She stepped aside to let him in, not trusting her voice.

“I see you got my flowers.” He smiled, and the charming gleam in his eye was almost her undoing.

She wanted to throw herself in his arms and tell him how much she wanted him. How much she loved him. But how could she admit that when she didn’t know if she believed it herself? Was her attraction to him just her need for a father figure? Didn’t that make her just like Helen? Couldn’t that have been part of the reason he broke up with her?

“What did you mean by the card?”

“I thought it was very clear.”

He stepped toward her and she had to stop herself from backing away. His hands held on to her shoulders, gripping them firmly.

“I made a mistake. I don’t want to end what we had.”

“What about Helen?”

“I can’t let her dictate my life. She may have problems, and I’ll help her solve them, but that shouldn’t get in the way of my happiness.”

He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close in a gentle embrace. “And you make me happy,” he murmured, then nuzzled her ear.

Delightful sensations rippled along her skin.

“I do?”

He gazed at her, a smile spreading across his face. “Yes, you do.” He tipped up her chin and brushed his lips against hers in a sweet, poignant kiss.

“My big mistake was thinking that we had to end this when my business is done here. That might be what you want, but I hope to find a way to convince you otherwise.”

“You thought that’s what I want?” She shook her head. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

A chuckle rumbled from his chest and he smiled broadly. “So does that mean we can continue what we started?”

Her heart soared and she smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. “Yes.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, her lips moving on his in a passionate, consuming kiss. Her tongue pushed into his mouth and she tasted cinnamon and coffee. His tongue tangled with hers, their bodies so tight she could feel his pounding heart. Or was that hers?

Then he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the couch. He set her down and glided the hem of her top upward. She sucked in a breath and grabbed his hand, stopping him.

Oh, God, how could she have forgotten about Adam?

“No, we can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I…” She bit her lip as she stared into his midnight blue eyes. “I’m involved with someone now.”

*   *   *

Dare frowned. “You started seeing someone else?”

She nodded.

“This would be the friend you were telling me about that you have feelings for.”

“That’s right.”

“Fuck, are you kidding me? We’ve only been apart a few days.”