Enjoy an excerpt below...
Matthew’s laughter rumbled from his chest, mesmerizing her with its rich fullness. “I can’t believe we both ended up in California. So close and yet…” He rubbed a finger over her bare left hand.
Laila clenched her thighs in response.
“Did you marry that overgrown hulk you dated in college?”
“No.” She grimaced. “I sent him packing after he cultivated the terrible habit of dating several women at the same time. What about you? Last I heard, you and a beauty queen were headed into domestic bliss.”
He chuckled. “She wanted to get married but she wasn’t the woman for me.”
Laila wanted to ask who was, but the idea of him finding the perfect woman rankled. Hadn’t he made it perfectly clear she didn’t hold his interest?
He trailed a finger from her wrist to her elbow, then circled her arm to tug her around the floater to his side. “Is there anyone who’d have a problem with us spending time together?”
Come on, girl. He shouldn’t still affect you like this. She shook her head. “What about on your end?”
“Not at all.” His leg brushed against hers.
A jolt of awareness traveled up her body, pooling in her center. Her pulse rocketed into overdrive, causing her brain to issue a red alert, but her body refused to listen. Images of them kissing and his hands stroking her willing body flooded her mind. Her entire being readied itself for pleasure.
He grinned as if he knew her secret thoughts. “You know, I never found a woman who kisses as well as you.”
You’re over him, remember? Pull yourself together, Miss Independent. Her heart throbbed against her chest and she allowed a small smile of pride at the idea of being irreplaceable.
Matthew snaked an arm around her waist. “I know we didn’t part on the best of terms but I never stopped thinking about you.”
His deep tones blew through her walls of protection like fire through dry pine needles.
She quivered in response. How could her body betray her like this? She said nothing, afraid of what she’d blurt out if she opened her mouth. Was he playing another game with her?
“Did you ever think about me?” His voice lowered, melting the years between them like butter in a hot skillet.
His intense gaze ran over her, heating her exposed skin.
Don’t give in. He left you for someone else. “You cross my mind if someone mentions you,” she forced out in a breathy tone as if she’d run a mile. Liar. After all this time, why did he have such an effect on her? She was over him, had been ever since he obliterated her heart.
He chuckled. “Sometimes I wish we hadn’t been so close.”
Was that a look of regret crossing his face? Laila nodded in agreement with his words, not really knowing how else to respond.
“We were young and—”
“I know what you mean.” She forced a smile to her face, though she didn’t understand what he meant at all. Was his regret the reason he’d hurt her?
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