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He continued to stroke my cheek with his thumb, his gaze never leaving mine.
Everything and everyone faded away right then. It was only West and me.
No past, no future, just the here and now.
Two people with sad pasts trying to have fun and forget, if only for a little while.
The urge to touch more of him raced through me. So I raised my other hand to stroke his jaw.
He took my hand and kissed my palm. “Emmy.”
“Hmm?”
He put a hand over mine on his chest, his skin warm. His eyes looked unsure, and I wondered what this strong man had to worry about.
He cleared his throat. “I know we agreed this would end when we left Reno, but I have to ask—would you go on a date with me in Starry Hills?”
I should just deny him. That would be the safest route, of course. Because if we went on a date, it would mean we were a thing, like a couple.
And even if I didn’t want to, I could end up hurting this man and his children. And West, Avery, and Wyatt didn’t need any more pain and grief in their lives.
As if sensing my worry, he stroked my cheek. “Just give us a chance, Emmy. Fuck, I never thought I’d ever want to date anyone ever again. I’d sworn off women. But then, well, I met you. You’re amazing with my children, smart with your business, playful when you want to be, and so fucking beautiful it hurts.” He leaned forward and kissed me gently. “Just one date. That’s it. And I won’t tell my kids about the date, so you won’t get any pressure from them. Although…”
“Although what?”
“Their bedtime stories have featured a lot of single dads getting married lately, so I can’t say they won’t make comments or drop hints as subtle as a jackhammer. I hope you’ll still see Avery and Wyatt, but they won’t be involved in whatever this is between us until we’re ready. If we’re ever ready.” He stroked my cheek a few more times before whispering, “I want to try with you, Emmy. Tell me you want to do the same.”
I searched his gaze, and it was on the tip of my tongue to deny him. To tell him that I’d probably hurt him.
Not to mention if I said no, then I wouldn’t have to risk my heart breaking.
And yet, I couldn’t do it. As I searched his blue eyes, so eager and unsure at the same time, I wanted the chance to sit in his lap again, play with him in the pool, and hold him close as he came inside me.
I wanted Weston Wolfe. I wanted to try with him, even though the thought of getting close to someone again, maybe even eventually loving them, terrified me.
Plus, for so many years, I’d carried a soul-crushing amount of guilt about the car crash, which could complicate things too.
But the more I thought about what West had pointed out—that I’d dealt with my mom, and my dad had been driving—the more I started to wonder if it would’ve been the same outcome, even if I’d been asleep.
I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I could forgive myself. But that I even questioned what had happened was thanks to this man standing in front of me, currently asking me on a date.
Was he worth the risk? A resounding, “Yes” rang through my head.
Before I could change my mind, I blurted, “Yes.”
His eyes lit up. “Yes, you’ll go on a date with me?”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m at like ninety percent yes. I might need a little more persuading, though.” I leaned forward, nipped his earlobe, and whispered, “Make me come a few more times, West, and I will most definitely go on a date with you.”
With a growl, he kissed me. His lips were warm, soft, and demanding. When he touched his tongue to the seam of my lips, I didn’t hesitate to open. He licked and tangled and devoured me until we both broke the kiss to catch our breaths.
A playful glint entered his eyes before he used those wonderfully broad, powerful shoulders and arms to push himself out of the water, stand, and then yank me up. The next thing I knew, he tossed me over his shoulder and dashed to our chairs.
I couldn’t stop laughing as he picked up our stuff and headed for the elevator. People were staring, and yet I didn’t care.
Once inside the elevator—thankfully, it was empty—he lowered me slowly down his front until he could kiss me again briefly before saying, “I only put you down because I needed to find our keycard.”
I snorted. “See, you should’ve just had me find it while I was still over your shoulder.” He made as if to pick me up again, and laughing, I backed away. “I had one head rush already, and I don’t really want another one.”
