Sam rested his fingers in her hair and pulled her flush with his body. “I’m exactlythe person you were supposed to experience it with.”
He kissed her like a man claiming the last kiss before being shipped off to war. Only things weren’t about to end. They were just beginning.
She broke free and shook her head.
“I don’t want to help you find another guy,” he said, feeling that she was about to run scared.
“Sam—”
He cut her off by kissing her again. The slow sway of their bodies stopped as he broke the kiss and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Letmedate you, for real, Grace.”
“I can’t.” She took his hand and pulled him from the dance floor and out the front door of the bar. She waited until they were on the side of the building before she explained. “I’m not on a rebound and don’t need help finding a date. You were right to question the real reason I was in your office. I’m not your typical client.”
Sam maneuvered her until her back was pressed against the wall. He lowered his lips to the creamy length of her neck and kissed a path up to her ear. “I know,” he whispered between kisses.
“No, you don’t,” she said, trying to move him away.
“Yes, I do.” He leaned back to look into her eyes. “If I tell you the real reason youwere in my office, will you let me date you?”
“You can’t possibly know.”
He went back to kissing her neck on the other side, starting where her neck met her shoulder. His hands slowly moved up her sides. “Chloe McKenzie is your best friend, and my competition.”
Her body went rigid beneath his touch, but that didn’t deter him. “It’s only natural we do background checks on our clients to make sure we don’t have any psychos or stalkers. She’s your best friend. You were checking out the competition, although you haven’t been on a date in a while. My detective was pretty clear that you weren’t even looking.”
“How did he know?” she asked, leaning her head against the building, giving Sam better access to continue his assault.
“Good-looking men would try to talk to you, and you weren’t interested. Men would try and catch your gaze, and you never took the bait. You have a focused life. Work, family, and friends.”
“You think you know me?” she asked on a moan as his lips sucked on her ear.
“I don’t think, Grace. I know. So, tell me I’m right so we can move past that.”
“You knew this whole time and didn’t say anything?” she asked, resting her hand on his chest to stop his advances.
Just that slight touch was enough to send his heart racing. Everything about her was enough to bring him to his knees, and he would gladly worship at her feet. His lips and hands wanted to caress every inch of her.
He stopped kissing her long enough to answer. “What kind of matchmaker would I be if I couldn’t read people?”
“Your mom overheard my conversation.”
“Yes, but I’d already figured it out, and besides, she likes you.”
“You aren’t mad that I pretended to be a client?”
“I knew it.” The familiar voice came from the corner of the building. The bride stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “Your relationship is fake. Why did you bring her, Sam?”
“She’s not a client. She’s my new—”
“Uh-uh,” Grace said, cutting him off. “He doesn’t have to explain anything to you. Let me clue you in, Sarah. He’s here for his brother, not out of some misguided illusion that you think he’s still got a thing for you. Trust me…he doesn’t.”
“What’s going on?” Richard asked as he and the others rounded the building.
“She’s horrible,” Sarah said as she stormed off with her bridesmaids following behind her.
“What happened?” Richard asked, his gaze questioning as he stared between Sam and Grace.
“Your soon-to-be bride doesn’t like my choice of dates,” Sam said as he took Grace’s hand. “Don’t ask me to choose, Richard. You won’t like my answer.”
