Her Backup Boyfriend (Entangled Bliss) (Sorensen Family) (15 page)

“Ideal for each other? What the hell does that mean?” This time he couldn’t keep his anger from his voice. “You either love someone or you don’t.”

“He told me he still loved me. Was in love with me. But we wouldn’t work out in the end. That was just over a year ago. Then Nicole started at the firm, and the rest is history.”

“What a goddamn coward.” Then reaching forward, catching her eye, he added, “I’m sorry, Kate. But what a shit. Not even man enough to break up honorably but instead leads you on to think he loves you except for
your
shortcomings?” His outrage was clear. “He couldn’t even take the blame for ending things, pawning it off on his family and you—anywhere but on him, where it belonged.” He waited for her to look at him before he continued. “You deserve someone better. Someone who will love and appreciate you for everything you are.”

“Sounds nice. You should write Hallmark cards,” she said and stood. “Why don’t you show me the master bath? I probably should be getting back soon.”

“All right,” he said, not batting an eye at her obvious change in topic.

He took her through the kitchen first and showed her a laundry room tucked behind it—or what would one day be a laundry room. They hit the small room next with a window overlooking the side of the house and the sloping hill. Then they stepped across the hall to the master room.

She’d been right. It did have an amazing view. Even empty and unfinished, Kate could envision what it would look like someday. And for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to lounge in bed in this room. Naked and with Dominic’s warm, tanned skin pressed up against hers, enjoying a postcoital moment as they watched the sunset—or sunrise or rainfall or snowfall—just outside the windows.

The intimacy of it all unnerved her, and she quickly walked out and back to the main room. She stood in front of the fire, her hands raised to its heat. Dominic came to stand next to her, and she forced a smile as she glanced up at him. “Since you’re all about prying into my pathetic love life, I think it’s only fair that I turn the tables on you. Why is it that you’re not already married with a dozen kids tearing this place down?”

“I almost did get married. Once.”

She hadn’t expected to hear that, and she couldn’t keep the surprise from her tone. “You’re freaking kidding me. You?”

And then the surprise turned to another emotion, one that seemed to make her a little queasy.

Dominic had nearly married someone else.

Well, of course. That shouldn’t be a big surprise. As she’d already discovered the past few weeks, he was quite the package, and it wasn’t like he would have been living like a monk for all these years. So this insane moment of jealousy was absolutely ridiculous.

She hoped she sounded perfectly normal when she asked, “What happened?”

…

Dominic considered Kate’s question, the same question he’d asked himself for three years. “Fate. When I had to drop out of the architectural program, let’s just say Melinda was less than thrilled. We’d been dating about four years by then. And when I couldn’t confirm with absolute certainty when and if I was ever going to go back to earn my architectural license, she decided to get out while she could. It was a tough experience, but I’m glad I found out when I did, before we got married, had kids. Now she’s in California and married to some banker.”

“Melinda was an idiot.”

“She was only honest about what she wanted.” He shrugged. “Marriage to a carpenter wasn’t what she envisioned.”

Kate scowled and continued to shake her head, not convinced. She whirled around and stepped into the center of the room and threw her hands out. “This place is amazing. A certificate on the wall wouldn’t change your talent.” She stopped, and her voice softened as she looked back at him. “But I am sorry, Dominic. That was a shitty thing for her to do.”

“Well, like I said, it was a long time ago. I won’t deny that it about broke me once, but with time, I’ve gotten over it and come to realize what a close call the whole thing was. She did me a favor.”

“Even without a degree, you’ve accomplished so much.” She stepped over to the window and looked out. With her face in profile, he studied the soft curve of her neck, the fullness of her lips as she considered her next words. “Do you think you’ll ever go back to school and work on getting your license?”

