And then there was Karl and my mom. I’d tried to call and text her several times, but she was ignoring me, and I got it. She was angry because I’d gotten upset with her and Karl at the diner. She wanted to use my story to get rich, and no way was I down with that.

By Sunday night, chocolate ice cream and relaxing were the only two things on my mind when I got home from work.

And …

I readily admitted to myself I was jonesing for some English accents, so I kicked my shoes to the floor and snuggled into Granny’s couch for season two of Downton Abbey .

After eating a giant bowl of Ben & Jerry’s and indulging in two hours of television, I stepped out my balcony door and stood there taking in the soft rain that had begun to fall. I was getting wet, but I didn’t care.

Dressed in nothing but gym shorts, Declan stepped out onto his balcony. It seemed neither of us minded the weather. Like me, was he thinking of the last time it rained?

He flexed his hands, loosening the tape around them, his eyes out in the distance as if his thoughts were far away. He hadn’t noticed me, and I eased further back into the shadows, letting my gaze roam over his bare chest, hard biceps, and trim waist.

Why did one guy have to look so damn good?

Did he ever wear a shirt?

I sucked in a sharp breath as I noticed the bruises on his body, one on his shoulder, another on his ribs.

“I know you’re there,” he said.

Dammit, there was no escaping him.

He bent over against the railing, the muscles in his back rippling, eyes still on the horizon.

And I said nothing, anger pricking at me and I didn’t even know why.

But I did … we’d spent the night together—albeit platonically—and he’d had a week to knock on my door, and he hadn’t . He’d sat behind me in class all week but had mostly ignored me, sending eye-daggers my way when I joked around with Dax.

I didn’t understand him.

And yet I did.

Both of us were afraid of getting too close.

He sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair. “I don’t blame you for being quiet. I guess you’re a wise girl to keep your distance.” He grunted. “Which is ironic because you’re the dangerous one, Elizabeth.”

Me? He was the one with the potential to break me into a million pieces.

He turned to face me, his eyes zeroing in on mine, and I realized I’d walked to the edge of my balcony to be closer to him. He took in my damp nightshirt and bare feet.

My nipples pressed against the material as if they too wanted to be near him.

“Dangerous? Please. You’re the one sporting new bruises,” I said.

He shot me a grin. “I like it when you get feisty.”

“I know.” My words were quiet, remembering the night in his apartment.

His gaze brushed over my breasts like a physical touch, desire plainly written on his face.

I swallowed, feeling the invisible wires that pulled me toward him. I threw caution to the wind.

“We slept together without having sex. Do you do that often?”

His eyes smoldered like molten steel. “Never.”

God, I wanted him. Desperately.

I clenched my fists. “Goodnight, Declan.”

“Goodnight, Elizabeth.”

“THE RESULTS ARE in, and I’m pleased to announce the prom king and queen are Colby Scott and Elizabeth Bennett,” Mr. Brown, Oakmont’s headmaster, announced from the gymnasium stage.

Elation washed over me in waves.

At first I couldn’t believe we’d won, but when Colby took my hand to tug me toward the stage, reality set in. This was it .

Everything I’d ever wanted was right in front of me.

“Come on. They’re waiting to crown us, babe.” Colby’s white teeth flashed.

I let him guide me toward the stage, my pink dress sparkling under the mirrored lights as we made our way across the basketball court, passed balloon sculptures and a backdrop featuring a cityscape of Paris. We glided up the steps and toward the center of the stage. Hands from the audience reached out to congratulate us.

Something was off …

A crawling sensation scratched at my brain, pricking at me.

I yanked my hand out of his, but he snatched it back and jerked me flush against his gray suit. “Too late, Elizabeth. This is what you wanted. Don’t deny it.” He kissed me roughly, his hands splayed out across my breasts.

I fumbled and pushed.

Slow motion. I couldn’t move.

Wait. Had I taken something? Was I drunk? What was wrong with me?

A spotlight hit us. I saw Blake and Shelley. I saw my mother and Karl and Senator Scott, their lips curled in disgust.