A slow, sexy smile spread across his face. “I was just about to call it a day.” Reaching behind her head, he snapped off the lights. “Maybe you and I should have dinner or drinks,” he suggested, and a part of her longed to be with him, to forgive him, to be confident enough to make love to him without the need to think of becoming his wife.

“I—I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

“Scared?” he taunted, and a spark of amusement flared in his eyes.

“No way.”

“Then, why not go out with me?”

Because I can’t take a chance. I don’t want to get hurt, and I can’t trust myself when I’m around you! “I . . . I have plans.” Even to her own ears, her excuse sounded feeble.

“With Dad.”

He hesitated, his silence accusing her of the lie. His jaw slid to one side. “Then I’ll take a rain check.”

“Fine. Right.”

“I’m serious, Bliss. Any time you want to see me, drop by.” Amber eyes held hers for a second. “You know where I live.”

“Yes. At Tiffany’s.”

He nodded and touched her lightly on the arm. “Any time.” A tremor stole through her at the thought of being alone with him at his place. He opened the door and she walked through with as much dignity as she could muster, but all the way down the stairs to the first floor, she felt her lips tingle where Mason had kissed her and her cheeks, where the stubble of his beard had rubbed against her skin, were slightly tender. Oh, Lord, what was she getting herself into? She shoved open the front door and heard Mason’s keys jangling in the lock but she didn’t wait for him to follow her.

Quickly, she hurried outside to the sidewalk. The flow of traffic was lazy in the late afternoon and in the town square across the street, women pushed baby buggies or watched their children play on equipment in the park. She thought she spied Tiffany Santini pushing her daughter on a swing, and again her heart twisted at the thought of children.

Tiffany threw her head back and laughed as the imp in the swing said something she found hilarious. Tiffany’s black hair gleamed in the sunlight, and mother and daughter seemed carefree and incredibly happy.

Someday, she silently told herself. Oh, sure, and when is that going to happen? Remember, Bliss, you’ve got a long way to go. You’re twenty-seven years old and still a virgin.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine