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“Your date then? Go on, run back to her.”

“No. Not this time, because…”

“Because what, Rex?”

“Because she isn’tyou.” I captured her arm and broughther close to me. My hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her in, and my lips landed on hers. Possessed by something happening between us, or the stars or the moon, whatever the hell it was, I acted without thinking, taking what I’d wanted all along.

Warm, soft, so welcoming. Her lips swelled from my attention. I pressed her closer to me, feeling every contour of her body touching mine. Her hands landed on my chest, cupping my pecs. As an ocean wave crashed onto the shore, my heart thundered in my ears. I grazed on the taste of her, sucking and kissing…until she pulled slightly away.

“You kissed me,” she whispered.

“I did.”

“I liked it.”

“You did?”

“Yes.” Her eyes shone like diamonds in the dark night, framed by fiery locks of hair. Never had a woman so captivated me before her.

“There’s more where that came from,” I assured. Our lips melted together, burned by the flames between us. I craved all of her. From the beginning, I should have known better, thinking I could keep away. Forbidden by me and my greed, I wouldn’t allow myself the pleasure of complicating things with her.

Now? The complications were only beginning.

12

CLOSE QUARTERS

CHELSEA

The beach,moonlight, and kisses…some things to cross off of my New York City bucket list under the added category ofThings I’d like to do if I’m ever in the Hamptons.

Never in a billion years did I think it’d be possible with Rex. His kisses deserved an extra category all their own.

Perfect, sensual…leaving me breathless.

While this moment was everything, my mind raced ahead. What came next? A romp in the sand? Or maybe he’d take me into that enormous home and sweep me to his room for a night of fun?

His lips seared into my skin, trailing kisses down my neck. A thrill worked down my spine, centering between my legs at the attention he lavished, and my nipples peaked, begging for him to palm them. I clung to him for this, no matter where he took me.

Okay, maybe one night with Rex was exactly what I needed to get him out of my system. We were both adults,both busy with our careers, and if we consented and wanted it, why not?

My phone chirped, jolting me away from every nerve ending in my body going crazy in his arms. I reluctantly worked out of them to read the message.

“Oh, it’s Brooks. He says he found Maisy and they’re talking. He’ll get her back to the party soon.” Another chime told me it was my sister. “And a text from her saying she’ll be okay.”

“Good. Now you can relax.”

“Yes, true.” The tension in my shoulders released. At least, I could relax about my sister. Spending more time with a man who had me on edge from the beginning was another matter. Inhaling the salty air, I gazed upon him. In the moonlight, he was even more dashing, especially with his sly smile.

Oh, I could do so many things with him, but a few seconds away was all I needed to bring me back to my senses. We’d essentially just met, and I rarely rushed these things. Always so busy with working at Mom’s diner and now the deli to put too much stock into relationships.

I’d dated here and there back home, even tried a serious sort of boyfriend for a while, but work and my family needs came first. How can a man compete with that? Perhaps it was the same with Rex, being a busy CEO.

Rex pulled me to him again, but I put up a hand to stop him. Still, something about him was different, like the air surrounding him crackled with electricity. It drew me to himfrom first sight.

“I’d really like to walk along the beach in the moonlight and dip my toes in the water. It’s on my bucket list for my time here in New York,” I said, and legitimately, it was.

“Bucket list, huh?” He glanced back at the house and I almost thought he’d abandon me again. “Okay, hang on. I’ll join you.” He took off his shoes that looked made of expensive leather and set them on the sand. I dropped my heels beside them, then he rolled up his pant legs a little. We walked down to the water’s edge, leaving the music and the party noise behind us, traded for the sound of waves crashing on the shore.