Page 19 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

“Look,” she said, “I’m—”

“Sorry. You’re sorry. I heard that already. But what does it matter? It’s not like you’re thinking of getting back together with me.”

At his words, she felt herself go completely rigid. His words reverberated through her mind. She didn’t actually want to get back with Cal. Or did she? Ever since she laid eyes on him days ago, her emotions had been in a jumble. Just standing before him, touching him, was sending heat coursing through her veins. She wanted to touch more of him, feel the hardness of his body against hers. She wanted to—

“Are you?” Cal’s voice pulled her back to reality. He was still staring at her, but his expression had softened.

Melissa gulped. “I...I don’t...”

Cal’s expression tightened again. Then he moved, too quickly for her to react, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. Or was it his? They were so close now, his body pressed against hers, their lips a mere kiss apart. She stared up the bridge of his nose, barely breathing, searching his face.

“Cal...” Another powerful thump filled her chest. “I—”

His lips found hers, rendering the rest of her sentence inconsequential.

Melissa’s first thought was that she was dreaming. It explained Cal being back in her life, not to mention the fact that he was kissing her. But she quickly found that to be untrue. It was very real, and she was kissing him back.

She’d always felt lighter than air whenever he kissed her, and this time was no exception. Her eyes fluttered shut and a sigh escaped her lips as he captured them, and for a moment she could’ve sworn she felt her feet rise off the floor. She was vaguely aware that this wasn’t quite right. He was the last person she should be kissing. But she hadn’t felt this amazing in years. Cal’s arm tightened around her, pulling her closer, closer, not close enough...

Before the kiss could grow hotter, igniting her insides, he pulled away. They stared wordlessly at each other, Cal’s warm breath caressing her nose. She blinked at him, trying to gather her wits about her.

The reality of what had just happened hit her like a speeding truck. I just kissed my ex.

Cal stepped back. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Cal.”

“It was a mistake.” He shook his head. “You should probably head back to Dale’s. Thanks for your help with the foal.”

Oh.

Chapter Eight

A Grisly Tale

“A mistake? A mistake?”

Melissa stomped down the sidewalk, startling a couple of teenagers as she brushed past them. She rounded the corner, ignoring a man who smiled and waved at her, too annoyed to even admire the golden glow the sun had cast over the town.

“I feel like a complete idiot,” she muttered. “I can’t believe I let myself get caught up in the moment—and with him of all people.”

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this annoyed. She was annoyed with Cal for kissing her without warning, annoyed with herself for enjoying it, annoyed at him for dismissing her the way he had, and then again at herself for feeling hurt by that. She’d already decided long ago that she wanted nothing to do with him, and for good reason. Why should that bother her?

It had been a moment of weakness, nothing more. And it couldn’t happen again.

In the twenty minutes since she’d left Green Sanctuary, she’d hardly managed to get the memory of the kiss they’d shared out of her head. All the more reason she couldn’t let it happen again. She had a lot of reasons to avoid Calvin Stein, and topping the list was the fact that he was so damn irresistible. Right now, she was seriously considering skipping town, putting as much distance as she could between them once again.

She slowed her pace, glancing up and down the street before crossing the road. She’d been so caught up with Cal, she’d almost forgotten to get back to Dale and Leto. She hadn’t fed the dog yet. She crossed her fingers, hoping Dale wouldn’t be displeased with her.

Her engagement ring was cool against her fingers. She lifted her hand, staring at it, and felt her heart clench.

She could still remember the day Cal proposed to her all those years ago. It had just about been the happiest day of her life before she learned the truth about what he was. How could things have gone downhill so quickly after that?

We’re not together, Cal had said back at the sanctuary. Not anymore.

“And whose fault was that?” she muttered bitterly.

Melissa wondered if they would still be together if he hadn’t told her what he was. Would she be happier than she was now?