Page 31 of If We Never Met

"Okay."

"You think I'm making excuses, don't you?"

He hesitated. She was already pissed at him.Did he want to answer that question?He couldn't seem to stop himself. "Are you?" he challenged. "In my experience, we make time for the things we really want unless we're afraid to want them, afraid to go for them, or we don't want them as much as we think we do. That's when all the distractions and excuses come in."

"I know what I want. I just haven't figured out the logistics yet."

"Then you're good."

"I am good," she said hotly.

The air between them sizzled. "I know what I want, too," he said.

"To get back to baseball."

"Yes, but I also want something else." His heart was suddenly thudding against his chest.

Sparks lit up her eyes as she read his expression. "Bad idea, Dante."

"You're thinking the same thing. You're wanting the same thing. Aren't you?"

"Maybe you were right. Maybe I don't know what I want."

"Now you're chickening out."

"Because it's…reckless."

"I thought you liked being reckless, going fast, taking chances…"

"I was talking about skiing."

"Were you?" He took a step closer, his arms sliding around her back as his body took over his brain. Bad idea or not, he wanted to kiss her. He gave her one second to pull away, but she didn't, so he covered her mouth with his.

She tasted hot, sweet, and a little salty from the margaritas they'd been drinking. But her lips were incredibly soft and seductive, and he didn't want to stop kissing her. He wanted to lose himself in her. And when she opened her mouth to his, when she kissed him back, the hunger only deepened.

Then a door clattered open, and they jumped apart, turning at the same time to face Hannah's surprised gaze.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said.

"You didn't." Keira stepped away from him as she ran her hand through her hair. "We were just getting some air."

"Sure," Hannah said with a knowing smile. "Chelsea's award is coming up. I didn't want you to miss it."

"We'll be right in," Keira said.

As Hannah left, she gave him a helpless look. "I don't know what that was, but it can't happen again. I need to go inside."

She was gone before he could say a word. It was just as well, because even though he knew it shouldn't happen again, he couldn't promise it wouldn't.

Chapter Eight

Keira spentmost of Monday and Tuesday in a state of distraction. When she wasn't reliving the unexpected and incredibly good kisses she'd shared with Dante, she was worrying about her mom, whose friendship with Mark Langley continued to grow. Her mom had been giggling on the phone like a teenager. She couldn't remember when her mother had last had so many long phone chats. It was like she was reliving her high school years.

By late Wednesday afternoon, Keira was ready to snap out of her lethargy. She'd been working at the store all afternoon, but she'd barely accomplished anything, and it was almost five. She was tired of her lack of focus and concentration. She needed to get over it.

She hadn't seen Dante since they'd left the patio. Thankfully, he hadn't stayed for the rest of the awards show, and she'd left as soon as she'd seen Chelsea make her acceptance speech. Dante hadn't tried to contact her since then, and she had stayed away from the inn, so it looked like they were back to being strangers. It was for the best. There was an unmistakable attraction between them—not just physical, but also emotional. She'd liked kissing him, but she'd also liked talking to him. It had felt so easy, so natural. But Dante was taken, and that was that.

She was a little surprised that Hannah hadn't been in touch to ask her what was going on. It wasn't like Hannah to butt out; she usually liked to butt in. Maybe that's why she was also distracted; she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

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