He took a step in my direction and I stepped away as I gazed up at him with big eyes. I was in trouble. He knew how he was affecting me. “How can you be so sure?” I asked. I found myself up against the back of his desk, so I leaned on it in an attempt to appear casual. “We’re different, Luke. It’s been a long time. You don’t really know me anymore. What if you get to know me again, and I annoy you? I’m a worrier and I can be a pain.” I crossed my arms under my breasts, hugging myself. The air conditioning was ridiculous in here. He looked! He licked his lips and stared at my chest. Ha! I still got it. But why did I want it? I was supposed to be trying to break our date.

He rolled his eyes. “Lily, you always did worry a lot. That’s not new. As for anything else that may come up, I don’t care. It will be worth it.” He took another step in my direction, then he crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring my pose. His biceps bulged, and I quickly looked away.

Were we playing a game? I rejected that idea. Luke was too good for games. But he wasn’t too good to push me out of my comfort zone, an area we were rapidly approaching.

I cleared my throat. “I’m not trying to end things or break up. I just want to go slower. Why can’t we do that?”

“It’s just a date, Lily. I’m not asking you to marry me—yet.” His irresistible half grin was back, only this time I could see it better because of his trimmed beard.

My head snapped back to him. I held on to the edge of the desk. It wasn’t just a date. Nothing would ever be that simple with him. There were too many feelings and expectations involved. And that was just between the two of us. Throw in my family and Dylan, and the complication level went up exponentially.

“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings and I’m really not trying to jerk you around. I’m just…I can’t…” Why couldn’t I explain how I felt?

Maybe because I don’t know how I feel.

“Luke, what if we try to be together, and it doesn’t work out?” I finally said.

“What if we try, and we are happier than we were before?” he countered.

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t stand to see the hope in his, not when I felt so hopelessly confused.