“That’s hardly an answer.” He glanced toward his hand as he flexed his fingers. “You avoided being alone with me at the club, which wouldn’t really have been being alone with me at all given the number of people in attendance. Yet, you invite me here where we truly are alone. I find myself wondering at your expectations.”

He met her gaze once more and stood, slowly, his body stretching like a cat after a nap. Then he prowled toward her, and she’d never felt more like prey.

Prey that wanted to be caught.

Hell, Evie didn’t know her expectations.

“I invited you up here against my better judgment,” she said, feeling almost faint with desire as he stopped just before her.

“Then I can deduce you have not, probably, overcome our liaison. I can tell you without hesitation that I have not. I think of you when I am awake, I dream of you when I’m asleep, and I long for you in every hour of every day.” He caressed her cheek with two fingertips. It was the gentlest of touches, a tease of what could come next. She only had to ask him to stay…

Evie took a step back. “You should go. Before I change my mind and lose my nerve about keeping Ash overnight.”

“Is that what you’re going to lose your nerve about?” His hand brushed hers.

She shivered, desperate for more of his touch. But she would not surrender. This was the life she wanted—not one with a man, no matter how thoroughly he shattered her carefully laid defenses. “Yes. Just that.”

Moving quickly, she went to pet Ash. She was not above using their dog as a barricade.

“What if I call your bluff?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t do that, please. You are going to anger me very shortly. I was clear about what I wanted from the start. You can’t try to change the rules now.”

He exhaled. “I don’t wish to anger you. It’s only that I sense whatever we shared is not yet over. You ended things rather suddenly—and please don’t tell me you set expectations. You did, but I was still hoping for New Year’s or Epiphany.” He waved his hand, and she could see from his eyes that he was frustrated.

She couldn’t think of anything to say to ease his agitation, nor did she think she should. She didn’t owe him anything, and she wasn’t responsible for his feelings.

“If you shared my opinion—that there is still more between us—I would hope you would allow us to see it through. I’m not asking for forever. I’m only hoping for…whatever feels right to us.”