It was like she had a pureness about her that called to him, an innocence that he’d lost years ago and would never get back. Every time he was around her, all he wanted to do was roll her onto the nearest bed and muss that polished hair as he soiled her cleanliness with all the dirty things he wished to do to her body. And this time was no exception.

Brett glanced down at his oil-stained hands though. Great. She was going to think he hadn’t washed them. Even though he had. Twice. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he realized he still hadn’t responded to her yet. “You look as great as always, Sid.” Damn. Took you long enough, dumbass.

“Um, thanks. You too,” she said, turning away from him. “But you can go. I have everything under control.”

Her dismissal hit him like a punch to the gut, and he winced. Okay, so maybe he deserved it after what he’d done to her last year. But it was almost completely dark outside, and he would be damned if he was just going to leave her stranded in the middle of nowhere all alone. Even if she did have a flashlight.

Brett shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not going anywhere.”

*  *  *

Damn it. The last person Sidney Larson wanted to be rescued by was her ex.

After the stunt Brett had pulled last year, she’d broken up with him and told him she never wanted to see him again. And she’d meant it at the time. But the past year had been a real struggle for her. Part of her wanted to prove to him—and maybe a little to herself—that she didn’t need him in her life. While the other part of her had contemplated running back into his arms to make up for lost time. So she’d purposely avoided running into him…well, up until now.

She had a feeling that seeing him again would bring back all of those feelings and memories that she’d tried so hard to suppress. She was right. The urge to fling herself back into his arms—and his life—was as strong as ever. But after the crap he’d pulled last year, she just couldn’t do it.

No matter how good he looks.

Actually, he looked better than good. Brett was sexier than ever. He had always maintained a great physique, but after one glance at those arms of his, she had no doubt he’d been putting in some extra hours lifting weights at the gym. Not only that, but the man had always pulled off a grungy, bad boy look without even trying. And it completely suited him. Because he was the type of guy that fathers had been warning their daughters about for years.