Page 13 of Rekindled Heat

"Exactly. Which is why I don't know why it feels so right to be here with you. To touch you.” He looks at me. “That boy that loved you is not here anymore."

"Then let me meet the man."

"I'm embarrassed to say I don't think you'd like him."

"Let me be the judge of that."

His frown eases a bit, and he takes my hand in his again. We stay like that for the longest time and watch the water come and go. When it gets dark, Erik signals that we should go, and I follow him without saying a word. My heart, however, is wary. What if I don't like the man after all?

Back home, I fix us a light salad for dinner, and we continue to chat about our high school classmates. I notice that Erik loves a good bit of gossip, and I find that incredibly endearing.

"It's good to see you smile, Erik. That first night I was here, I thought you'd become a grouch all these years."

"No, no. I'm pretty laid back."

"Did you ever find love?" I ask.

"Did you?"

"I wasn't looking for love."

"What were you looking for?"

"Companionship, maybe. Someone to share my dreams with. But not love."

"Why not?"

Do I tell him the truth? Will it change things between us? I search his face, trying to see beyond what he's showing me, but there's nothing.

"I already had love once. I didn't think I'd get lucky again."

"My friend Max used to believe that you only got one soulmate. He lucked out. He found love again, but they both had to fight for it."

"They seem very happy together."

"They're getting married soon. Do you want to be my date for their wedding?"

"I would love to, but I just met them. Wouldn't it be weird?"

"They would be happy I’m not going alone. And we could dance the night away."

"I already said I would go—no need to add an irresistible incentive." I smile.

"Let's practice."

He gets up from the table and goes to the living room. With the click of a button, he puts on some music. He offers me his hand, and I look at it, hungry. Being in his arms again is a dream come true. So I get up and let him take me into his arms. We fit together so well that it's scary. It's impossible to look away from him.

His gaze is heated, but at the same time, there's a bit of wickedness in there. We sway from side to side, letting the music flow through us. Unfortunately, I always know how to ruin a special moment.

"Do you always use this playlist to wow your dates?"

"I'm a romantic at heart. I love listening to these songs."

"Is there a playlist for sex as well?"

"What kind of a cad do you take me for?"

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings?" I giggle.

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