Come Home Again (The Donovans) by Nana Malone

memories. It was best not to think of her. The last time he’d seen her, he’d been covered in blood, and she’d been screaming, “You killed him, you killed him,” as he ran from their ramshackle apartment. Bile rose in his throat as he thought of her John pawing at him, grabbing for him. It had been safer for Nate on the streets than in that excuse for a home. That was until Trent started using him as an errand boy and courier for his dealing.
    Nate shook his head. He was not going to let his past interfere with his future. He wasn’t that same kid.
    Right on time at eight-thirty, Delilah strolled in the front door of Prohibition Bar, looking like she meant business. She looked sexy but aloof in her pink wrap top and her leggings. The boots were by far his favorite piece of the ensemble. His mind immediately conjured up images of her wearing nothing but those shoes.
    Easy . That won’t help things. He groaned and tried to think of something, anything, to cool himself down. Kissing her today had definitely been an error in judgment. One he’d pay for with restless nights for the foreseeable future.
    When she approached, he stood. “I have to say, I was surprised to get your text.”
    She nodded but was careful not to touch him. Fine by him, he didn’t need a hard on for the rest of the night. Problem was, Delilah had always been his Achilles heel. Seeing her again brought back all the old feelings. Protectiveness. Longing. Fear. A part of him was so tempted to go it alone and tell her to forget the CEO makeover. He had to keep distance from her, or he would endanger everything he’d worked so hard for.
    “You caught me by surprise today. I don’t like surprises. So I figured it would be a good idea to clear the air.”
    Clear the air? Right, that thick, foggy, murky stuff that cocooned them and wouldn’t let them out. “Yeah, okay, have a seat.” He signaled to the bartender. “What do you want to drink?”
    She turned her attention to the bartender. “What I want is a Gin-Gin Mule, but what I’ll have is a Club Soda. I’m learning that I should keep my wits about me when I’m around you.”
    A smile tugged at Nate’s lips. “Just now picking up on that?”
    She shrugged. “Call me a slow learner.”
    “Are you hungry? They serve food too.”
    Her stomach growled, and she ducked her head. “Sorry. I skipped lunch.”
    Nate frowned and handed her a menu. “That's a bad habit to get into.”
    “I was working.”
    “Busy woman.”
    Their gazes held for just a moment, and she quickly looked away. With a sigh, he put down his drink and placed a hand on her knee.
    She jumped, and he snapped his hand back. Dumbass . He dragged in a steadying breath. “Delilah, before you start, I wanted to apologize. I know I owe it to you, and I don’t want to go any further pretending it didn't happen and not dealing with it.”
    She sighed, and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “I couldn’t agree more. If we’re going to work together, that can’t happen again. We need to keep it professional. Having you touch me confuses things. I can’t focus on turning you into a spit-polished diamond if there’s all that other bullshit in the way.”
    Nate cocked his head. “I wasn’t apologizing for the kiss.” There was no way in hell he was going to apologize for that. It had been the first time in over seven years that he'd done something purely because he wanted to, without a care to the consequences or what it would mean, or if he would have to lie to anyone later.
    Delilah already knew most of the worst things about him, and her family had taken him in, in spite of all that. At her insistence. So kissing her had felt like freedom. Like going home again. Of course, she probably didn't see it that way. “I'm not sorry about the kiss, Lila. You’re probably pissed about it, but in all honesty, I wouldn’t take it back. And given the opportunity, I’d do it again.”
    She narrowed her eyes, and it made him want to