--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even…" description: "\"“Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even like me, Steele. You can barely stand to be in my presence.” He pulled her back close, trapping her in his arm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/maya-banks-617_attracted_why-she-asked-softly-you-don-t-even-like_2656017.jpg" --- # Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even like me, Steele… ![“Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even like me, Steele. You can barely stand to be in my presence.” He pulled her back close, trapping her in his arms, his gaze boring into hers. “Why do you think that is, Maren? You’re an intelligent woman. You saw the hard-on I had for you earlier. Put two and…” quote by Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/maya-banks-617_attracted_why-she-asked-softly-you-don-t-even-like_2656017.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/maya-banks-617_attracted_why-she-asked-softly-you-don-t-even-like_2656017.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/maya-banks-617_attracted_why-she-asked-softly-you-don-t-even-like_2656017.jpg) > ““Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even like me, Steele. You can barely stand to be in my presence.” He pulled her back close, trapping her in his arms, his gaze boring into hers. “Why do you think that is, Maren? You’re an intelligent woman. You saw the hard-on I had for you earlier. Put two and two together and I bet you’ll find your answer.” “You’re attracted to me,” she whispered.”” [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character confronts a lover about perceived indifference, revealing that the true issue is unspoken attraction and insecurity. **In simple terms:** She questions why he seems distant, uncovering hidden feelings. Key Takeaway Recognize and address hidden emotions directly. Themes relationships communication insecurity attraction Mood tension intimate reflective Type dialogue romantic psychological When to use this quote - dating - conflict resolution - personal growth - intimacy - self-reflection Key Concepts psychology self-awareness trust Questions to Reflect On - What unspoken feelings might you be avoiding? - How can honest dialogue change a strained relationship? A Different Perspective Ignoring underlying feelings can deepen misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer Attracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-attracted-2388504/) [Attracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted/) [Attracted Whispered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted-whispered-2388503/) [Intelligent Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-woman/) [Like Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-steele-2388505/) [Maren Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maren-intelligent-2388506/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't push me away. I'm attracted to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/don-t-push-me-away-i-m-attracted-to-you/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [People want you to be the ambassador of everything. This happens to me especially when I go to Europe. I have to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/people-want-you-to-be-the-ambassador-of-everything-this-happens-to-me/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“You are far from bloodless,” he said into her ear. “On the contrary. You stick your chin out and practically invite people to bash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/you-are-far-from-bloodless-he-said-into-her-ear-on-the-contrary-you/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) > [Don't be silly. I'm a mature, intelligent woman. Of course I'm afraid of my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/don-t-be-silly-i-m-a-mature-intelligent-woman-of-course-i-m-afraid-of/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [“You are a beautiful, intelligent woman with a boyfriend who adores you. You have nothing to fear ever - Kellan Kyle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/you-are-a-beautiful-intelligent-woman-with-a-boyfriend-who-adores-you/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“She was one in a million, Tyler was. A strong, intelligent woman with the beauty to launch ships and the courage to follow them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/she-was-one-in-a-million-tyler-was-a-strong-intelligent-woman-with/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [“We choose our friends on the basis of, among other things, our conception of ourselves. That's not to say that friendship is narcissistic, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-solomon/we-choose-our-friends-on-the-basis-of-among-other-things-our/) [Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-solomon/) > [An untidy, badly run house will ruin any marriage and is a disgrace to any intelligent woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-henniker-heaton/an-untidy-badly-run-house-will-ruin-any-marriage-and-is-a-disgrace-to/) [Rose Henniker Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-henniker-heaton/) > [“a beautiful, intelligent woman with a body like Salome and a mouth like a saltwater crocodile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/a-beautiful-intelligent-woman-with-a-body-like-salome-and-a-mouth/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [Hillary Clinton's a highly intelligent woman, hard-working, she's dedicated her life to public service, but unfortunately, she does not have a track record of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/hillary-clinton-s-a-highly-intelligent-woman-hard-working-she-s/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“I am a beautiful and intelligent woman. Anything I touch will turn to gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeyn-roberts/i-am-a-beautiful-and-intelligent-woman-anything-i-touch-will-turn-to/) [Jeyn Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeyn-roberts/) > [“An intelligent woman with allies can accomplish anything”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-plant/an-intelligent-woman-with-allies-can-accomplish-anything/) [Margaret Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-plant/) > [If I were to publicly give away my secrets, I'd be dumb. I am an intelligent woman who is focused on the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-royce/if-i-were-to-publicly-give-away-my-secrets-i-d-be-dumb-i-am-an/) [Peyton Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-royce/) > [“My brother trolled recovery and support groups, searching for women with dependency issues, the way I frequented bookstores with the hope of finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-o-brien/my-brother-trolled-recovery-and-support-groups-searching-for-women/) [Richard J. