Page 31 of Dodge

I grinned. He’d offered last week to take care of my car maintenance for a steak dinner, and I’d made him a flambé steak Diane a few nights ago. Not really fully French but closely related. He didn’t seem to care as he inhaled the filet and vegetables. God, how I loved to see someone enjoy my food!

“Thanks. You didn’t have to bring it here.”

“It’s no big deal. I had the time, and the garage isn’t that far.” His eyes roamed through the restaurant, approving of all the progress that had been made. “It’s really taking shape, isn’t it?”

“It is.” I preened a little. I was getting closer and closer to my goal. So close that I could taste the succulent flavor. “I’m having a hard time believing this is really happening. I’ve dreamed of owning my own place for years, but it was always this abstract future idea. Now that it’s here, I’m pinching myself constantly to make sure I’m awake.”

I faced him directly in all my messy, sweaty glory. “I can’t thank you enough for your help. This wouldn’t be happening without you and Betsey and the club.”

“I’m glad I got to be a small part of it.” He turned, and those to-die-for eyes of his met mine directly. “I’m proud of you and for you, Fauna.”

His words hit me square in the stomach, and I had to remember to breathe. My family held no support for me or my chosen profession, yet here was a man who said he was proud of me. Hell, his whole biker brotherhood threw down for me. To have that kind of loyalty was unfathomable. My eyes burned with potential tears, and my belly quivered. I wanted so badly to touch him that I could imagine the ghost of his body against me.

“You have no clue how much that means to me.”

He read me so accurately that there had to be a magical connection between us. Some line that drew us together strong enough to be tangible. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in a cocoon of warm maleness. It felt good. Real good.

We stood together for a long moment. I heard his breathing, sensed his heartbeat, and leaned into the balance of his weight on his feet as he stood over me. Solid. A firm foundation. It seemed the most natural step in the world for him to kiss me.

Or did I kiss him?

I didn’t know who leaned in first, but our mouths met. Easily and sincerely.

It wasn’t a kiss of hunger, nor was it tentative or awkward. His lips molded to mine as if testing for the right angle to fit. A glow started deep in my belly when his tongue darted out for a quick taste. Just that light touch was enough to make me open up to him for more. He took my invitation and raised one hand to the back of my head as he thoroughly explored my mouth. The kiss was a slow smoldering burn that fanned flames I thought I’d forgotten. I’d spent a night in bed with this man, making vague memories of promised passion, and I found myself craving another one. This time with me fully awake and taking part.

I wanted him inside me.

His body responded beautifully, and I could feel a hard outline against my stomach. Oh, how I ached to grind against him to relieve the broiling heat between my legs.

He pulled back suddenly. His face was rock-hard, and he held my shoulders in a fierce grip either to steady me or himself. Perhaps both of us. “I’m… I need to go.”

“Dodge.” My voice came out lower and huskier than normal. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Dodge.”Please stay. Kiss me again. Make love to me for real. Don’t leave.

I wanted to say more, I really did, but no words came out. What was it about this man that kept me from talking?

“Fauna, I can’t. It’s not right.” A cup of sorrow, a pinch of desire, and a shit ton of regret tinged his tone.

Fuck me!Annoyance added itself to the mix in my gut. “Are you about to friend zone me, ’cause your body says otherwise.”

“If things were different, I’d be taking you home with me now, but I’m not free to do that.”

His expression showed pain, and my ire dissipated. Sure, I’d been betrayed many times in my life, by family, by boyfriends, by colleagues, so my first response of anger was well conditioned. However, this man hadn’t shown me anything but support and concern, and it wasn’t fair of me to judge him. Besides, he still had his ex living with him, and I was sure that had a part in his hesitancy. If Chase came crawling back to me, asking for another chance, I’d tell him to build a bridge and get over it, but Dodge was a different kind of man. Not once had he cut me down or said anything to me that made me question his motivations.

He gave a big sigh that sounded as if the world’s problems rested on his broad shoulders. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I hope you can forgive me.”

I let it go. “No problem. Friend zoning is probably best for us, all things considered.”

He jerked around and stiffly walked to the new elaborately carved wood door.

My memory dredged up the words I said to him so long ago the morning after we met. “Let’s just consider this to be a fond memory of the one who got away. Yeah?”That phrase was valid then and needed to be valid now.

I hated it, but I had to accept the friend zone—at least for now.If I can’t be part of the solution, at least don’t be part of the problem.

“Dodge?” I called.

He paused with his hand on the latch.

“You’ve had my back ever since I met you. Please know I have yours too.”

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