Selena chuckled as she poured the box of macaroni into the boiling water. “It didn’t happen. But we did kiss.”
“Good start. How was it?”
“Still hot. But attraction was never the problem with us.”
The problem was everything else. He had been a big distraction back in high school, crashing into each thought with his body and his sweet smile and the unmistakable desire so alive in his gaze. None of that had changed, even after all these years. And that kiss. How had she managed to block out the feeling of kissing him for all these years?
Selena poured the pasta into a colander, juggling her phone. “I’ll let you know if anything develops. And thanks again for the weekend.”
“Anytime,” said Mel. “Are you still moving into my spare bedroom after the holidays?”
She bit her lip. “Um, of course. Nothing’s changed.”
“You’re always welcome. But if you have crazy sex with your ex and can’t bear to leave that behind, I’d approve of that, too. You deserve some good sex this holiday season.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “Aww, thanks, Mel. Wishing you the same.”
She hung up and blew out a breath. Crazy holiday sex with Jace? She was definitely not going to distract herself with that idea right now. She finished making the mac and cheese and the cocktail sausages, poured herself a cup of coffee, and brought it into her office. Her studio was across the hall from her bedroom suite, in what would have been a guest room if Darren had had his way. It was east-facing with beautiful morning light, or as much light as December mornings in Upstate New York came with. Flat, wide art tables lined the perimeter with a half-dozen projects in various stages of production.
She sat down at her sketching desk and took a sip of her coffee. Talking to Mel was always a boost and a good reminder—she didn’t have to take this run-in with Jace so seriously. Seeing him again could be fun…and sexy as hell if they didn’t get stuck on the past.
But for now, instead of trying to block out these thoughts, maybe she should make a card out of them. Hmm, something likeI know I broke your heart but I still wanted to sex you up today? Who knows? It might be a common enough sentiment to warrant a card.
Chapter Five
Jace stood outside his brother’s front door, his hands in his pockets. He was late, a sin worse than absence in his mother’s mind, but he still hadn’t brought himself to knock. The half-frozen rain had stopped not long after he’d left Selena’s car at the garage. After he found her overnight bag and a few packages in her back seat. After he had debated whether to drive back to her place and give them to her, knowing he’d want to kiss her again.
So he’d resisted, but his mind was still filled with her. Selena. Long brown hair and those dark eyes. Her hair still smelled so good, and he could remember the shape of her face with his eyes closed. Jace had moved on years ago, so why were all these details coming back? Most vivid were the scenes from their Friday nights by the beach. How many times had they sat in his car, talking or laughing or just quiet, but holding each other, always touching. More often than not, she’d fall sleep against his chest, but he’d stay awake, fighting his own drowsiness so they didn’t miss her curfew. Even one slip-up would’ve meant the end of their Friday nights together, and no amount of sleep was worth that.
Jace touched his mouth, where her soft lips had pressed against his less than an hour ago. Seeing Selena today had been just like falling down that rabbit hole again, into hot, erotic heaven. But there were differences that had niggled at him since he found her at the side of the road, and on the ride back to the garage, he was still trying to put his finger on what they were. Kissing was the same, maybe even better. And she looked just as lovely as she always did. It was something else. At eighteen, he could feel her happiness, the fresh excitement ofbecoming. Now, nine years later, that energy and excitement hadn’t shone so brightly, and he wasn’t quite sure what had taken its place.
His memories of Selena were so old and well-worn that they had dulled at the edges, but today, they sharpened back into focus, reminders of all the reasons he still wanted to hold her and all the reasons why he never should let his mind wander in that direction again.
Jace massaged his temples. He’d have hours alone in his bed to worry about that. Tonight was for Andrew and Mary Louise. Which meant he absolutely couldn’t mention Selena under any circumstances. No one wanted reminders of his lowest point nine years ago, including him.
He closed his eyes one more time, tasting the whisper of Selena’s lips on his once more, and then shut all those memories down. At least he had nine years of practice with that, too.He let out a sigh, straighten up and knocked on his brother’s door. It opened almost immediately, and his mother stood in the doorway, frowning at him.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry.”
She smelled of her favorite flowery perfume, the kind she put on for special occasions. Tonight was important for her, and he was late.
He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, ignoring the trickle of guilt that ran through him. “I had a tow call. And it’s not a good night to be stuck out on the road.”
“You could have let one of those big companies take care of it.” His mother knew very well that the “big companies” didn’t come this far north very often, and even if they did, they charged an outrageous fee. It had only been a year since Jace’s father stroke, not nearly long enough for her to forget any of this. Jace didn’t have to explain to her that staying in business meant serving a niche. And if they didn’t offer more personal service, they’d never compete with the bigger companies.
But that guilt still seeping in. None of those were the real reason he had taken so long. The real reason was Selena, she who must not be named. So he let his mother’s comment go, the way he had let so many comments go since his father’s stroke. This last year hadn’t been easy for her, and he knew family meals were the highlights of her week.
His mother was still hovering in the doorway, so he kissed her cheek again and slipped by her. “Are Andrew and Mary Louise somewhere in here, too?”
“Andrew and your father are in the kitchen. Mary Louise, your sister and I are in the basement, working on some wedding details.”
Easy choice. “I’ll go in find Dad and Andrew.”
Jace started through the hallway toward the kitchen. The house was only a few years old, his brother’s newest masterpiece in a portfolio of beautiful homes along the Lake Ontario coast. He had designed it with his own love of cooking in mind, so in addition to the top-of-the-line appliances, the entire back wall of the kitchen was lined with windows that faced the lake. This was what going to college did for his brother. Jace had tried hard not to think too much about what it would have done for him.
He found his brother in a dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up, standing on one side of the bar counter over a roasted turkey. Jace smiled as he read Andrew’s apron:One of us is right. The other is you. Probably a gift from Mary Louise, proof that she knew what she was getting into by marrying him.
