Twist of Fate by Kelly Mooney

hard not to take all of her in, wondering what little number she had underneath tonight's outfit.  
    "I bet you can't go for one week without wearing one?"
    "Can too. What's the bet?"
    "If I win, we go on a hike. I choose the mountain. You win, and I'll let you teach me one of your yoga classes?"
    I stuck my hand out to shake hers. "Deal. Do you have yoga pants?" She chuckled out loud. "I can't wait to see you do a chatarunga."
    I smiled, because she had no idea how flexible twelve solid years of karate had made me. "If I lose I'll be prepared, but I'm telling you now, start doing some research on hiking. Better yet, maybe go buy a canteen, or something."
    Without letting myself think it through I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her closer to me. Her body tensed for a minute, but then she relaxed, dropping her head onto my chest, allowing the embrace. Instantly, I felt awkward, and mean. Mean to lead her on after everything we'd shared so far.   Mean to blow off the kiss that meant more to me than I imagined. Mean because I wasn't sure I could be the guy she wanted. I wasn't sure how she felt about me, but I was pretty sure she felt something. And, I was scared that she could inflict the same kind of pain that Simone caused me. I didn't want her to be that girl. The one that ruined me. I was pretty sure I could trust her, but something inside told me that I needed to keep it slow. That this would play itself out.
    Paige scooted back almost fully out of my embrace, but I kept my hands on her hips to keep her from getting away. She looked torn, troubled. I was trying to figure out how to read her face, her emotions, but it was hard since she'd been here, I hadn't been able to peg any of those things down one hundred percent.  
    "Hey, Ben," I trailed my fingers down her cheek, running my thumb across her bottom lip. She inhaled quickly, dropping back from me. "I think maybe we should take a breather." She fidgeted, nervously tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear without being able to look at me.  
    "Yeah, sure." My hands dropped to my sides. How did we go from kissing to taking a fucking breather? What did she mean by a breather in the first place? Did it mean we couldn't hang out, be friends? What? It was that moment when she took a second to glance back up, her eyes were a little glassy, and I knew that this girl could, and quite possible would destroy me. She was messing with me, and I didn't like the feeling that went along with it. I didn't want to go down this road again.
    "This was really fun, but I do need to get back."
    I moved in front of her, carelessly running my hands through my hair.   I could barely bring myself to look at her right now, but had to. "I can drive you if you want?"
    She declined, even though I would do anything to stay with her for a little longer, but I knew she was right. I couldn't do this without her, and if she was already pulling back after one kiss, then she was the trouble that I thought she was going to be when she first walked back into my life. And even though it was just a kiss, and I made no big deal out of it, I somehow knew I wasn't going to be unable to forget the feel of her lips on mine.
    "You sure. I don't like you walking back at night alone."
    "I could use the fresh air. It's not that far. I'll be fine."
    I followed her downstairs where a few guys were watching television, and a disheveled Tommy who walked in the moment I opened the front door for her.  
    "Hey, Paige. What are you doing here?"
    She looked back. "Just hanging with Ben for a little bit, but I'm heading back to my dorm now."
    Tommy smiled at Paige, then to me. "When you get back Ben, I've got a six pack calling our name."
    She interjected. "Oh, no, he's staying. I'm gonna walk back." She started to shove past him, but Tommy grabbed her by the wrist.
    "Hell, no, you're not walking. No cousin of mine, female cousin especially, is walking alone at one in the morning." He glared at me, letting