“The guy loves you with all his heart. He meant well by telling me.”

He pulls me closer to him. “How about we stop talking about me? I assure you there are much more interesting conversations we could be having.”

“Like?” I ask. But I totally disagree with him.

The man is fascinating. I thought it before and now I definitely know it.

“Like what’s your deal with bed bugs?” he asks and I laugh.

“Do I detect this topic of conversation as being over?”

“You do. The one thing I hate more than hearing myself talk is talking about myself.”

“Now that? I can agree with you on.” And I’ve been so lost in the conversation, in listening to him tell his story, that I never noticed it grew dark outside. I bolt up, startling both of us. “Oh my God. The bar. Your work. You forgot to—”

He offers me a shy smile and tugs me back down to where I was snuggling against him. “Don’t worry about it. I called in sick.”

“You what? Why?”

“Because I have a feeling it isn’t very often that you let someone take care of you. I figured I’d take advantage of the opportunity.”

He presses a kiss to the crown of my head and my insides melt.

“Thank you,” I say and press a kiss to just above his heart. If I was smart, I’d walk away right now. This man is too good. Too kind. Too genuine. Too thoughtful. Too . . . everything. I. Don’t. Deserve. Him. But I’m not smart.

I already know that my heart is going to hurt when I leave, and that’s totally my fault. I own it.

I’m selfish, I’m sick, and he’s right. It’s been too long since I’ve let anyone take care of me. So, I take the extremely lame approach and ask, “Is there any chance you’d like to watch a chick flick like Die Hard 4.0 with me?” He laughs. And I’m sure it’s at me, which I don’t care about in the least.

“You mean Live Free or Die Hard?”

“Exactly. Die Hard 4.0.”

“Gotta say. That’s the first time anyone has referred to one of my favorite movies as a chick flick.”

“What? There’s romance in it. There’s a kiss in there somewhere.”

“Okay then. Die Hard 4.0 it is. Your request is my command.”

I chuckle, which makes me start coughing again. And even though I feel both heartsick and physically sick, there’s no other place I’d rather be right now.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Gunner

I’VE NEVER HAD A WOMAN live with me.

Not even for a few days.

Simply put, I haven’t found someone I like enough.