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-o-brien/) > [“It’s an intelligent woman who prepares in advance for any mishaps by ordering a drink the same color as her dress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-sloan/it-s-an-intelligent-woman-who-prepares-in-advance-for-any-mishaps-by/) [Brenda Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-sloan/) ## More by Maya Banks > [“I'll call you mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-ll-call-you-mine/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [You need to worry less about what everyone else thinks and focus on what makes you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-need-to-worry-less-about-what-everyone-else-thinks-and-focus-on/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“I want you. God, I want you. But only if it's real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-want-you-god-i-want-you-but-only-if-it-s-real/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“Alaric grunted. “Someone should tell her that. I’m telling you, Ewan, she said nothing. She stared at me like I was some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/alaric-grunted-someone-should-tell-her-that-i-m-telling-you-ewan-she/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“You know what? Fuck you man. Cant believe you’d come in here like this, especially after all we had to say in the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-know-what-fuck-you-man-cant-believe-you-d-come-in-here-like-this/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“Tell me again. Tell me you'll marry me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/tell-me-again-tell-me-you-ll-marry-me/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“She figured if people were dumb enough to believe that crap, they didn’t deserve the truth. They probably wouldn’t believe it anyway”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/she-figured-if-people-were-dumb-enough-to-believe-that-crap-they-didn/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“He walked hesitantly toward her and then wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. “You just looked like you needed one,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/he-walked-hesitantly-toward-her-and-then-wrapped-his-arms-around-her/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [I cannot allow another man to take what I already consider mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-cannot-allow-another-man-to-take-what-i-already-consider-mine/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“And that makes Mia sad. But it's okay. She'll have Bethany. And me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/and-that-makes-mia-sad-but-it-s-okay-she-ll-have-bethany-and-me/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“Wait just a goddamn minute, Josie. We're not finished. No way in fuck I'm giving up that easy. You're worth fighting for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/wait-just-a-goddamn-minute-josie-we-re-not-finished-no-way-in-fuck-i/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [Fantasies were safe. It was a break from reality. A chance to act on desires for a short period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/fantasies-were-safe-it-was-a-break-from-reality-a-chance-to-act-on/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“I’ll take that as my cue to mind my own business”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-ll-take-that-as-my-cue-to-mind-my-own-business/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“You're mine, Lyric.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-re-mine-lyric/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“My lady, I don’t simply care for her. I love her. She is my entire life. Without her, I am nothing. I have nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/my-lady-i-don-t-simply-care-for-her-i-love-her-she-is-my-entire-life/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) [Explore all 439 Maya Banks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) ## More Attracted quotes > [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Men can be attracted but not forced to the faith. You may drive people to baptism, (but) you won't move them one step further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcuin/men-can-be-attracted-but-not-forced-to-the-faith-you-may-drive-people/) [Alcuin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcuin/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“Talk about insanity. Being attracted to deVries was like a moth saying, "Hey, let's go check out that awesome bonfire".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/talk-about-insanity-being-attracted-to-devries-was-like-a-moth-saying/) [cherise sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [I still get attracted to people but having a relationship isn't fair on the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hegerty/i-still-get-attracted-to-people-but-having-a-relationship-isn-t-fair/) [Anne Hegerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hegerty/) > [I have always been attracted to gay guys so I always thought I am gay man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-paytas/i-have-always-been-attracted-to-gay-guys-so-i-always-thought-i-am-gay/) [Trisha Paytas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-paytas/) > [I'm attracted to playing characters that have flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-m-attracted-to-playing-characters-that-have-flaws/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I think part of the reason I'm attracted to Foster is because he's such a mess. I mean, the people I have loved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-part-of-the-reason-i-m-attracted-to-foster-is-because-he-s/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“I would never get used to how gorgeous he was or the effect he had on me besides just intimidating the hell out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-would-never-get-used-to-how-gorgeous-he-was-or-the-effect-he-had-on/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [I can simply say that I feel spontaneously attracted by everything that is beautiful... It comes from the unconscious and not from my knowledge...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leni-riefenstahl/i-can-simply-say-that-i-feel-spontaneously-attracted-by-everything/) [Leni Riefenstahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leni-riefenstahl/) > [I'm attracted to the extreme light and the extreme dark. I'm interested in the human condition and what makes people tick. I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-m-attracted-to-the-extreme-light-and-the-extreme-dark-i-m/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [It's not difficult to be attracted to Rupert Penry-Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-o-reilly/it-s-not-difficult-to-be-attracted-to-rupert-penry-jones/) [Genevieve O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-o-reilly/) > [I've always been attracted to characters that were interesting to me, and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-characters-that-were-interesting-to-me/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) [Browse all 901 Attracted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why?” she asked softly. “You don’t even like me, Steele. 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