Page 13 of Save the Last Dance (Take the Backroads #1)

Actually, he might be surprised to discover how much she’d been thinking about him since she’d returned home. She didn’t say anything, though, sensing he had more on his mind.

“I never knew with Jenny.” His expression became serious and Nina braced herself, not sure she was ready to hear more about his marriage.

His jaw flexed, as if he were weighing words before he continued.

“So it surprised the hell out of me when—right before she left—she accused me of never getting over you.”

His words stunned her. They rang through her with a dull hum.

“That’s—that’s ridiculous,” she said finally, her mouth too dry for words. “Did you tell her we hadn’t even spoken since that summer?”

When she’d begged him to come to New York and start a new life with her. When she’d given him ultimatums and he’d gone more and more silent with every phone call until there was no reason to call again.

“She was out the door before I thought of a comeback. And considering it took me that long to form a response, I had to wonder if she had a point.”

It was as if she was listening to someone speak to her through water. She could hear what he was saying, but she felt far away. Like all of this was unreal.

“You can’t be serious.” She didn’t want to think about what it meant if he still had feelings for her. She’d gotten use to hers—the healed over hurt that left a long scar. But if he still cared about her… “I thought we were going to try to be friends.”

“Is that even possible, Nina, when the air damn near crackles every time I get near you?” He stared at her in the moonlight, searching for answers.

His shoulder pressed into the swing chain, the sleeve of his polo shirt riding up high enough to reveal some ink from a tattoo that hadn’t been there before.

Maybe she chose now to notice the tattoo because meeting his gaze meant she had to be honest with him. She swallowed hard.

“I don’t know.” Her voice was rough in her throat.

He reached toward her and her heartbeat went wild. His hand wrapped around the chain over her head and he dragged her closer. Closer. Her knees brushed his. Her thigh bumped his hip and the warmth of his body next to hers teased over her senses.

“Does this feel like friendship to you?” He tucked his hands behind her knees and swiveled her to face him. He palmed her calves through her jeans, pinning her knees to his.

They stared at each other for a long, breathless moment, suspended beside one another and close enough to share each breath.

Old emotions rose up inside her like living things, combining with new ones she hadn’t expected.

She breathed deeper to take in the scent of his aftershave—bay rum and spices.

Her mouth went dry as chalk and she couldn’t answer. She shook her head. Licked her lips to try and speak…

But Mack was already leaning closer, his head tilting. She closed her eyes at the last second, savoring the press of his mouth to hers. His lips were warm and sure against hers, the pressure light but definite, just enough to warn her of his intent before he took more.

Her skin tingled everywhere, hyperaware of him.

This was Mack, the man who’d inspired her teenage fantasies—and some adult ones, if she was honest—the one who’d shown her everything from how to kiss to…

so much more. Her hands found his cheeks and smoothed over the rough texture of his five o’clock shadow, cradling his face as he took a deeper taste.

The stroke of his tongue along hers just about undid her, the slick, subtle pressure unleashing a tide of feelings she’d kept locked up tight for a long, long time. She closed her eyes tighter, trying to hold herself back even as she wanted the kiss to go on and on.

“Mack.” She broke contact by some minor miracle, though she didn’t pull away. “This is crazy.”

He was slow to open his eyes, a fact that soothed some old wounds just a little bit. With an effort, she let go of his face, her fingers gliding down his cheek to the straight edge of his jaw and then…back into her lap.

“Agreed.” His voice was for-her-ears-only soft, but the scratchy note in it told her he struggled for control as much as she did. “But it’s not going away. And we’re sure as hell not going to fix it by some lame attempt at friendship when all this heat blazes beneath the surface.”

Her thoughts swam fuzzily after the kiss, so she didn’t understand what he was saying.

With a cool breeze rippling across her sheer blouse, she could only think about how good it would feel to close the distance between them again.

To have Mack’s hands tucked beneath her knees to keep her anchored to him on the swings.

“So what should we do about it?” She hadn’t touched a sip of alcohol tonight but she suspected she might sway on her feet when she stood.

“I’m not sure. But we could talk about it. Maybe have dinner and hash it out.”

“Dinner?”

The dimple in his left cheek made an appearance, his hands sliding down the swing chains until he gripped the seat on either side of her. Behind them, a couple of teens raced past, chasing each other and laughing.

“Not now. Tomorrow, maybe, if you’re free.”

“You’re asking me to share a meal with you.” She went over the details, making sure she understood.

