“You said you weren’t going to kiss me.”
“That was last night. Tonight all bets are off.”
“Sun Tzu?”
“No. Me.” And he lowered his mouth to hers. Her body melted into the heat of his, her softness curving around his hardness. He tasted her on his lips, felt her scent tease his senses.
By the time he pulled away he was ready to have sex on a kitchen countertop, something he’d never done in his life before.
She staggered slightly, her hand locked in the front of his shirt. “That was—”
“Yes, it was. Which is why I’ve decided to leave.” He dropped another lingering kiss on her mouth and unpeeled her fingers from his shirt before easing away from her. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
“You’re leaving?” Her voice sounded husky. “I thought you were carbo-loading.”
“I was.” He caught her face in his hands and trapped her gaze with his. “But you’re still not ready to do this. You’re a little wary, a little suspicious and afraid you’re going to hurt me. And you’re afraid you’re going to hurt yourself again, by being forced to reexamine the possible reasons you can’t fall in love. But I’m going to make that part easy for you. No woman in her right mind would fall in love with me so don’t even waste energy asking yourself that question.”
She looked a little dazed, a little vulnerable. “You really are leaving?”
“Yes, because when we have sex, there are going to be no doubts. No holding back.”
“So what was the kiss for?” The note of wistful disappointment in her voice almost made him change his mind.
Almost.
He smiled. “It was a taste of things to come.”
Twelve
Molly picked up Valentine the following morning and was relieved to see him back to his normal self. He greeted her as if they’d been parted for a century and she wrapped her arms around him, feeling his whole body moving as he wagged his tail.
“Thank you,” she muttered to the vet, her face in his fur. “Thank you for everything you did.” Her heart was so full she could hardly speak.
If something had happened to Valentine. If she had lost him—
“You’re welcome. He’s a beautiful dog.” Steven gave Valentine a pat and then returned to his surgery.
There was no sign of Seth.
Realizing that Daniel still hadn’t told her how he knew him, Molly clipped on Valentine’s lead. “From now on I’m not taking my eyes off you for a single second. Anything you’re planning on eating, I need to see it first.”
She’d had a text from Daniel, inviting her to his apartment for dinner. The fact that he’d also invited Valentine sealed it for her.
“You’re invited to dinner. What do you think?” It was a perfect New York day. The rain had given way to perfect blue skies. Sunlight glinted off glass towers and the streets were clogged with traffic and people. “Do you think we should go?”
Valentine wagged his tail enthusiastically.
“Before you make your decision, you should probably know that Brutus won’t be there. He doesn’t actually live with Daniel. And you’d have to behave. He has a very expensive apartment. Chew anything and you’re out.”
Valentine gave a single bark.
“Right, then. I’ll take that as a yes.” She stroked his head. “If we’re going out tonight, we’d better go home and get some work done.”
* * *
A few blocks away in his office, Daniel had started his day early.
He had the place to himself, which suited him perfectly because having been in court for the previous two days he had a mountain of work.