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Blake closed the short distance between them before she could finish that thought and pulled her into his arms.
When she melted into his embrace with a sigh, all the fear left him, and he pulled her closer. Not sure he would ever let her go.
*
Kristen didn’t wantto break the embrace.
So what if they were on the sidewalk outside her apartment, traffic whizzing by?
Her throat burned with the tears she held back.
Oh God, it felt so good. To be in his arms again. With her cheek pressed against his chest, she could hear the fast pounding of his heart.
When he pulled away slightly, she couldn’t stop the murmur of protest. It was silenced as his lips crushed down on hers.
Heat, relief, and need rushed through her as she kissed him back. Winding her arms around his neck and meeting each stroke of his tongue with hers.
The intimacy of the moment ended when a car drove by honking, its occupants yelling lewd suggestions out the window.
“Maybe we should take this upstairs to my apartment?” Her suggestion came out husky.
“Definitely.”
She caught his hand and walked them toward the front of the building.
“I thought you were on a plane.” He glanced down at her, his expression showing a hint of dismay. “James said you were on a flight to Seattle.”
“I was. We’d just left the gate when we had to turn around. Someone started barfing all over the plane.”
They got into the elevator together.
“Was it you?”
“Surprisingly, no.” She pressed the button for her floor and laughed. “I mean I wanted to barf when I saw James’s text that you’d just flown here when I was flying there. But I didn’t. It was some little kid.”
“God bless puking children.”
“Total blessing in disguise.”
The doors opened on the elevator, and she led him down the hall to her apartment.
“My roommate moved out last week.” She glanced at him from beneath her lashes as she unlocked her door, her pulse quickening again.
“Yeah?” His gaze darkened as he stepped inside and closed it behind him.
When he reached for her, she pressed her palm against his chest.
“Wait. I need to say some stuff first.” She took in a deep breath and lifted her gaze to meet his. “I think I’m in love with you.”
He stilled; the only other reaction was the flaring of his nostrils. She tried to read his expression, but it was impossible.
Her stomach churned, and she swallowed hard before plowing on.
“I’m not asking you to tell me the same. I understand you probably lost your heart to someone else who was taken from you tragically.”
Blake made a choked sound before shaking his head. “I didn’t love Lindsey. We’d only gone on a few dates. Hell, I barely knew her.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “But losing her, along with several of my friends, tore me up completely. So maybe it was a subconscious choice, but I’ve never let myself care for any of the women I’ve been involved with after.”
Her heart twisted. “Including me?”
