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Chapter One
The Beginning
Jase Dvornakov’s abs made Heather Reese seriously reconsider swearing off men.
Almost.
Gawking at the smokin’-hot florist while he had his own private dance party for one wasn’t Heather’s thing. She was a woman in control of her own destiny. That’s what she tried to tell herself, anyway. Still, she stared through his storefront window in the posh Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Her feet remained cemented on the sidewalk, a burst of her breath fogged against his window, and she memorized every move shirtless Jase made—instead of opening the stupid door to step inside.
His hips thrust, shoulders rolled, and…who was she kidding? She couldn’t look away. If he was going to put it all out there, she might as well appreciate the view. The man had moves. She’d give him that.
It was like watching one of her favorite game shows: Which door was she going to pick?
Shops along their street were barely starting to open; it was too early for a dance party at her friendly neighborhood flower shop. Apparently, Jase—her neighbor—didn’t agree.
She shook the foamy haze from her brain.
Sweet Goddess of Gold’s Gym, this man distracted her. She opened door number one and stepped through, stumbling over her feet only a little.
“Hey, Jase.” As soon as the words slipped past her lips, she knew they couldn’t be heard over the music blaring through the shop.
She cleared her throat and shifted in her pinkHeather’s Cookie & Co.embroidered polo shirt, hopeful the man dancing across the concrete floor would pause long enough to toss a glance her way.
Not because she wanted him toglance her waybut because she needed his attention. So she could give him his poster.
Advertising the senior “senior” prom for the nursing home where she volunteered.
Nothing more.
He didn’t. Instead, he continued gyrating his hips and stuffing lilies into a wreath with a gold banner that read,In Loving Memory, Phyllis.
“Jase?” she called, raising her voice over the music.
Okay, that got his attention. He finally glanced her way, paused mid–posy thrust, and a wicked smile crept across his lips. “Heather. Hey.”
Her blood heated from his gaze, tingling as it swished through her veins.
Oh, for pity’s sake. Her body begged her to grin back, sayheyto him, and get her out of the drought that had become her dating life.
She told her body to hush. She had spent months detoxing from men and their unkept promises. Men and their unwillingness to fit her into their lives.
Okay, maybe not all men, just the ones she’d dated.
There was absolutely no need to jump back in and take another hit just because Jase said, “Heather. Hey.” All sexy-like.
Two quick strides brought Jase to the cash register. He flicked a switch and the music zipped to a stop.
Heather gripped the stack of posters in her hands. Her brainchild. A prom for the senior citizens at a nearby retirement home. Something to get them up and moving and having a good time. Also, another distraction to prevent her from breaking her no-men rule. “Sorry. I can come back later, if you’d rather.”
She inhaled a long breath of floral-scented air and tacked on a smile.
“Don’t be sorry.” He scrawled something on a notepad. “Now’s good. I just lost track of time. Didn’t hear you come in.”
“That would explain the dancing, and the lack of clothing.” She gestured to his bare pecs and quickly glanced away to the assortment of potted cactus plants dotted along the windowsill.
“Oh, ah, right. I got distracted. I work best when I’m in the zone.” He yanked a thin white T-shirt from under the counter and tugged it over his head.
