She stood with a group of people, her hair swept up into a bun on top of her head. The dress hugged every turn her body took. He blinked when she turned and he saw her from behind—naked, exposed. His eyes drifted from her shoulders to the arch of her back, sliding down that olive flesh to her ass. He swallowed, pulling his collar away from his throat.
He wasn’t even certain what he would say to her, but he knew whatever it was, he wouldn’t say it with anyone else around. He bit his lower lip. He could still taste her, and her scent still lingered. It couldn’t be on his clothes, given he’d changed, not even on his skin, given he’d showered. It must be lingering in his memory, but it was so powerful, it invaded more than his mind, it invaded his body. So that even when he wasn’t thinking of it, it was here; he couldn’t shake it.
He hadn’t wanted to let go of her. He wouldn’t have if she hadn’t pushed him away. Did he linger in her the way she did in him? How could he not? After a kiss like that.
He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Carolyn.
“I really did mean it, you know.”
He frowned. “Mean what?”
“Congratulations. It took me back, seeing you command those streets in the rain. Like it was years ago.”
Nodding, he swallowed, attempting a smile.
“I feel as though I should apologize for that little scene afterward. But it’s not easy to see that kind of public display with someone you once—you still—care about. And, in my defense, I thought, seeing how awkward it was up on that podium, I guess I thought, you weren’t really—well, you know. But I suppose I was wrong.”
“We aren’t together. Like that.”
“Really? When she kissed you like she did …”
“She was just trying to show you up, that’s all.”
“Well, that she did. On the track as well as off it.”
Rocco chuckled, smiling at her, and in that moment recapturing some memory of what he’d liked about Carolyn, recalling why he’d fallen for the woman.
“Is that what she’s doing now?” Carolyn asked, gazing at something over Rocco’s shoulder.
Rocco turned to see Leo Clarke with Nico.
They looked good together. Even he had to admit it. Clarke’s elegant features complemented Nico’s dramatic ones. She touched his arm as she laughed at something he’d said. Why had she never done that with him?
His eyes shifted to Clarke. The man’s eyes glinted—he was looking at her like he—
Is he interested in her?
He leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
She better not blush. Don’t. Blush.
He waited. And watched. And then sighed.
She didn’t.
She did, however, lean in and whisper something back.
Her eyes were sparkling, but he didn’t see that window of light, did he? No, he didn’t see it. He was 100 percent certain. His heart thudded in his chest as though it no longer knew how to beat in a steady rhythm.
Maybe 85 percent certain.
“Rocco?”
“Huh?” he turned, surprised to see Carolyn there and then immediately realized she’d been there all along.
“I wanted to talk to you about the possibility of coming back to Blue Jet.”
