Page 19 of Feels Like the First Time

“And you’re cool with this?” he asked, unable to believe his luck. Yes! Years of lying to himself, of denying he had the hots for Zoe, dropped away. She was here, in his arms. And she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“I wish we’d done this when we had a chance,” she said softly.

“Oh, yeah. Me, too,” he told her as, finally giving in to temptation, he leaned down to press a soft kiss on the sharp curve of her jaw. Dex breathed in her intoxicating scent, a citrusy vanilla that made his head swim. “I can’t believe we didn’t do this over and over again.”

“Well, we tried.”

Huh? Dex’s mouth slowed as he tried to decipher her night-soft voice.

“I mean, the drive-in was a total disaster, but we could have given it another shot later. Maybe somewhere with less chance of your parents crashing.”

Dex’s mouth froze.

Drive-in? Parents?

His brain slowly kicked into gear.

Sonofabitch.

His vision blurred with anger, Dex released his hold on Zoe’s hips.

Sure, he was wearing a mask. But it was still him. The man who appreciated her over-the-edge braininess. The guy who got her wicked sense of humor. The one who’d always considered her the sexiest gal he’d ever known, even back when she wore baggy black overalls and combat boots.

A part of him—granted, the part in his pants—had hoped she’d at least recognize him on some level. Or be intrigued enough, hooked enough, to put some effort into finding out who he was.

But, no. Her lips still wet with his kisses, she’d leaped to the most asinine conclusion possible.

She thought he was that dick, Brad Young.

4

AMID TABLES FILLED WITH chattering reunion   members, giggling old friends and friendly couples, Zoe sat by herself in the hotel restaurant the next morning. She ignored the sideways looks and behind-the-hand snickers, although the pointing fingers were a little annoying. Obviously her costume had been a big hit, although not enough of one for anybody to actually come over and talk to her. Figured. She sniffed back the irritation and told herself it didn’t matter. She shoved aside her pick-me-up pancakes and tapped her spoon on her teacup.

Snide classmates were nothing. What really mattered was what the hell had happened last night. One minute, she’d been hot and heavy with her very own masked marvel. The next he’d given her the heave-ho. An offhand excuse, a kiss on the cheek and whoosh, he’d flown off into the night.Was it proximity to Central High that made guys ditch her mid-makeout session? The chilly Idaho air? If she’d had any doubts that she’d been locking lips with Brad, that move had squashed them. Apparently ten years and the guy still kissed and ran. The question was, was that his MO with all women? Or just with her?

“Ahem.”

Zoe glanced at the table next to her. The elderly gentleman there gave her a reprimanding look, then stared pointedly at her spoon. Oops. Tapping too loud.

Not wanting to further piss off the one nonsnickering face in the room, she set her spoon down and, after a sip, shoved her cold tea away.

She hadn’t even managed to track down Gandalf after the masked hunk had left, either. By the time she’d returned to the reunion  , the party had been moved to a local bar. She’d questioned the few people left, but all she’d managed to confirm was that, yes, Brad in his wizard costume had cut out early.

Where did that leave her?

Flummoxed and frustrated.

Which sounded like an up-and-coming garage band.

As if cued on protest, her phone sounded the gentle chimes of “Ode to Joy.” Grateful for the distraction, Zoe grabbed it and pushed the necessary buttons to open the text messages. Then she winced when she read the one from Meghan.

Hey, Zoe. Any luck with the great wizard hunt? Zach’s meeting with some bigwigs at Microsoft this week. You know how he feels about corporate America. This breaks my heart. He said he’s just checking options, but I can tell he’s upset. I asked him what he’d offer Gandalf if he ever found him and he mentioned a few things. I’m e-mailing you the list in case they might help your argument when you find the guy.

Shit. Poor Zach. That now-familiar twinge of guilt poked at Zoe. She squared her shoulders. She wasn’t leaving this reunion   without finding the solid information on Gandalf. Besides, after her hot-and-heavy in the garden with the masked hunk, she couldn’t leave until she’d finished what he’d started.Zoe took a sip of her iced water. Whew, she was a little warm at the memory of his mouth on hers, his hard, sculpted chest pressing against her breasts and the feel of his hard…muscles under her hand.

Focus, Zoe.

Next was a request that she reconsider the full-time job offer from her last consulting gig. No, thank you. It’d be career poison to tie herself to one single job, day in and day out. Or more correctly, tie some job to her. They’d regret it, and she’d be back to square one when they fired her. Maybe there was a twelve-step program for noncommitters anonymous?

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