Page 28 of One More Time

She glanced sideways. “It’s cold.”

“A little,” I teased in return.

A few minutes later, we turned off Main Street. As we approached her place, reluctance slowed my pace. We stopped in front of her house.

“Tell me something.” She peered up at me.

“Anything.”

A gust of wind whipped down the street and blew her hair in a little swirl. “What if…” She narrowed her eyes as she studied me.

The only light came from the glow of the lights on the porch. Her gaze was intent, and it felt as if she was trying to read into me while she tried to make a decision.

“What if we just—” She bluntly said, “I don’t want a relationship.”

“I don’t either,” I answered honestly.

“I want you.”

At her words, need surged inside me like a fist pounding on the door, loud and insistent.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you,” I offered in the charged pause.

“What if we just had one night?”

Chapter Sixteen

McKenna

What if we just had one night?

I could not believe how bold I was.

Jack was silent. With every second that ticked by, I could hear the rush of blood in my ears as my heart pounded hard and fast. The air around us felt electric.

Just when I started to think I’d been far too reckless, his eyes locked on mine. “One night?”

With a swallow, I nodded.

“That’s it?”

I blinked. Even though it felt physically impossible, my heart raced faster. “Well, it’s a start.” I collected myself. “I don’t want things to get complicated.”

“We agree on that. I’m not sure one night will be enough.”

Just when I didn’t know where to go with this conversation, he added, “But I’m not about to miss that one night. Your place or mine?”

With my pulse careening wildly, I gestured to my steps a few feet away before glancing down the street to his house. Although only two small houses separated mine and his, the distance between them seemed impossibly far. Right this very second, I needed what he was offering. I needed the escape.

Jack’s hand closed around mine. It was warm, strong, and secure. A feeling I didn’t expect.

I led him up the steps, stumbling a little on the top one. He released my hand, his palm landing on my hip as he steadied me. Everywhere he touched felt like lightning striking through me.

Thank goodness for force of habit and muscle memory. I managed to punch in the code to get into the house before we rushed through the door.

The living room area was dark, but I’d left a light on over the stove in the kitchen. It cast a soft glow in the background as I turned to look at him. The door clicked shut behind him, and quiet fell around us.

My eyes were instantly snagged in his intent blue gaze. He studied me soundlessly. “Are you sure about this?”

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