Switching off the engine, I take in the buildings on either side of Garrett’s. Both are businesses of some sort. Both a little rundown but clean and tidy. Through the rearview mirror, I see similar buildings across the street. It’s an industrial area, and yet there are houses at the end of the road.
It’s an older neighborhood of Sydney. One established before the segregation of residential and industrial. I imagine it wouldbe a really quiet area to live. Although not family friendly, which isn’t good.
Why am I worried about that?
Shaking my head, I lean over and grab my bag and the possibly offensive Chinese. I can always take it home with me if he doesn’t like it. I haven’t even turned toward the door when it flies open.
Startled, I yelp.
“Easy. Easy. Just me.”
Pressing a hand to my chest, I try to catch my breath. Finally, after several deep drafts, I say, “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Same.” Garrett slips a hand under my elbow and urges me out of the car.
“What?” Once on my feet, I move back to let him shut the door. It’s only then I realize he has my handbag and the takeout bag clutched in his grip. “Here, let me take those now.”
“I’m good. And what I meant by same, was I didn’t expect to find you parked in my driveway when I got back from my run.”
His words have my gaze darting over him. He’s shirtless. Wet. Shorts barely clinging to his hips and the last time I saw him he was commando…
Heat swamps me. Fire blazes across my nerves and sinks low in my belly. Images of him naked, his cock hard and pulsing, flash in my head. Licking my dry lips, I swallow through a constricted throat.
“Now, now, none of that. Not down here at least.” Garrett laughs and tugs me toward his door. “We can revisit that look and whatever thoughts rolled through your head as soon as I get you inside.”
I have to admit, I’ve never understood why women—or men—say they’re drunk on lust. But right now, I’ve got my hand raised and I’m screaming, it’s me! It’s me!
I’m drunk on lust.
I’m drowning in it.
And I do not want to be rescued unless it’s the shirtless man towing me into his house doing the rescuing.
Shit! There is no way I’m getting out of here without sleeping with Garrett again.
Honesty forces me to admit, if only to myself, that I came here for this.
I came here knowing if I gave him a signal, a word, or even dropped to my knees in front of him, he wouldn’t knock me back.
One night in Garrett’s bed was not enough.
I’m a little worried no amount of time in this man’s arms will be enough.
This attraction has an intensity I’ve never experienced, and I want to explore it as much as I want to run from it.
He scares me. I was devastated by Julian’s betrayal and when I look back, I know what hurt more was that my life was a lie. With Garrett, if I let this go beyond physical, I stand to lose a lot more than Julian could ever have taken from me.
I hate that I’m thinking of my ex-husband when the man I want is pulling me into his apartment and shutting the door behind us with a loud slap. Hate that I can’t take this for what it is. A hookup.
“Hey. Hey.” Garrett’s hands cradle my face. “What has that look on your face?”
I search his gaze. Look for a reassurance of something I can’t name.
“It’s okay. Whatever it is. It’ll be okay.”
How can he promise that? He has no idea why I’m here, what baggage I’ve brought with me. “Before last night, I knew who I was,” I whisper.
“You’re still there, a little different maybe, but you’re still you.”
