For a moment she just looked at him, and he would have sworn he saw in her eyes, in her flushed face, the same fierce heat that had nearly swamped him. But she had still pulled away. He tried to say her name, but only an odd little gulp came up.

She drew in a very deep breath. He tried to keep his gaze on her face and not stare—okay, gape—at the full curves of her breasts as they rose with her breath.

“That’s twice,” she said, her voice so husky it nearly put him on his knees.

“I...what?” He wasn’t sure exactly what she meant. That she’d kissed him twice? She was counting?

“I’ve never done that before, Adam. Made the first move. And I won’t do it again.” Kiss him? Was that what she meant? The heated fog in his brain was taking its time to dissipate and let him think. And that low, rough note in her voice wasn’t helping any. But then she added, more steadily, “The rest is up to you.”

And she walked away.

Chapter 30

Up to you.

She didn’t mean that. Because if it was up to him they’d be naked on the nearest flat surface as soon as he could get her there.

If it was up to him, this whole nightmare that had brought them together would be over, leaving only the together part.

If it was up to him...

Greg’s daughter. She’s Greg’s daughter.

Up to you.

He thought he knew all there was to know about a body at war with his mind. All the long days of trying to force a body part to do what it was supposed to do but no longer could had taught him the hard way. But now a body part that was clearly still very functional was applying a force he’d never felt before. It made all the sexual urges of his life pale by comparison. Because he knew, deep in his gut, that strings came with this one. Amanda—Mandy? She’d give him back that precious nickname, after she’d coldly told him never to speak it again?—might have made the first move, but that didn’t mean she didn’t expect...everything.

And he had nothing to offer her. Even if she could set aside that horrible night, he wasn’t sure he could. Whatever her reason, pity or not, she apparently didn’t blame him any longer, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still blame himself.

Which made him realize he’d been wrong. She might be the kind of woman who would expect—and who deserved—everything, but there was no way she’d want that from him. Of all people.