Page 45

“Sorry about that,” MJ murmured before pulling back, adjusting, softening her lips and pressing them to mine a second time. It took me a moment to fully tune in, but I did. I kissed her back, closing my eyes.Trying. There was the problem: I already knew what it felt like to kiss someone who made my toes curl, who I craved, and who kissed me like we were born to do it. You couldn’t unknow that feeling, and it sadly made all other experiences seem as mundane as the nightly dishes. MJ pulled back from the kiss and smiled, and for the first time since I met MJ, I saw a glimmer of self-doubt, which meant she saw straight through me and my reaction to our kiss.

“That was nice.”

“Nice?” she said. “Ouch. See, I was hoping for more thannice.” She raised a shoulder. “We could try again.”

I wasn’t up for that and had to find a way to explain my situation. Honesty had always been my go-to, and today should be no different. “Here’s the thing,” I told her, meeting her gaze. Her soft brown eyes held mind attentively. “I don’t think I’m at a place where I can leap into a relationship.”

“Right. Okay.” She seemed to mull this over, hands easing into the back pockets of her gray jeans. “I hear you. Let’s have a nice time, then. We’re adults. You could invite me in. We could see where things lead.” Oh, MJ. Always the go-getter.

“A few weeks ago, I think I would have taken you up on that offer.”

She frowned and rocked back on her heels. “I hear abuton the way.”

“But I have some personal matters to sort through.”

“The soap doctor?”

I narrowed my gaze. “What have you heard?”

“Well,” she slid a hand through her hair, “I work with Devyn Winters, you know, and we spend a lot of hours in the office.”

Devyn had dished on me. I should have considered the connection. “Aha. I see.” Devyn was there when I spilled pretty much everything about Kyle and me, and her wife would have surely filled her in on the finer details. Couldn’t blame Elizabeth and Devyn for being ridiculously close and cute. Plus, I hadn’t wrapped the information in secret society tape.

“But I’d already heard something about you getting stood up by a woman from out of town.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Nothing is sacred in these parts.”

“Well, not at Ronnie Roo’s anyway. People drink and talk. It was Cricket someone. Red hair. Lots of Botox and opinions.”

“Cricket Johansson should be the villain onReal Housewives of Dreamer’s Bay. In fact, I have it on good authority that her lifelong goal is to make fur coats out of Dalmatians.”

“Hell, this place just gets more and more interesting all the time.” She looked me in the eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that your plate’s a little full.”

“My confused brain is.”

“Well, that’s a shame because you’re a catch.”

It was the nicest sentence, and I took a moment to turn over the compliment in my hand and absorb it. “That might be the nicest thing I’ve heard in a while.” My ego had taken a hit in the romance department as of late, and hearing the words made a much larger impact than even I would have predicted.

MJ held up a hand. “I’m gonna say this, and I want you to hold on to it.”

“Okay. I’m ready.”

She stepped into my space. “There’s always room to change your mind. And I’ll be here if you do.”

“I will remember that.”

“Hey, and if nothing else, you have a cheerleader and friend. Because I happen to think you’re really awesome.” She walked downthe sidewalk a few steps and turned back. “And also the hottest woman I know.”

“You’re good for my ego, MJ. And pretty awesome yourself.”

“Stop!” she called without looking back this time.

Alone with just my porch light, I was overcome with the unmistakable desire to take control of my life in other ways. This exchange with MJ had given me a little burst of power I had apparently been missing. I’d said what I needed out loud and improved our situation. A little drunk with relief, I knew I needed even more. That meant addressing the loose ends. What was I going to do about Faber at work? The temptation that Kyle presented? Seeking out Jacob Kielbasa once and for all? Maybe I needed to make a list. Either way, I was prepared to reclaim my life for myself, and that meant taking the reins. Hell, maybe I’d even get a puppy.

Chapter Fourteen

Pepperoni and Regret