The last thing he’d ever want to do was hurt Skye. He wanted her, yes. More than any woman he could recall. And after that kiss in her kitchen, he was pretty damn sure she wanted him, too.
But there was no way to know if a relationship between them would work. Over the years, he’d dated plenty of women, but none of the affairs had lasted more than a few days or weeks. Everything about Skye felt different, his need for her somehow deeper, almost vital.
Still, there was no real way to predict what might happen, and he didn’t want to jeopardize a friendship he valued so greatly.
Along with that, sooner or later, he’d find a way to clear his name and return to the Green Berets. It was what he was trained for, what he was meant to do. He’d rain justice down on Major Bradley Markham and get his life back.
What if they were together? He’d be deployed most of the year. It wouldn’t be fair to Skye to tie her to a man who wouldn’t be there for her.
It was dark outside the tall glass windows in the living room, the lights of the city sparkling for miles in all directions. Edge tried to motivate himself to go into the kitchen and fix something to eat, or at least call for a pizza delivery, but after his conversation with Conn, his appetite had waned.
He straightened on the sofa. Elbows on his knees, he sat with his head tipped forward into his hands. He’d leave Skye alone, he told himself. No matter how tough it would be, he’d stay away from her, do his best to put things back the way they were before that earth-shattering kiss.
He thought of Henson. Skye intended to find him. Edge had promised to help her, had given her his word. That meant more time together, more sleepless nights aching for her.
Maybe he could talk to Trace, convince Trace to take his place. Trace was smart, strong, and capable, and he’d do everything in his power to protect one of his best friends.
He was also a damn good-looking man, one any red-blooded female would find attractive.
A knot tightened in his stomach. Trace and Skye were just friends, but still . . .
And what about Henson? No matter how much he trusted Trace’s abilities, Henson and his men were deadly opponents. Skye could be injured or even killed. Edge needed to be there to make sure she was safe.
His head came up at the sound of a knock on the door. It was getting late, and he wasn’t expecting visitors. As he crossed the room, he flicked a glance at the drawer in the side table where he kept a little .380 semiauto. His job pissed off a lot of people. Better to be safe than sorry.
He checked the eyehole, felt a jolt when he saw it was Skye. For an instant, he couldn’t look away. With her thick dark hair curling softly around her shoulders, a fuzzy pink cashmere sweater curving over her breasts, and a long, malt-brown wool skirt flaring around a pair of brown leather ankle boots, she looked luscious.
He stepped back as he pulled open the door. “Hi.” He worked not to stare. She looked even more feminine than usual—and even more tempting.
“I didn’t think you’d be asleep yet,” she said as she walked past him into the apartment.
For the first time, he noticed the carry-on she rolled in behind her, and everything inside him went still.
“What’s the matter?” She looked up at him with those pretty sea-green eyes. Then her gaze shot toward the hall leading to his bedroom, and a flush rose in her cheeks. “Someone’s here. I should have called. I feel like an idiot. I’m sorry.” She started to turn around, but Edge stepped in the way, blocking her retreat.
“No one’s here. No one but you.” He kicked the door closed with his boot as he backed her up against the wall and kissed her. He’d vowed to leave her alone, put things back the way they were before, but Fate had intervened. Since he was no match for Fate, he would follow the path that stretched out in front of him, find out where it might lead.
Edge gentled the kiss, coaxing now, his lips moving softly over hers. He could feel her response in the way she melted against him. She was here.Finally.He didn’t want to ruin things by moving too fast. Reluctantly, he eased away.
“I’m glad you decided to come over.” He glanced toward the bedroom.Too soon. Take it easy.“How are the girls doing? Are they getting settled in?”
“They’re fine. Talking about the past and making plans for the future.”
He nodded. “That’s good. So . . . are you hungry? You want something to eat? We could call for pizza or have Chinese food delivered. I know you like Chinese.”
Skye’s tension eased. She relaxed and smiled. “You’re nervous. You don’t ever get nervous.”
He smiled. “Maybe I’m a little nervous. You’re here. I really wanted you to come stay with me.”
She rested a hand on his cheek. He should have shaved, he thought, gotten rid of his days’ growth of beard.
Skye didn’t seem to mind. She went up on her toes and very softly kissed him. “I wanted to be here. It took a while for me to get up the courage, but I’ve wanted to be with you like this for a very long time.”
“Yeah?”
She smiled. “Yeah.”
Edge relaxed. He was good with women. He knew what they liked and how to give them what they wanted.
