Page 40 of Seeing You

The next thing she knew, he was pulling her close, wrapping one arm around her while pulling the blankets up over them. It was the snuggling she wasn’t sure they were allowed to do.

And it was very nice.

“This wasn’t exactly how I envisioned the night going,” she admitted.

“I know. You were hoping to come up here with what’s-his-name.”

“Kevin,” she said around a yawn.

“Kirk,” he said, laughing. “How could you keep forgetting his name?”

“It was very loud in the reception hall. We got introduced, but all I could remember was that his name started with a K.” She shrugged. “Not that it matters. You made sure of it.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Are you sorry that you’re here with me instead of him?”

“No. Not at all.” Tangling her legs with his, she kissed his chest. “I wanted to be mad at you, but…” It would be easy to be flippant, but being naked with him like this also had her vulnerable side coming out. “You’re the reason I was flirting with him to begin with.”

Marcus shifted slightly. His hair was a mess from her running her hands through it, and he looked all rumpled and sexy. “Why?”

“Because of what happened the other night! You kissed me until I could barely stand and then you left! I was all turned on and…I don’t know…it’s shallow and doesn’t make me sound very good, but I just wanted a connection to someone. For the night.” Groaning, she hid her face out of shame. “I’m awful.”

Holding her tight, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re not awful. And for what it’s worth, it was all I thought about all week. But I didn’t want anybody else. Just you.”

“If given the chance, I would have said the same thing, but I didn’t know you were coming back to town.”

Tucking a finger under her chin, he slowly forced her to look at him. “I couldn’t stay away. Even if I hadn’t…remembered about what I did to my office back then, I would have found other reasons to come back.”

Tears stung her eyes because she wanted so desperately to feel like this meant something, but she was afraid to let herself believe it. Their time had passed, hadn’t it? This was just a one-time thing for them to finally move on.

Wasn’t it?

They lay there in companionable silence for what felt like forever. Billie knew what she was thinking, but she was beyond curious to know what was going on in Marcus’ mind. Years ago, that had never been an issue, but now, after all these years, she couldn’t be sure.

Only one way to find out…

“Are you planning to see your dad before heading back to D.C.?” Her hand was slowly caressing his chest as if it had a mind of its own.

“Probably not. I’ve got meetings scheduled throughout the entire week, and I need to be there in person.” Pausing, he studied her with an intensity that almost made her squirm. “You’re the only reason I’m here.”

So thiswasa one-time thing.

“I owed it to…well…both of us to come here and tell you that I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. “And…this?”

His expression softened as he reached up and cupped her cheek. “This was because I wanted you. I’ve always wanted you, Billie.”

Her heart soared! Maybe the last ten years were what they needed to get them to a point where they could be on the same page.

“But my life is still back in D.C. Coming back to Sweetbriar Ridge was…let’s just say it confirmed that I made the right decision when I moved away.”

And just like that, her heart sank.

But she wasn’t going to cry or try to convince him he was wrong or beg him to stay.

“I wish things could be different,” he went on. “But…I don’t know…maybe now that your family is all settled and matured, they can handle their own lives without you having to hold their hands. Plus, I’m sure by now you’ve got this baking thing outof your system, so you could come back to D.C. I’ve got a great place, and I know I could get you in with Hutchinsons, and…”

Shoving herself upright, Billie stared down at him in horror, hugging the sheet to her chest. “Excuse me?”

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