Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest 1)

He met her gaze. “You can’t make her choices for her.” Despite knowing better, he placed his hand over hers on the bar.

Cara visibly stiffened, but he didn’t remove his hand. “All you can do is give her your advice.”

“Sometimes words aren’t enough. I ought to know.”

It was a small enough town that Mike knew that her parents didn’t have the best marriage. Her father wasn’t the nicest person around, especially when he’d been drinking. What Mike didn’t know was whether Cara had ever been on the receiving end of his abuse. The thought made Mike want to hit something or someone himself.

“Cara?”

“Hmm?”

He wanted to ask if her father had ever hurt her. More, he wanted to protect her from anyone else harming her either. But she didn’t need his help any more than Mike knew what to do with these crazy feelings she inspired.

“Do you want to

dance?” he heard himself ask instead. Not bright, buddy, Mike thought to himself.

She paused a beat before answering. “Why not,” she said at last.

They wound their way through the morass of people and onto the crowded dance floor, the jukebox playing Adele. No sooner had they reached a comfortable spot than another slow, crooning song came on, and Mike had to wonder why the universe liked to toy with him this way. Still, he’d asked her to dance, and Lord knew he wanted her in his arms, so he held out his hand.

She placed her smaller palm in his.

He thought he’d been prepared for the crackle of electricity, but the zing that went through him was stronger than he’d remembered or anticipated. He pulled her into his embrace, hoping like hell he could control his body’s reaction because in this tight space, with her flush against him, there was no way she wouldn’t notice.

She got to him.

Cara didn’t talk, and neither did he. Somehow the ease with which she fit into his arms and the relaxed way they swayed to the music spoke for them.

He ought to feel that uncomfortable itching sensation now, like the one he’d always used to experience when Tiffany tried to make plans in advance, or like the one he got when he approached his parents’ house and he felt like home and expectations were closing in on him. Yet he experienced none of those things, only the feeling of comfort along with the ever-present arousal she inspired.

Cara sighed then. A small sound shuddered through her body and as she laid her head against his chest, something he’d been holding tight inside him seemed to ease. Her hair smelled fruity and delicious, and déjà vu returned full force.

Last time, she’d been as eager to leave the bar as he. As willing to indulge in hot, needy sex without discussion or questions of what the act might mean. And she’d satisfied the needs not just of his body but of something more. So much so that he hadn’t slept with a woman since. He’d tried not to think about that, but now he couldn’t focus on anything else. He had the one woman he wanted in his arms. Again.

He wondered what she’d say to picking up where they’d left off. A no-strings affair, one with a definite ending when he left town. But Cara knew that about him already. She’d said as much herself, and though her jab about knowing not to expect much from him grated, it was the truth.

The one thing he didn’t question was his sudden turnaround. It was as clear as his need for her and his admission that for now, no one else would do.

Cara had lost her mind. There was no other explanation for the fact that in Mike’s arms, she’d found peace from her thoughts, or that she wasn’t running from the heavy desire pulsing through her body.

Mike’s large hand splayed against the thick fabric of her shirt, hot against her back. With a grateful sigh, she leaned her head against his chest and listened to the rapid beating of his heart.

His fingertips dipped slightly lower, into the top band of her jeans, and pressed her lower body against his. She couldn’t miss the hard length of his erection or the silent question. Yes, her breasts were heavy, dampness settled between her thighs, and she wanted him more than her next breath. But how could she go there again and walk away whole?

But maybe a better question was, how could she walk away now?

“Cara?” he asked, his voice a gruff, low rumble.

She tipped her head back and met his gaze. “Yes.” She knew exactly what she was saying.

His impossibly brown eyes darkened even more. “Are you sure?”

She nodded.

He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Go up the back and I’ll meet you outside my apartment in a few minutes.”

Leave separately, she thought. This time he was paying more attention to propriety, which was so un-Mike-like.