She waited for him to step away, to break the moment, but he didn’t move. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she caught her breath, suddenly terrified and also exhilarated at the prospect that he might kiss her again. Then he took an almost impossibly closer step toward her and she couldn’t breathe at all anymore as her heart lurched in her chest. She tried to steady the pounding that hammered loudly in her ears.
His lips grazed against hers, soft. Almost like a whisper, and her belly twisted as a warm rush of wanting flooded through her. Wanting more. Of him, of his kisses…
She willed herself to keep her eyes open. Not wanting to miss the emotions that might play on his solemn face. She wondered if he could read the panic in her thoughts that he would do it again—or worse, that he wouldn’t.
Then it seemed to hit her. The ball was in her court. She needed to decide what she wanted—he was giving her a choice here. Easier than any words, she let him know what she wanted as she raised her lips to his and breathed in his musky, intoxicating scent. The pressure was harder this time as their lips touched, and the stubble around his chin bristled against her skin. The slight sting was offset by the tingling pressure building south of her belly. Her hands gripped his shoulders, so firm and warm. His scent surrounded her, and she brought him farther into her mouth, feeling his tongue, his heat.
This was Dominic.
A man who would show a woman what forever meant. Who would love and cherish her, give her a family and a home and the most thrilling love that would claim her each and every day.
But…it was like a big flashing light was going off in her head.
A family? Kids? She had other goals, other things she had always wanted to accomplish. A partnership to earn and eventually a judgeship. The large house filled with kids and a dog and cat—they weren’t anywhere on her horizon.
She had never wanted them. Those things had never seemed important before.
Not like they were to Dominic.
And to continue to kiss him, to encourage this thing between them, would be doing him a disservice. She’d be no better than Melinda.
Because as much as they might want each other right now, need each other, the hard truth was in front of her.
They didn’t want the same things. They had different futures ahead of them.
She opened her eyes and stepped back, creating distance from this warm, strong man who only wanted to love her. She had to catch her breath.
“What was that?” she whispered. Her hands went to her mouth, still tingling.
He smiled. “Think that was what they call a kiss.”
“I know it was a kiss, but… No. It can’t happen. This can’t happen.”
He didn’t seem offended or alarmed by her reaction, more amused as he leaned back against the window. “It could happen. Let’s be truthful. We both want it.”
“But it would be a mistake. You and me?” She pressed her palms against the sides of her jeans, trying to collect her thoughts. Reason with him. Help him see that, rationally, this was a very bad idea. “We’re just so…different. After everything we talked about, our past relationships, going forward with this would be continuing the mistakes of our past.” Her voice had raised a couple octaves, sounding as panicked as she felt. “Getting mixed up with someone who doesn’t share the same goals. Doesn’t want the same things. It would be a mistake.”
“I’m pretty sure you and I want the same thing,” he said in a teasing voice, unfazed by her words.
“Yes. Now. But in a few months, when I’m working sixty-plus hours, day and night, even into the weekends, are you going to still feel the same way? When you’re filling these beautiful rooms with furniture and wallpaper, you’re also going to be envisioning the children that will live in these rooms and the love and laughter you’ll share with your wife, waiting at home for you. Maybe even a dog or two. And that’s just—it’s just not me.”
Hell, that wasn’t true.
Her heart, her gut, told her she wanted it so much it scared the ever-living crap out of her.
But it was her head that reminded her of the foolishness of her thoughts. And tasked her with sticking to the promise she’d made for herself long ago. The plan she had for her life.
She was going to be someone. Someone important and relevant, and no one was ever going to make her feel like she was nothing. That she was trailer trash.
But it was as if he wasn’t listening, or didn’t want to. He only smiled at her, almost indulgently. “I’m not asking you to marry me, Kate. But ever since you threw open your car door that day, looking so damned cute and ornery, I’ve wanted to pull that red hair of yours from the tight knot at the back of your head and spread it out around your shoulders. Feel its heat in my hands. And having known you and already tasted you, I can say with certainty I only want you more. I want to see and touch and love every part of you. What’s so wrong with that?”
Kate couldn’t deny the shiver of anticipation that ran through her at the thought of Dominic’s soft lips, that hot mouth, on her. “I just—I’m just not the type who does the casual sex thing. I want to know I’m in a relationship with someone that can go somewhere because we’re compatible. Want the same things.”
His hand reached out to touch her jaw, his thumb sliding along the edge, and she couldn’t deny the havoc the slight touch was causing her. “That you’ve got wrong, Kate. We do want the same things. We both want each other and that—for now—is good enough for me.”
She stared into his blue eyes, so open and warm. It would be so easy to give in to the emotions he was stirring up.
And, Lord…that kiss.