His hackles raised, which was unfair, he knew. But going back to school had been such a point of contention with Melinda, he couldn’t help but feel weary when he heard the inquiry. “Cruz thinks I should. To get on with my life. He thinks I’ve given up on it because of hurt feelings from Melinda. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. But it’s not like that. I love the freelance jobs I’ve taken on, including yours. And with Benny on my back about this website—Sorensen Restoration, she wants to call it—well, I may not pull in as much as if I had an architectural license, but it might be enough for me. It makes me happy.” And it did.

She sighed wistfully. “It would be nice to have that freedom. To do what makes you happy without concern for the financial risk or loss.”

Relief flooded through him as he started to understand why she’d asked. Then he thought of what she’d said. Being happy. Having freedom. It was a curious statement from someone who seemed to have every reason to be happy. Her attention still outside, she watched a bird dive for cover from a branch.

Unable to resist, he took a few steps toward her until he was standing behind her, his breath so close to her neck that she had to feel it. Sense his proximity. Sure enough, he saw goose bumps rise on her skin, and she shivered. He wanted to reach out, wrap his arms around her. Tell her she deserved to be happy. Comfort her. But he kept his hands fisted at his sides.

His voice was thick with emotion when he finally spoke. “Whatever you do, Kate, make sure you never settle for anyone who doesn’t show you in every breath, every word, every touch that he loves and adores you every day of his life.”

She turned then, her eyes gray and dark like the skies outside. But there was a fierce yearning in their depths, and he knew that to take this next step might be dangerous to their friendship. But right at that moment, he didn’t care.

He needed to feel those lips under his again. Feel her give way to the pressure of his own mouth as she had that evening at his parents’. When it was hard to miss the heat and attraction that burned like fire.

When her gaze dropped to his mouth, he was lost.

…

The moment Dominic stepped close enough she could feel his breath on the sensitive skin of her neck, it was as if every nerve ending in her body was sizzling with heat and wanting. Now, as he stood just inches from her, studying what felt like every breath she took, she felt like she was going to burn up with the heat that seemed to surround him.

She looked into those brilliant blue eyes that held a promise in them that she was almost afraid to ask for. Then she studied him with the same intensity, and she longed to reach up and touch the strong curve of his jaw, already peppered with bristly hair, just to see what it felt like. To feel the fine lines around his eyes and his mouth that she looked to next. Lines that told her Dominic smiled more times in his life than he’d frowned.

She waited for him to step away, to break the moment, but he didn’t move. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she caught her breath, suddenly terrified and also exhilarated at the prospect that he might kiss her again. Then he took an almost impossibly closer step toward her and she couldn’t breathe at all anymore as her heart lurched in her chest. She tried to steady the pounding that hammered loudly in her ears.

His lips grazed against hers, soft. Almost like a whisper, and her belly twisted as a warm rush of wanting flooded through her. Wanting more. Of him, of his kisses…

She willed herself to keep her eyes open. Not wanting to miss the emotions that might play on his solemn face. She wondered if he could read the panic in her thoughts that he would do it again—or worse, that he wouldn’t.

Then it seemed to hit her. The ball was in her court. She needed to decide what she wanted—he was giving her a choice here. Easier than any words, she let him know what she wanted as she raised her lips to his and breathed in his musky, intoxicating scent. The pressure was harder this time as their lips touched, and the stubble around his chin bristled against her skin. The slight sting was offset by the tingling pressure building south of her belly. Her hands gripped his shoulders, so firm and warm. His scent surrounded her, and she brought him farther into her mouth, feeling his tongue, his heat.

This was Dominic.

A man who would show a woman what forever meant. Who would love and cherish her, give her a family and a home and the most thrilling love that would claim her each and every day.

But…it was like a big flashing light was going off in her head.

A family? Kids? She had other goals, other things she had always wanted to accomplish. A partnership to earn and eventually a judgeship. The large house filled with kids and a dog and cat—they weren’t anywhere on her horizon.

She had never wanted them. Those things had never seemed important before.

Not like they were to Dominic.

