“Most men don’t see me the way you do,” I whispered, not knowing why he saw past my repelling charm.

“They’re probably dazzled but intimidated. You don’t seem to welcome attention and that can scare men off,” he explained, as if that made complete sense. He was wrong. I knew it was the spell that kept them away. Without that spell, men would treat me like they did my sisters.

“You weren’t dazzled when we first met. You walked away easy enough and went to play your drinking game.” I tried hard not to sound jealous or insecure.

He laughed, soft and low, then he took a step in my direction. His eyes never leaving mine. “I was so dazzled that when Margo announced you weren’t into men, I was relieved. I thought it would keep me from chasing you like I assumed every man you met did. I didn’t want to be like the others. I didn’t come to Savannah expecting to feel like this. To lose my mind over a girl. This wasn’t in the plans.”

I laughed then. “ I didn’t plan on you either. I’ve always been careful with men and kept my distance.”

“You let Heath get close,” he said, without a smile. “Heath is so in love with you, he would drop anything and anyone for you. Even his sister. He worships you. He doesn’t remember a time he didn’t love you. He picks horrid females to date because he knows he won’t hurt them. He won’t break their heart. He won’t date a female who may fall in love with him because he loves you. And I fucking hate it. I’m so damn jealous every time you touch him or smile at him.” He ran a hand through his hair as if frustrated. “When I came home and he was sitting so close to you and feeding you, I cracked. I couldn’t take it. I had to get you away from him, and you came to me so easily.” He closed the rest of the space between us, stopping only inches from me. I didn’t move. I should have moved away and stopped this entire conversation, but I didn’t. I didn’t know how.

“Heath isn’t in love with me,” was all I could say. Breathing was a bit of a struggle at the moment.