Page 20 of Safe With Me

He swallowed back the disappointment. That should be enough to quell the attraction he felt building for a while. No matter how much he redeemed himself, kids were a dealbreaker.

* * *

Steph was quiet on the way home, thinking about Katie and Will. She envied them. And wondered why. Since her breakup with Don, she’d had a few relationships, but they didn’t go anywhere.

“What was the sigh for?” he asked.

“There were a lot of happy couples at Jackson’s tonight.”

“Is that what you want out of life, Steph?”

“Eventually. Not now though. I prefer concentrating on my career.”

“Hmmm.”

She studied him. His expression was neutral. “You said you didn’t want to get close to anybody. Attachments were dangerous.”

He only nodded. So she was quiet the rest of the way home. But his woodsy scent filled the car and she liked it. And it made her even more attracted to him.

When they reached her apartment, she directed him around to her side entrance. “Hey, thanks for asking me today. It was fun. And you relaxed.”

“I enjoyed it.” His voice came out husky.

On a lark, she leaned over the bench seat of his old truck and kissed him on the cheek. When she drew back, he grasped her around the waist and stared down at her with the same desire in his eyes that she felt. So she cupped his cheek.

After he turned off the engine, he pulled a lever and the seat went back. Then he drew her over his lap and took her mouth. He pressed his lips to hers as he eased her even closer. She opened for him. His tongue explored her. Her tongue explored him. His hands moved down the buttons on her jumpsuit and undid enough to be able to pull her bra down.

She let him.

He touched her breasts then lowered his head. She moaned and he groaned as he tugged at her nipples with his mouth. His beard abraded her. After she didn’t know how long, he set her back, did up her buttons and gently pushed her away. For a minute she was dazed.

“Get out of the car, Stephanie.” His voice was stone cold, so different from the heat she felt from him seconds ago.

Hurt, she moved off his lap with lightning speed then reached for the handle of the door. She bolted out. And jogged up to the entrance to her apartment. Once inside, she dropped down at the kitchen table. Dear God in heaven, what had she done?

* * *

He couldn’t shake the images of Steph as he entered his house. Hearing the noise of the door, Mutt whimpered in his bed. Pax had paid a neighbor boy to walk him twice while he was at work. He leashed the dog and headed outside. It was eight p.m. and totally dark. He’d worn no jacket and felt the chill. Mutt, undeterred by the weather bounded along his favorite path and Pax struggled to keep up with him. He began to jog and the dog fell into his pace.

He got back home at 9:30. After providing Mutt with clean water, he went down the hall and flopped on the bed. When he closed his eyes, there she was again, nearly naked on his lap. He relived cuddling into her, the scent of her bath splash filling his head.

Fuck! He was tired of keeping everybody at a distance. Steph, Will, Jackson made him want tofeelagain. He closed his eyes and sighed. Next thing he knew it was morning. He’d slept in his clothes and turned to find Mutt in his bed. He’d fallen asleep daydreaming about Steph. How could he ever face her today?

Chapter 4

Steph had called Camille last night to talk, but she was still anxious from what happened with Pax last night as she walked into the clinic the next day. She found Pax opening a box with a cutter. He turned at the sound of the door closing.

“Um, good morning.” His brows rose. “I wasn’t sure you’d come today.”

“I said I would.”

He gripped the cutter. “About last night. I was out of line.”

“Then I was out of line too.”

“It can’t go further, sweetheart.”

Her eyes widened at the term of affection. Damn him. Her tone was surly when she asked, “Do you want Will to send in somebody else to be your security guard?”

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