Without thinking, I fist my hands in his shirt and pull his face to mine. Our lips collide, and Gavin quickly catches on, reaching down and gripping my waist. As our bodies mold together, he slides his tongue inside my mouth. I taste cinnamon and inhale his musky scent as fireworks erupt between us. His hand cups my cheek, and he tilts my head back to deepen the kiss. Every nerve sparks with electricity as our mouths battle for more. We release moans as we devour one another, similar to the first time but more heated and desperate. Memories of how he touched me and satisfied my every need rush through me, and it’s then I know I’m losing my resolve.

Slowly, I pull away and lick my lips. I blink, unable to look at him as we stand in the dimly lit hallway and try to catch our breaths.

“This doesn’t mean anything’s changed between us,” I blurt out, finally glancing up at him.

He slides his tongue along his bottom lip. “I beg to differ.”

“After a bad experience, I don’t get involved with men who work on the ranch, so get whatever thought you have in that head of yours out because it’s not happening,” I say sternly, though by the smug look on his face, he’s not buying it. “We had one night. Let’s just end it at that.”

“So that’s why you’ve been lying?”

Inhaling a sharp breath, I finally nod. “Fine, yes. I froze the day you showed up at the bar and decided to bail instead. I never expected to see you again, especially not on my family’s ranch.”

“Just to confirm, you do remember?”

Nodding again, I admit it. “Yes, but like I said—”

He dips his head and brings our mouths together again. Softly, our tongues tangle, and then all too soon, he backs away.

“Nothing’s happening,” he finishes my sentence. “Got it.” He flashes me a mischievous wink.

Hearing Gavin say those words is like a punch to the gut. Even though I’m the one who said them to him, knowing my secret is out in the open makes me feel more vulnerable than before.

“It’s not you, Gavin. I mean, it is but not because I wasn’t attracted to you. You’re older than me, you work for my uncle, we both work long hours, and if shit hits the fan between us, we’d be stuck seeing each other all the time. Trust me when I say that isn’t a good time.”

“Maybe if you’d give me a chance, it won’t end like your past relationship did.”

“I can’t risk that. I’m sorry.” My heart couldn’t take it again.