junior version of his father but also because it meant she had to drive the Escalade. The vehicular monstrosity was far better suited to Bobby’s six-foot-three frame than her own five and a half feet, and as she adjusted the seat and stretched her toes toward the pedals she cursed aloud.
When she finally pulled into her driveway, exhausted and frayed around the edges after taking Bobby home, she was surprised at her disappointment when she didn’t see the gleam of chrome in her headlights. You’re ridiculous , she thought. You told him it was a mistake. Why the hell would he be waiting for you in your driveway?
She paced the floor for the next hour, trying to get up the nerve to call Alejandro, but every time she remembered how she pushed him away at the Ridge she knew she couldn’t. Stupid, stupid, stupid , she cursed herself. He will never trust you again after that.
And I can’t trust him after he left me brokenhearted ten years ago, she thought. So I guess we’re even .
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alejandro was surprised when Benny told him there was a woman looking for him at the front counter of his father’s shop. He walked out and there she was, those long tanned legs he was so crazy about showcased beautifully in a short skirt and cream-colored cowboy boots. She looked a bit nervous to be there, though she smiled graciously at the prospect when he brought her back to Alejandro. He noted with some satisfaction that Benny didn’t dare openly gawk at her, though he snuck several glances when he thought Alejandro wasn’t looking. Keep dreaming, you little fucker.
She leaned in for a hug and he took in the clean, floral scent of her, every inch of her soft and squeezable beneath his hands. But he wasn’t going down that road with her again. The ache in his balls from their ride together three days before still hadn’t quite subsided. He hadn’t stopped daydreaming about the grown up, sensual Ali who’d replaced the lithe teenager of his dreams. He hadn’t stopped wondering how far he could take her without one or both of them regretting it.
When he’d driven her home the other day, she was still sweet and friendly, but whatever floodgates of sexual tension had opened on the Ridge had been firmly closed to him. Her eyes had been haunted by regret and shame. She’d seemed suddenly fragile, and he had ached not to fuck her but to make sweet love to her until he erased the doubt and sadness from her eyes.
Here in the garage, though, she didn’t look vulnerable. He knew women well enough to realize she was there with a purpose. And from the looks of her outfit, the purpose was pretty clear. His gaze skimmed down the wispy nothing of a top and tiny skirt. He could see the pulse fluttering in her throat as she stared back at him.
“I wanted to apologize—”
He grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go somewhere more private.” He noted with satisfaction that her fingers clutched his immediately as he led her to the empty bay.
When they were alone she began again. “I’m sorry, Alejandro. For the other day.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. What are you sorry for?” He looked at her closely, trying again to count those damned gold flecks, hoping it would keep his eyes off her tits.
“For…” she ran her hand through her hair before answering. “For not being straight with you.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Straight about what? I knew you were engaged when I kissed you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not. I called the wedding off. And that’s not what I meant.”
“You what?” He took a step closer, tipped her face up to his with two fingers. “When?” He noted with some satisfaction that her pupils darkened her eyes and she was trembling slightly.
“The day before. But I was still deciding whether or not that was a smart idea.”
“And was it?”
She swallowed nervously and nodded.
“But
When she finally pulled into her driveway, exhausted and frayed around the edges after taking Bobby home, she was surprised at her disappointment when she didn’t see the gleam of chrome in her headlights. You’re ridiculous , she thought. You told him it was a mistake. Why the hell would he be waiting for you in your driveway?
She paced the floor for the next hour, trying to get up the nerve to call Alejandro, but every time she remembered how she pushed him away at the Ridge she knew she couldn’t. Stupid, stupid, stupid , she cursed herself. He will never trust you again after that.
And I can’t trust him after he left me brokenhearted ten years ago, she thought. So I guess we’re even .
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alejandro was surprised when Benny told him there was a woman looking for him at the front counter of his father’s shop. He walked out and there she was, those long tanned legs he was so crazy about showcased beautifully in a short skirt and cream-colored cowboy boots. She looked a bit nervous to be there, though she smiled graciously at the prospect when he brought her back to Alejandro. He noted with some satisfaction that Benny didn’t dare openly gawk at her, though he snuck several glances when he thought Alejandro wasn’t looking. Keep dreaming, you little fucker.
She leaned in for a hug and he took in the clean, floral scent of her, every inch of her soft and squeezable beneath his hands. But he wasn’t going down that road with her again. The ache in his balls from their ride together three days before still hadn’t quite subsided. He hadn’t stopped daydreaming about the grown up, sensual Ali who’d replaced the lithe teenager of his dreams. He hadn’t stopped wondering how far he could take her without one or both of them regretting it.
When he’d driven her home the other day, she was still sweet and friendly, but whatever floodgates of sexual tension had opened on the Ridge had been firmly closed to him. Her eyes had been haunted by regret and shame. She’d seemed suddenly fragile, and he had ached not to fuck her but to make sweet love to her until he erased the doubt and sadness from her eyes.
Here in the garage, though, she didn’t look vulnerable. He knew women well enough to realize she was there with a purpose. And from the looks of her outfit, the purpose was pretty clear. His gaze skimmed down the wispy nothing of a top and tiny skirt. He could see the pulse fluttering in her throat as she stared back at him.
“I wanted to apologize—”
He grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go somewhere more private.” He noted with satisfaction that her fingers clutched his immediately as he led her to the empty bay.
When they were alone she began again. “I’m sorry, Alejandro. For the other day.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. What are you sorry for?” He looked at her closely, trying again to count those damned gold flecks, hoping it would keep his eyes off her tits.
“For…” she ran her hand through her hair before answering. “For not being straight with you.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Straight about what? I knew you were engaged when I kissed you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not. I called the wedding off. And that’s not what I meant.”
“You what?” He took a step closer, tipped her face up to his with two fingers. “When?” He noted with some satisfaction that her pupils darkened her eyes and she was trembling slightly.
“The day before. But I was still deciding whether or not that was a smart idea.”
“And was it?”
She swallowed nervously and nodded.
“But
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