“You have to feel something, seeing him after a year.”

Her expression turned questioning. “I guess. It was odd and unexpected.”

“You were going to marry him.”

“I was, and then we broke up.” She studied him. “Toby, what are you getting at? I’m sorry he interrupted our dinner, but other than that, why would Jake coming back mean anything to you? While I’m having a good time, you’ve made it incredibly clear that you’re not interested in having any kind of a relationship with me. So whatever I think or don’t think of my ex-fiancé shouldn’t affect you.”

Her point was an excellent one, he told himself. He shouldn’t care at all. But he did, and he didn’t like what had just happened.

“You’re right,” he told her. “We should change the subject.”

They looked at each other. He tried to consciously relax.

“I think the Seahawks have a good chance at making it to the playoffs,” he said.

She grinned. “When in doubt, talk about sports?”

“It’s always a good fallback position.”

“You’re such a guy.”

“I am.”

The rest of dinner went more smoothly. Normal conversation resumed, and Toby was almost able to forget that Jake had ever shown up. After he paid the bill, he walked her to his SUV, then drove her home. He circled around to open her door for her before he took her hand and walked her to the front door.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said, shivering slightly in the cold. “I had a good time.”

“Me, too.”

They looked at each other for a second. He leaned in, intending to offer a perfunctory kiss, but the second his mouth brushed against her, everything changed.

Wanting exploded, sending heat pouring through him. He pulled her close, needing to feel Reggie against him. Her arms came around him, as if she’d been swept away, too. The kiss turned hungry, then deepened, his tongue sweeping inside to tangle with hers.

Past and present blurred as he remembered that kissing her had always been the best part of his day. He wanted to touch her and be touched, each of them slowly exploring, driving the other mad with desire.

The wanting increased until it became a driving force, unlike anything he could remember. Only steel-laced self-control kept him from fumbling with the buttons on her coat and exploring her curves, right there on her parents’ front porch.

Desperate for control, he pulled back, his breathing labored, his dick hard and aching. She looked as stunned as he felt. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide with surprise. She drew in a breath.

“So,” she murmured. “The chemistry is still there.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“An unexpected turn of events.”

“Tell me about it.”

She smiled. “Okay, then. Um, thanks for a really nice evening.”