Page 193 of Playing Dirty

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That hit slightly differently than I expected.

Not because it was wrong.

Because it wasn’t.

I leaned slightly against the bar.

Not close.

Not distant.

Just there.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.

That should’ve ended it.

It didn’t.

Because I didn’t move away.

And neither did she.

ROWAN

There it was again.

That contradiction.

His words never matched his presence.

“You’re doing that thing again,” I said quietly.

“What thing.”

“Controlling everything except what you’re actually doing.”

That got a reaction.

Small.

But real.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Not anger.

Recognition.

“You don’t like that I’m here,” he said.

That made me pause.

Because it wasn’t framed like a question.

It was observation.

I looked at him properly.

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