And to continue to kiss him, to encourage this thing between them, would be doing him a disservice. She’d be no better than Melinda.

Because as much as they might want each other right now, need each other, the hard truth was in front of her.

They didn’t want the same things. They had different futures ahead of them.

She opened her eyes and stepped back, creating distance from this warm, strong man who only wanted to love her. She had to catch her breath.

“What was that?” she whispered. Her hands went to her mouth, still tingling.

He smiled. “Think that was what they call a kiss.”

“I know it was a kiss, but… No. It can’t happen.
This
can’t happen.”

He didn’t seem offended or alarmed by her reaction, more amused as he leaned back against the window. “It could happen. Let’s be truthful. We both want it.”

“But it would be a mistake. You and me?” She pressed her palms against the sides of her jeans, trying to collect her thoughts. Reason with him. Help him see that, rationally, this was a very bad idea. “We’re just so…different. After everything we talked about, our past relationships, going forward with this would be continuing the mistakes of our past.” Her voice had raised a couple octaves, sounding as panicked as she felt. “Getting mixed up with someone who doesn’t share the same goals. Doesn’t want the same things. It would be a mistake.”

“I’m pretty sure you and I want the same thing,” he said in a teasing voice, unfazed by her words.

“Yes.
Now.
But in a few months, when I’m working sixty-plus hours, day and night, even into the weekends, are you going to still feel the same way? When you’re filling these beautiful rooms with furniture and wallpaper, you’re also going to be envisioning the children that will live in these rooms and the love and laughter you’ll share with your wife, waiting at home for you. Maybe even a dog or two. And that’s just—it’s just not me.”

Hell, that wasn’t true.

Her heart, her gut, told her she wanted it so much it scared the ever-living crap out of her.

But it was her head that reminded her of the foolishness of her thoughts. And tasked her with sticking to the promise she’d made for herself long ago. The plan she had for her life.

She was going to be someone. Someone important and relevant, and no one was ever going to make her feel like she was nothing. That she was trailer trash.

But it was as if he wasn’t listening, or didn’t want to. He only smiled at her, almost indulgently. “I’m not asking you to marry me, Kate. But ever since you threw open your car door that day, looking so damned cute and ornery, I’ve wanted to pull that red hair of yours from the tight knot at the back of your head and spread it out around your shoulders. Feel its heat in my hands. And having known you and already tasted you, I can say with certainty I only want you more. I want to see and touch and love every part of you. What’s so wrong with that?”

Kate couldn’t deny the shiver of anticipation that ran through her at the thought of Dominic’s soft lips, that hot mouth, on her. “I just—I’m just not the type who does the casual sex thing. I want to know I’m in a relationship with someone that can go somewhere because we’re compatible. Want the same things.”

His hand reached out to touch her jaw, his thumb sliding along the edge, and she couldn’t deny the havoc the slight touch was causing her. “That you’ve got wrong, Kate. We do want the same things. We both want each other and that—for now—is good enough for me.”

She stared into his blue eyes, so open and warm. It would be so easy to give in to the emotions he was stirring up.

And, Lord…that kiss.

He started to lean forward, as if reading her hesitancy for acceptance.

No.

No. She shook her head emphatically. She couldn’t do that. She couldn’t play with fire like that, not with her emotions. Not with his. Not when she knew nothing could ever come of it. She had to be rational.

“I’m sorry, Dominic.” This time she turned toward the kitchen area, needing to put distance between them. “It just wouldn’t be a good idea.”

He sighed heavily and gave her a wry smile, tinged with sadness. “You’re the boss.”

Needing to focus on something other than Dominic, she pressed the lids down over the food cartons. In a few minutes, the food was back in the bag and the empty beer bottles discarded in a recycle bin in the corner of the room. She looked around her and outside at the dark skies again. A darkness that seemed to match her spirits.

He followed her gaze outside. “Don’t think it’s going to let up. Might as well make a run for it.”