Page 16 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know if it did any good or not, but I feel like a freaking truck has been lifted from my chest.”
He laughed. “I think that truck took a few rides across mine.”
Gosh, she’d missed him. She wanted to throw her arms around him, to strip off his clothes and love his body the way she’d dreamed about for so long. But he wasn’t like any other man she’d ever been with. She knew what would happen if they made love…
“I don’t know where we go from here,” she finally admitted.
“We could try to start over, but how do I know you won’t bolt again?”
She smiled and said, “Where would I go? I’mhome.” She paused, sure he could hear her heart thundering in her chest. He had no reason to trust her, and that scared her as much as being close to him again did. “I’m not sure I know how to do this.”
He stepped closer, his dark eyes imploring her, but for what she wasn’t sure. He smelled familiar, and when he brushed a lock of hair from her shoulder, his touch sent heat skittering along her skin.
“Dowhat, exactly?” he asked softly.
She could barely breathe, but after years of hiding from her feelings, she didn’t want to hide anymore. “Be near you without wanting to be yours.”
“Then maybe we need to find a new beginning, because it sounds like the very heart of who we each are has changed, and we both have some trust issues to work on.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant. A new beginning asfriends? Or a new beginning that might lead them to separate worlds? She was too afraid to ask.
He took a step back, putting space between them, and her heart sank. He was quiet for a long moment, looking at her with a mix of emotions, which she was also afraid to define. And she hated being afraid.
There was only one way to get past fear. She needed to face it.
“Isn’t now when you’re supposed to kiss me?” she challenged.
The edge of his lips quirked up, and he said, “Actually, I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Andre Shaw. I travel most of the year providing medical care to families in developing nations.”
Tears burned again, and she hated that, too, even though these were happy tears.
“Darn it, Andre—”
She went up on her toes and crushed her lips to his, praying he wouldn’t turn her away. When he kissed her back, the knots in her chest loosened. And as he took the kiss deeper, everything else failed to exist except his mouth loving hers, his strong hands holding her. All she heard, all shefelt, was blood rushing in her ears, her heart pounding against her chest. And then it happened, just like it always had. Her legs weakened, her insides softened, and her entire body melted against him. She needed to get a grip, but he tasted so good andright, andoh, how she’d missed him! She never thought she’d have another chance at seeing him again, and here he was, kissing her back.
But if she didn’t stop, she wasn’t going to. And then what?
Crap. Crap, crap, crap.
She didn’t know how to have a new beginning. She wasn’t like most women who knew exactly what to do in relationships. What if she messed it up again?
What if I don’t?
Holding on to that thread of hope, she reluctantly broke the kiss, breathless and wanting. She licked his taste from her burning lips and managed, “I’m Violet Vancroft. I own Summer House, and the cottages.”Don’t stop there. Say something. Anything. Just don’t let it end.“I live next door, and I haven’t traveled for more than two years. You can walk me home if you’d like, but you’re not coming inside my cottage.”
“Aw,Daisy—”
“Violet.” It killed her to correct him, but the way he saidDaisy, laden with love, hadn’t changed one bit. If he said her name like that she’d have no chance at going slow.
“Violet,” he repeated, reaching for her hand. As they walked out his door he said, “Why can’t I come in?”
“Because I like you too much. But if you don’t piss me off, I’ll give you a freaking mind-blowing good-night kiss at my door.”
Chapter Five
“HAVE YOU MADE any decisions yet?” Andre held his cell phone to his ear as he stepped out his front door, feeling refreshed after finally having a good night’s sleep.
“Sort of,” Brindle said. She was still in Paris. “I think you were right. I need to face this pregnancy head-on.”
