Was she crazy to be feeling this way about a man she’d only ever known as a teenage boy? Young love was one thing, but this wasn’t high school. And they sure as hell weren’t a couple of naïve kids.
Seconds passed as more questions and doubts began rolling through her mind, but Scottie found herself dismissing them all almost as quickly as they formed. The fact that she wasn’t a kid only pushed her closer to the truth.
She was older and a shit ton wiser.
If she’d learned anything from her terrifying past, it was that life was a fragile, delicate gift. One that didn’t last forever, and once it was gone…
It’s gone forever.
“Thanks again for dinner.” She let her smile grow, praying Chase hadn’t noticed her momentary mental absence. “The food was fantastic.”
“And the company?” Chase cocked his head, sliding both of his strong hands into the pockets of his jeans. “How was that?”
She remembered those hands. Strong. Comforting. Protective.
Taking a daring step forward, Scottie decided to play along. “The company?” She shrugged. “It was okay, I guess.”
Chase winced dramatically. “Just okay? Damn. I’d better step up my game next time we go out.”
Her heart pounded with a hope she couldn’t help but possess.
“There’s going to be a next time?”
“Well, sure.” It was his turn to shrug. “You didn’t really think I’d let you get away with justonedinner, did you?”
As friends…or more?
Scottie moved closer, her focus locked onto him and nothing else. “So you’re saying you want to do this again?”
“Sweetheart, I’d have dinner with you every night if I could.”
Every night?
“I’ve missed you, Chase,” she admitted aloud. “So much.”
“Ah, Scottie.” He leaned in. “I’ve missed you, too.”
He pressed his lips to hers and lowered his hands to her hips. Chase gently pulled her body flush with his, and Scottie moaned with the parting of her lips.
His tongue invaded her mouth, joining with hers in an erotic dance of slow, sensual licks and tantalizing swirls. A deep, primal growl reverberated from his rock-hard chest to hers as Chase took the kiss deeper.
His hold grew tighter. Passionate to the point of possession. He tasted of chocolate and something that had always been uniquely Chase.
Scottie let herself become lost in his warm embrace, unable to keep herself from wondering if maybe—justmaybe—her greatest wish would finally come true. But before she could let herself believe that it had, Chase ended the kiss far too soon.
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’d be lying.”
His voice was rough and winded. Proof he was every bit as affected by the kiss as Scottie.
Running the tip of her tongue along her lips, she rolled them inward to savor the remnants of his taste. “I’m not sorry either,” she admitted. “Surprised but not sorry.”
“Why surprised?”
The question made her laugh. “Where do I start? I’m surprised that you’re here. That we’rebothhere in Seattle. Both still…single. But mostly…” Scottie’s voice grew quiet. “Mostly, I’m surprised you don’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you.” He shot her a pointed stare. “Not ever.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”