“Yes. We did a damned good job at breaking each other’s hearts once. We both know there can’t be anything long-term between us. But we’re both here now, and the attraction is so strong I can’t get you off my mind.”

She gasped. “You don’t mean?—?”

“I mean we’re adults now. If we want to spend time together, we don’t have to sneak off into the orchard anymore. We can enjoy each other without getting all wound up about some big commitment neither of us wants.” He made it sound so simple when it was anything but.

Her eyes slid over him, his square shoulders and thick, masculine chest. His long arms flexing with lean muscle as he held her swing still. Denim-clad legs that stretched between them, his feet anchoring them in the sand to keep them both from spinning.

Any woman would be thrilled to go on a date with this man.

He was handsome. Considerate. And he kissed like a sexy fantasy come to life.

Too bad she wasn’t the kind of woman who could just enjoy that aspect of a relationship and not want more.

She knew what they could have together. Toe-curling kisses were never going to be enough.

“Mack, I’m not going to lie. I’m so spun up from that kiss I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

” Her heart raced harder than after her most challenging workout.

It would take her hours just to cool down after this.

“But I just barely held myself together the last time my heart was broken. Between you and me, I’m not strong enough to do that again. ”

She waited a moment, but when he didn’t say anything, she twisted sideways to stand.

“Caring about people is always a risk, Nina. No one can guarantee there won’t be fallout if you take a chance.” He got to his feet slowly, jamming his hands in his pockets.

“I know.” She also understood that it had cost him to ask her out after the way they’d split. If only there wasn’t so much painful baggage they couldn’t ignore. “But it’s one thing to take that risk with someone new. With you, the potential for hurt is about ten times higher.”

He nodded, his jaw flexing. “Keeping that math in mind, did it ever occur to you what the potential payoff might be if things actually worked out, even just in the short-term?”

She let that one roll over her, that tiny slice of incredible possibility calling to her as fiercely as his kiss.

“You don’t have to answer yet. Just think on it. For now, let me walk you to the truck.” He put a hand on her waist, the briefest of touches, to lead her in the right direction. “I saw that you’re parked over here.”

Her legs felt wooden as they made their way across the playground and to the street. She hadn’t locked the truck, so he held the door for her while she stepped inside.

“Where’s your Gram?” He pivoted back toward the town square. “Didn’t she ride with you?”

Nina nodded. “Ethan Brady’s grandfather is driving her.”

“Harlan is a good guy.” Mack kept his arm on her door, his body still close enough to touch.

She hadn’t even gotten her keys out of her purse yet. God, she was a mess. All because of Mack Finley and his crazy, unexpected, makes-no-sense suggestion they go out on a date. He knew that was a terrible idea, damn it. Why had he put it out there?

“Nina?” He put a hand on her forearm, a simple touch that reminded her of all the things she’d just said “no” to. “You okay to drive?”

A long sigh hissed from her lips. She had tried to do what was right.

To make the smart decision. But Mack was thwarting her at every turn with touches and crazy suggestions that a relationship between them was still a possibility.

But they wanted very different things in life and her heart ached just remembering how much he’d hurt her last time.

And yet still the attraction between them frazzled her to distraction.

Frustrated and unable to hold back another second, she twisted in her seat, looped her arms around his neck and planted the kind of kiss on his gorgeous lips he wouldn’t forget any time soon.

When she eased back, it was Mack who wore the swaying-on-his-feet expression, his eyes unfocused for a long moment.

“I’m feeling better already.” She nodded, her blood running hot in her veins, but she felt more in control now. More like her old, take-charge self. “I’ll think about what you said.”

“About dinner?”

“About taking risks.” Maybe that kiss was all she needed. Just to get the urge out of her system.

Or just to know she wasn’t the only one affected by the chemistry in the air.

“That’s…good.” He smiled and made a point of rubbing a finger over his lower lip where she’d just kissed him. “I think I like your risky side.”

“That’s the problem. I don’t.” She shook her head, flustered again and needing to retreat more than ever.

“I’ve spent a long time trying to rein it in to be more efficient in business and more discerning in my love life.

” Too bad Mack had a close and personal relationship with her adventurous side.

He seemed to bring it out in her without even trying.

“Don’t tell me you’re turning practical on me.” He grinned as she revved the engine on the pickup and put it in Reverse.

“Okay, I won’t tell you.” She would go home, bake some cupcakes and wise up before she did anything stupid, like actually get involved with a man who never wanted a family. “You’ll just have to see for yourself.”