down.
    "Nate?"
She walked to the side of the couch, thinking a piece of furniture would keep
her from touching him. "I'm not sure what happened tonight and I'm sorry
you were hurt, but I think you need to leave."
    "Why?"
He remained facing the window.
    His
voice, unemotional and flat, hurt her. She blew up her cheeks, held her breath,
and slowly let the air out. "Because you're not the type of man I normally
date. I don't want to lead you on. I'm sorry. I know I did, and I feel
bad—"
    "Bad?"
He turned around. She stepped behind the couch, and he held up his arms. "Jesus,
will you stop that."
    "You're
angry." She glanced at the floor before meeting his gaze. "You're
sorta freaking me out. We slept together. That's it. Then you show up pissed
off and bloody as if someone beat you up, being a jerk to me, and expect me to
want you again. What am I supposed to think?"
    "Do
you think I'm going to hurt you?" he asked.
    She
closed her