“I’m trying to figure out how to get you to listen to me, to believe me. Without seeming like a dick about it. Because you are all those great things I’ve said you were. I can see it and I’ve only known you how long now?” he laughed lightly. “And then there’s the part of me that wants to act on that, how I feel you are… But I won’t let myself. Not yet, anyway. And there’s another part of me that is both confused and impressed by how you would actually ask instead of… reading me, if that’s the right term. I wouldn’t be so polite about it, I don’t think. But there it is again; your goodness.”
“I have to ask that one,” she pointed out. “What are you feeling, yes, I can read /that/. And I can frequently extrapolate the thought from there, from what I know. But I … didn’t want to know. That way. Emotions can be so … deceptive.” She was still having to force herself to look away from his mouth, but she didn’t really want to look him right in the eye either. Who knew what he might see in her face?
She’d always been too open, too easily read. And too honest for her own good.
“Now you have me curious. The part of you that wants to act on how you feel I am?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry. That’s what I meant though.” Tony had to agree with her about emotions being deceptive, and he nodded along with her at that. He watched her face, noting that she was having a hard time meeting his gaze, but the reason behind it didn’t click.
“That part of me wants you. I have to stop myself because you’re too good for me.” He looked down, wetting his lips. “I want to prove to you that you’re desirable for just being yourself, because you are…”
The flush shot up into her face so fast her ears rang. Summer had to swallow hard and remind herself to close her mouth. “You could have any girl in the world just for asking.” She could not help herself; she looked down at her hands, limp and shaking slightly in her lap. She couldn’t doubt him, not with it brought to the surface by her questions. Oh, she was answered with a vengeance!
“You can choose anyone, and yet you’re saying that /I’m/ too good for you.”