Just like old times, it was almost as if no time at all had passed between them. And yet, it had been a lifetime too long.
Never, ever again.
He had no way of knowing what was going on inside Scottie’s brain regarding the two of them picking up where they’d left off, but he hoped to find out soon enough.
As far as he was concerned, God had brought her back into his life for a reason. And from the way she’d looked up at him in those final seconds just before they’d kissed, it wasn’t so they could continue on only as friends.
He had enough good friends in his life. The fucking best a guy could ask for. Until a few days ago, that had been enough. But now…
Now I’m ready for more.
8
Scottie stood beneath the soft,warm glow of her porch light, staring up at Chase, who had insisted on walking her to her door.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
God, he looked good.Betterthan good.
Much, much better.
“No problem.” That crooked grin of his made her heart swell. “You know, really…following you here was as much for me as it was you.”
“Oh, yeah?” She sensed a teasing tone.
A short lock of brown hair slid over his forehead when Chase gave her a confident nod. “Now that I know you made it home okay, I won’t spend all night wondering. And lord knows, I need my beauty sleep.” He winked. “Speaking of homes…” His gaze took in the front of her little house. “Your place is really nice. Looks like a decent neighborhood, too.”
“It is,” Scottie confirmed. She glanced down the darkened street at the homes of those she’d wave to in passing, but most of whom she still had yet to meet. “That’s one of the big reasons I chose to buy in this area. It’s quiet here. Peaceful.”
Safe.
“I’m glad you had the means to get away and start over. Not everyone gets that chance.”
“I was lucky in that aspect,” she agreed. “My grandparents lived very modestly but were wealthier than I ever knew. When my grandfather passed, everything went to my grandmother. My mom was an only child, and I was their only grandchild, so when Grandma died?—”
“It all went to you.”
Scottie nodded, her chest growing a bit tight as the memory of losing her only remaining family member came rushing back. “Minus what it took to buy myself a decent car, I put the rest in savings. It’s the only way I was able to afford being on the show.”
“I can see that.” Chase seemed to understand. “Probably tough to schedule work around appearing on a weekly television show.”
“It would have been. I mean, they put me up in a hotel, and everything, but…”Don’t go there, Scottie. Do not go there.“Anyway, while I was there, I fell in love with the west coast. After everything happened, I knew I needed to get far away from Hollywood and all that came with it, but I also wanted to stay on this side of the country. So, I decided to go north.”
“I’m really glad you did.”
“Me, too.”
Scottie found herself frozen in place beneath the intensity in his eyes, and her pulse raced from the sound of his sexy male rumble.
Time stood still, as it had earlier, when they’d stood on the sidewalk under the moon. When he’d stood there staring at her as if nothing else existed.
Right before he kissed her.
It had been exactly how she remembered, while at the same time feeling so very different. Soft, yet rugged. Familiar, yet new. An innocent lingering, as if he’d been contemplating more.
The perfect first-in-fourteen-years kiss.
I want him to kiss me again.