Page 11 of Last Resort

He trailed his nose across her cheek and down until it rested in the crook of her neck.

“Come home with me,” he whispered. His lips were so close to her skin, but he didn’t kiss her, and Maci wasn’t sure if she wanted him to or not. “We can just sleep if you want, but I want you in my bed again, Maci. I never wanted you to leave.”

There was no hiding the shiver that coursed through her body at his words, just like there was no hiding the gasp that came when he finally brushed his lips so softly against her skin.

Don’t let your libido cloud your judgment. Think before you act, Maci Ford.

Especially since her impulsiveness was what had gotten them into their awkward situation in the first place.

But his proposal was so tempting. She wanted to go home with Chance. She really did. She wanted to crawl into his cool sheets and fall asleep wrapped in his arms. She wanted to wake up in the morning to find him staring at her again. She wanted his hands on her after the two-month hiatus she’d forced on them.

But nothing had changed. Her mother showing up here in the parking lot a couple days ago was a reminder of that. Giving in, going home with him after so long, would make things even more muddied.

And honestly, she wasn’t sure how many more times she had the strength to walk away from him. She wanted him so much.

He wanted her too. He wanted her to say yes.

She was so tempted.

But when he found out about her past—who she’d come from, the things she’d done—it would behimwalking away.

Not just him.

Maci’s breath froze in her lungs. Losing Chance would be terrible, but losing her job and the family she’d built here at San Antonio Security? That would be devastating.

She not only cared about Chance’s brothers but all their significant others... Tessa, Claire, Kayleigh. Maci loved baby Walker and Sheila and Clinton Patterson too.

It was already difficult to have a working relationship when no one knew what had actually happened between her and Chance. If she wanted to keep her life and job intact, Maci had to do her best to stay away from him. Even when every part of her body was begging her to stay.

“It’s better if I don’t,” Maci said, stepping out of his embrace even though it was agony.

He stiffened and let her go. “Okay. I’ll walk you to your car.”

He sounded so defeated that Maci almost took it back. She bit her tongue, holding back the words she wanted to say.

When he didn’t speak either, the two silently grabbed their things, locked the door and headed into the night together. Chance stuck close as they walked across the parking lot and checked the backseat after she unlocked the doors. Once he was sure the car was safe, he opened the door for her.

“Get home safe,” he said before closing her into the car. He didn’t move or look away until she was pulling out of the lot. Maci slowed, watching as he climbed into his truck and drove off.

Even after she’d rejected him, he’d still made sure she was safe. He was a protector in his very DNA. A good man.

And she was definitely the wrong woman for him.

Chapter Four

Maci stepped into the office the next morning with a cup of tea wrapped firmly in her shaking hand. She’d thrown up twice before she left the house thanks to her stomach bug, but there was no way she was going to take the day off.

Not when she had a plan that could work to help with the Stella LeBlanc situation.

Chance and his brothers were already in the office, huddled around the conference room table once again. “Good morning. Is everyone feeling better?”

The guys all grunted unintelligibly and threw up random waves in her direction. To her surprise, everyone looked like they’d actually gotten some sleep—even Chance.

Someone had already started a pot of coffee in the conference room, but it was nearly empty, so she dropped her purse at her desk and started a new pot. When she looked up, she found Chance studying her.

“Our coffee not good enough for you now?”

Maci grimaced at the cup she’d set down. “Tea, actually.”

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