Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

He chuckled softly, disbelief painting his features. "I'm not mistaken."

Roseanne seemed lost, her eyes briefly clouded with confusion.

Then Corley spoke again, "I want to kiss you."

Roseanne was dumbfounded, speechless for a long moment. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and for a second, she couldn't tell if this scene unfolding before her was reality or a dream because it was absurd!

Corley's smile had a roguish charm, his handsome face carrying a hint of recklessness and indifference, mixed with the slight buzz from the alcohol on his breath, giving off a vibe of defiance. "Surprised, huh?" Surprised was an understatement. Roseanne felt her brain had short-circuited.

"You... you..." She tried to speak, but no coherent words came out.

"Yes, I have a thing for you."

"What are you talking about? How could anything happen between us?"

it a try

the two

and I'm

man before her. She had to admit Corley was tall, handsome and carried an air of gentle nobility If Murray was like the unpredictable weather, never knowing when it would rain or shine, Corley the wind slipping through your fingers, formless, seemingly within

said, "I don't

was like

didn't seem upset. Instead, he even smiled as if he had

Roseanne thought she could breathe a sigh of relief, he spoke again. "That's why I'm pursuing you, not just confessing and

what to say in

I do." Corley stepped closer, "I've seen your kindness, attention to

closer!" Watching his overwhelming frame approach, Roseanne stepped back instinctively. "No matter what you say, I won't fall for you. This so-called pursuit is a waste of time and

never

of anything happening with anyone close

his