She went still. Weylin hadn’t spoiled her in the traditional sense. He’d given her what she’d demanded if he wanted to continue seeing her. “Not really.”
“Well, beautiful lady, be prepared to be spoiled.”
“I’m not helpless, Reese,” she spat.
He sobered and glared at her. “Did I say anything about you being helpless, Cherie?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Then don’t try to put words into my mouth,” he said angrily.
Cherie recoiled as if she’d been struck across the face. She’d promised herself to think before she opened her mouth to say something, and she hadn’t followed through with that promise. When, she asked herself, was she going to rid herself of the bitterness and resentment that seemed to surface without warning? She had no one to blame for her actions and the choices she’d made in her life. The blame rested solely on her.
“I’m sorry, Reese. I didn’t mean it to come out like that.”
He extended his arms. “Come here, bae. I know you’ve been through a lot, and there’s nothing to apologize for.”
She moved into his embrace and closed her eyes. He was talking about the assault, while she knew differently. It was as if she’d spent a lifetime verbally attacking people when she should’ve taken stock of her life and corrected it a long time ago. She’d grown up not knowing her father and resented her mother for not telling her who he was. And once the news of Weylin’s engagement to one of their classmates was announced, she should’ve walked away from him and never looked back. But she’d been too weak, too much of a coward to let him go once she realized she’d loved him more than she loved herself.
Cherie curved her arms under Reese’s broad shoulders and held onto him as if he were her lifeline. Why, she asked herself, couldn’t she have met someone like him years ago? She knew the answer to that question the instant it formed in her mind. They were different people, living miles apart, and she doubted whether she would have been receptive to a man unable to give her what she’d perceived as a lifestyle for the rich and famous. She knew she’d had to go through what she’d experienced to make her the woman she was now.
Moving to Coates Island had given her second chance to live life by her own rules. Reese Matthews saving her life had made it possible for her become friends with a man for the first time in her adult life. Cherie didn’t know where their friendship would lead, and she didn’t care because she had options. They could either have a platonic relationship or segue into becoming friends with benefits.
“Can you please do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
Easing back, she smiled up at him. “Will you kiss me?”
She didn’t have to wait for his answer when his head came down and he covered her mouth with his, in what was more a caress than a kiss, before he increased the pressure. Her lips parted under his, and she moaned when his tongue found hers as he deepened the kiss until every nerve in her body screamed for release. Cherie moaned again when she felt throbbing between her legs, followed by a gush of moisture, and she knew if she didn’t end the kiss, she would beg Reese to take her upstairs and make love to her. She then realized he was as just aroused as she was when she felt his erection pressing against her middle.
Both were breathing heavily when she managed to tear her mouth away from his. “I shouldn’t have asked you to do that.”
He buried his face in her hair. “I’m glad you did.”
“You are?”
“Of course, Cherie. It’s no fun when one person does all the liking. And yes, I like you.”
“And I like you, too.” Cherie couldn’t believe how easy it’d been to tell Reese that, while she’d felt comfortable enough with him to ask that he kiss her.
“I’m going to ask for a rain check on the coffee, Cherie. It’s time I leave before we do something both of us aren’t ready for.”
“You’re right,” she agreed. Although she’d been celibate for years, she wasn’t desperate.Sometimes the head refuses to listen to the heart.She recalled what Kayana had told her earlier that day. She had allowed her heart to overrule her head with one man, but she had no intention of repeating that with Reese. He was her friend, and he would remain her friend until circumstances dictated otherwise.
Reese kissed her cheek. “I’ll be in touch, and you can let me know what you want to eat for Sunday dinner.”
“Surprise me, Reese.”
“I think we should dispense with surprises until we get to know each other better.”
Cherie nodded, smiling. “You’re right.”
He reached for her hand. “Walk me to the door, and don’t forget to lock both of them after me.”
She glanced up at him and wanted to ask if that was necessary, now that the man who had assaulted her was behind bars and was scheduled to be extradited to another state. There was an outer storm door and the inner solid oak one, and she tended not to lock the outer door until just before she retired for bed.
“Okay, Reese.”
