Page 32 of That One Heartbreak

“Yeah. I just wanted to get these two strapped in. Then when we get home we’ll put them straight to bed.”

“You want me to help you?”

The offer was genuine. She could see that in his eyes.

“It’s fine. I’ll take one, James will take the other.” Not that either of them would find it easy. Addy was hard enough to carry. At eight, Ethan was almost impossible. He was a tall kid for his age.

“It’ll give James a good workout at least,” Marley said and she grinned.

“And me. I keep forgetting to go to the gym,” she told him. “It’s been eight years.”

He laughed. And it sounded good to her. Damn, she liked this man. The breeze was starting to pick up. It lifted his hair from his face, and she could see the start of laugh lines in the corner of his eyes. They suited him. Made him look grounded.

Acar, driving too fast for the thin piece of road that was left between all the parked vehicles, veered way too close to where she was standing next to her Ford. Before she could think about moving, she felt Marley grab her and push her against her car, his body pressing against hers to form a barrier between her and the too-fast Honda.

The sudden impact of his muscles against hers winded her. She could feel the thickness of his thighs, the flat planes of his stomach. His body caged hers like a shield, his arms pressed against each side of her.

She looked up, her lips parted. And all she could think of was how good his body felt.

How solid he was. How strong. How it sent that electric pulse through her once again. In her neck, her wrists. Between her thighs.

No, that was more than a pulse. It was an ache. One that was growing inside her. Her breath returned, making her chest liftand fall fast. She licked her lips, trying to find some words but none came out.

She lifted her head to look at him, and their eyes connected. There was a darkness in his that made her heart beat so fast she was starting to feel dizzy.

“You okay?” he asked. “Damn kids. I swear he looked about twelve.”

“Yeah.” She nodded, her head still foggy. “I think so. Thank you for saving me. Again.”

She lifted her hand to touch his shoulder. His skin was warm beneath his t-shirt. She could feel the hardness of his muscles. He let out the softest of breaths.

What was happening here? So many thoughts were rushing through her mind at once. She nearly got struck by a car. She couldn’t let that happen. Her kids needed her.

But then that thought disappeared and the pure physicality of this man filled her senses.

She wanted to have sex. That’s all she could think of.

With him.

Where did it come from? She had no idea. But all she could think about was how it would feel to have his body over hers. In hers. Everywhere.

Dear God, she needed to stop these thoughts. Right now.

“Mom!”

The sound of James’ voice brought her back to earth. Her eyes were still on Marley’s.

“You’re pale,” he said softly. “You sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “Just the shock.”

“I got the plate number. I’ll call it in later. Somebody needs to go talk to that kid. Before he ends up killing somebody.”

“I’m fine, honestly. Thank you.” She just needed to get home and take a cold shower.

He pushed himself off the car, letting the air rush between them. And before she could say anything else, she saw James arriving over his shoulder.

“Mom, we’re allowed to go now,” her eldest son told her.

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