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“Whatwereyour plans?” I asked. She laced her fingers with mine, and I didn’t mind. In the past, I’d have run far away from a woman who’d get too close. But the urge didn’t strike me now.

“Culinary school here in the city. Once I finished that, I wanted to go to Paris and study more there. Eventually, own my own pastry shop somewhere or back home.” I shrugged. “I guess, now that I have Uncle Doug’s deli to look after, my dreams came true in a roundabout way.”

Guilt wracked through me about the deli and I grew quiet. And suddenly, the only thing I wanted in the world was to give Chelseaeverythingshe wanted. What the hell was happening to me?

14

NO WALK ‘O SHAME HERE

REX

The boat groanedagainst the dock like people had just boarded. Then voices hit me. I shot straight up in bed, eyeing the sunlight through the porthole window.

“Shit.” My eyes scanned for my clothes, finding them in a tangled mess on the floor with Chelsea’s.

Moving beside me, she stirred. With the face of an angel surrounded by a carefree set of fiery locks, she opened her green eyes on me. Sexy bedroom eyes pointed right to my heart.

“What time is it?” She asked, her voice groggy and her lips swollen. I took full advantage of our night together and was damn proud of the way she looked this morning. Well-fucked.

Before I could answer, the guys sounded close and Brooks called out my name. “Rex? You down here? Awake?”

Xander laughed and said, “He’s probably naked and passed out after fucking some woman all night.”

“Shit. Remember that one time—” Archer began.

I cut him off right there, calling out through the door. “Hey assholes, give me some privacy, please?” I didn’t need them telling Chelsea of my playboy not-so-distant past. Although after last night, she suspected it, anyway.

“Morning. Sorry. The guys are here, which means the race will start soon.” I leaned down and sorted our clothes, handing hers to her.

“Oh, Maisy is probably worried sick about me.” She searched through her things and produced a phone, texting away.

I got dressed quick and peaked out the porthole at the cloudless morning. “I’ll take you to the house and be back in time for the race.”

“No, it’s fine. Stay. I’ll call Maisy to come get me.”

“I won’t just leave you stranded. I guess you can take my car back to the house.”

She froze after covering up her body with her dress. “Me? Drive your expensive luxury car?”

“Sure. It’s only a car, Chelsea. Drives just like any other, so don’t let the price tag scare you. Unfortunately, I probably should stay to prep for the race.”

She chewed her cheek, getting dressed. “Fine.”

But it wasn’t fine, I could tell, from the way she tied the sash tight at her waist from her dress.

The guys made more noise above us, and I shot her an apologetic glance. “Guess the walk of shame won’t be easy.”

She glared. “You make what we did last night sound so cheap.”

“No, not what I meant at all. If I had my way, I’d tell those idiots to piss off, hell I’d even cancel the race so I could get you back to your sister or spend more time with you.”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl. I wanted you last night, and I have no shame in that. I own my decisions.”

She started toward the door, but I pulled her back to my front, my arms circled around her. “And I’m glad you did.” I possessively held a hand to her throat and suckled on her earlobe and whispered. “I want to see you again.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I might even walk into the deli and ask you out soon.”