Page 76 of Serenity Harbor

“It’s at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and Bristlecone Road. There. Now you know.”

“He’ll still want to have you with us. As do I.”

Oh, not fair. How could she resist him when he looked at her out of those stunning blue eyes that made her want to divulge all her secrets?

She would have to resist him. She would simply have to suck it up and keep her focus on her future.

“All right. Bright and early, then. I don’t like to be late for breakfast. The Haven Point firefighters make thebestpancakes. Light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Good night, then.”

“Right.” He paused. “I did enjoy myself tonight. The boat ride and dinner, yes, but especially out on the terrace with you. I don’t talk about my past often. I prefer to focus on today and tomorrow instead of what I can’t change about yesterday. Somehow I’m glad you know the truth about me, ugliness and all.”

Oh. How was she supposed to resist him when he made it so very impossible? “I heard no ugliness, Bowie. Only a story of strength and character and survival, about a remarkable man.”

She probably shouldn’t have said that last bit. That suspicion was confirmed when heat flared in his gaze.

“Kat,” he murmured, and she couldn’t help her shiver. His gaze sharpened on the instinctive movement, and he stepped forward, eyes intent.

He was going to kiss her, and suddenly she wanted to taste him again more than she wanted to breathe.

“Stop me,” he ordered.

She swallowed and shook her head slightly. How could she do anything else? The heat in his gaze flared to an inferno, and a heartbeat later his mouth devoured hers.

The kiss was raw and intense, fierce and wild and delicious. Hewasremarkable, and she found it incredibly addicting that in this moment he wantedherwith a passion that stole her breath.

She wanted him, too, as she had never hungered for a man’s touch. She wanted to tug him into her bedroom and explore every hard inch of him.

And then what?

The question slithered into her subconscious somehow, and once it was there, it refused to budge.

In less than a handful of days, she was leaving. She had no idea how long she would be gone; she only knew that when—if—she returned, she would have Gabi with her and all her choices in life would change.

She couldn’t have an affair with Bowie. She wanted meaning and permanence and stability, and he offered none of that.

Too many times before, she had traded her dignity and self-respect for a few moments of feeling cherished, valued, meaningful, only to discover the feeling was as fleeting and insubstantial as dandelion puffs.

When she found herself stranded in Colombia, she had made a vow to herself. Never again. She would have to know a man truly cared for her and wanted a future with her before she took the easy way to artificial intimacy.

But, oh, Bowie was tempting.

“You’re making me crazy,” he murmured in her ear, then trailed seductive little kisses from there along her jawline and back to her mouth.

It would be so, so easy to give in to these feelings. They were alone in his quiet house. What would be the harm in making love? At least she would have the memories. That was all she would have, though, and it would be cold comfort. She had enough regrets in her life. She suddenly couldn’t bear the idea that caring for this man so much might one day be one of them.

She allowed herself a few more moments to savor the wild heat rushing through her, then forced herself to draw upon all her hard-won self-control. “Bowie. We have to stop.”

His eyes looked dazed with arousal. “Do we?”

She pressed her lips together, tasting him there on her mouth. “I don’t want to,” she admitted. “If I could, I would stay here and do this all night—but we both know eventually kissing wouldn’t be enough.”

“Eventually?” he murmured.

The husky rasp of his voice sent tremors rippling down her spine. She wanted so much to sink into the kiss, into him, and let him sink into her in return.

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