Say You Want Me by Corinne Michaels Page A

getting married,” I whisper in his ear.
    “Trust me. You don’t want to do that. It’s better to let them go off on their tangent. If you correct them, they’ll keep you hostage. Think of it as me savin’ you.”
    I glare at him, and he laughs. “Stop being so damn adorable.”
    My lips purse.
    He leans in and kisses my temple.
    All the conversations that were going on around us cease. I glance around and everyone is looking at us with expressions of delight on their faces.
    I look at him, waiting for some kind of explanation, but he just watches me. I see something in his eyes then. It’s there, but it’s guarded. That knowing feeling sits heavy in my gut as I wonder if I imagined it. Could we both be starting to feel something more?
    I don’t want him to fall in love with me.
    I don’t want to want him.
    I want for us to be friends.
    I want to not fall in love with him.
    But there’s a very good chance I’m not going to be able to stop it.
    Mrs. Hennington clears her throat, breaking the trance. “Have you considered what we talked about, Angie?”
    What we talked about? I scramble through the conversations we’ve had and finally land on what she’s talking about.
    The bakery.
    “I just don’t think it would be right.” I shake my head. “I would really feel terrible when I have to go back to Philly.”
    “I’m sure Becca could use the help,” Macie says, handing me a piece of pie. “With being short staffed and all, she’s a bit overwhelmed. Even if it’s only while you’re here.”
    I want to help. It would be great to have something to do back in the bakery, but I don’t know if I should. Why put down roots when I’m not planning to let the tree grow? My mind goes back and forth over the pros and cons and if I were to take her up on her offer it will give Wyatt false hope.
    “Oh, I would love some help,” Mrs. Kannan says with a smile. “Especially with the festival and the weddings I have comin’ up.”
    “I’m honestly not sure that I would be much help, Mrs. Kannan. By the time I got the lay of the shop, I’d be leaving. It wouldn’t be right.”
    Mrs. Kannan and Mrs. Hennington share a look. I’m not too sure what they’re conveying, but I’m wishing that it’s in support to let it drop. “I understand, but I sure hope you change your mind.”
    Crisis averted.
    We talk a little more, and Wyatt sits next to me with a grin. He looks confident, as if everything is going according to plan. It makes me wonder what else he has up his sleeve. So far, the first two weeks have been almost too easy. We’ve laughed, had tons of dates, had a pretty fantastic kiss, and gotten along great. If things continue at this rate, in a few months, I’m going to have a hard time convincing myself to go back to Philly.
    And that would be a bad thing.

W YATT TAKES MY HAND AS we walk back to our house, and I let him. It feels comfortable, which leaves a very uncomfortable feeling in my chest. It shouldn’t be as easy as it is. I’ve never liked guys who were touchy-feely, and it makes me wonder why with Wyatt I almost crave it.
    Is it because he’s so sweet? Is it because this is how it’s meant to be? I don’t know about any of this, and Presley is no help. She just smiles when I explain how I feel. It makes no sense that I actually like him as much as I do in such a short amount of time.
    We continue down the path, and I admire the set up the Hennington’s have. They all live on the same piece of land, but they’re not on top of each other. His parents live in what he calls the main house. I call it a freaking mansion. Trent, Wyatt, and Zach all have homes on the property, but Zach’s original place is no longer occupied since he and Presley built their own home.
    “Hey,” I say, stopping dead in my tracks. “Why am I staying with you in your house when Zach’s house is empty?”
    “Because it’s not where you belong.” Wyatt stands in front of me, and I remove my hand from