“There’s no cost to being with me, Jane. I don’t want to be reimbursed for cooking you breakfast or holding your hair back.” My neck flames. “But I don’t want to be your burden. I want to be your equal.” Realization slams at him, and I swear he careens back from the force. He inhales, then breathes strongly out. He dips his head to be nearer, his hand teasingly close to my hand. “You’re not my burden.” He hardly blinks. “And you already are my equal. I hate that I’ve given you an impression that you’re not.”
