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CREED NIGH WATCHED his little sister’s best friend saunter away through the crowd. Damn, the girl had turned into a fine woman.
Although she’d never worn much makeup and hadn’t dressed in the current trend, he’d always thought of her as cute and sweet. He liked her aloof attitude—how she didn’t feel the need to please other people. He liked a lot of things about her. The way she knew who she was, always had been, when it had taken him until two years ago to really find himself.
Currently, the group of friends were trying to impress him, just like everyone always did. He wondered if any of them had ever looked at him and saw more than a jock and famous soccer player. Aspen had always looked at him and seen more. That had been one of the reasons he’d snuck away in the middle of the night, leaving her naked under the sheets. He’d had a reputation to uphold five years ago and she hadn’t lived anywhere near that plain of existence. He’d thought he needed a trophy wife, but it turned out he’d wanted Aspen Hewitt.
Today, he was back to win her over.
“If you’ll excuse me.” Creed stood and made his way to the back of the restaurant. He scoped out the door with the “employees only” sign hung on it. From the little information about Aspen that his sister offered, Aspen owned this restaurant—Brimstone. He owed her an apology, and hoped to put their past behind them before the night began.
The short hallway had a handful of doors, but it was easy to spot the chalk sign that read “office.”
He lightly rapped his knuckles on the wooden door, hoping she wouldn’t force him to beg for her forgiveness and praying she’d actually let him in.
“Come in.”
He’d grown up with Aspen and recognized her frazzled voice. His lips curled upwards as he twisted the doorknob recalling all the mundane events that would send his sister, Aspen, and Clark into a fit of frazzle. A certain way a boy looked at them a certain way or notes that were passed around. The silliest things tuned their teenage lives upside down. But those moments felt like a lifetime ago now.
Inside, he found a small office, lacking the rustic look of the rest of the restaurant. The room resembled a more classic look of an old man’s office with an old wooden desk and swivel wood chair. Old drawers lined the wall and, along one wall, a thin table had a round tray of scotch and glasses.
Aspen’s bare back faced him.
“Tess, what took you so long?”
Even knowing this moment was meant for his sister didn’t stop his eyes from lingering on Aspen’s silky skin exposed from the unzipped dress she’d changed into.
He’d spent years dreaming about the feel of her body, her touch ... all the things he shouldn’t be allowed after he hurt her. His betrayal wouldn’t have come as a surprise to most people. Creed didn’t have a good track record with women. But Aspen wasn’t just a random woman; she was practically part of his family. He’d swear his mother liked her more than him. Clearly, Aspen hadn’t shared their brief encounter with his mother. Or else, she would’ve tracked him down and yelled his ear off long ago.
Aspen’s fingers tapped the slit of her dress, drawing his attention down her back and to the zipper.
“It’s stuck. Can you un-snag it and, in the meantime, tell me why you thought it a good idea to invite your brother tonight.”
He took three large steps to her back and touched her fingers at the base of the zipper. He heard her light gasp and her fingers went still beneath his touch.
“Creed ...” Her soft whisper stirred up a wildfire of desire he’d planned on keeping locked away until the time was right. Before he’d even apologized was not the time to let his feelings for her overtake him. Still, his fingers couldn’t resist touching her.
Slowly, he used his free hand and traced his finger from the base of her neck, where she’d brushed her long, dark brown hair over one shoulder. He continued his caress down her spine, reveling in feeling her reaction to his touch. She didn’t seem frightened or even undesiring, but just the opposite. Just like the night they’d slept together. He hoped she’d feel this way the rest of their lives.
His finger met her other hand at the zipper and his knuckle lingered against her knuckles a little longer before he freed the material wedged in the zipper track. Slower than he’d traced her skin, he started sliding the zipper up the back of her dress, watching her body straighten with his fluid motion. He stopped just below her shoulder blades and swept the fallen hair back over her shoulder so not to catch any in the zipper. Her body reacted to every spot he touched, and he regretted when the time came to hook the small clasp at the top of the zipper.
He covered her bare arms with his hands and leaned into the side of her hair. She smelled different now from the innocent, sweet strawberry scent of lotion she’d once used. She smelled older, with an almost nutty, tropical smell. He liked it just as much, maybe more.
He whispered in her ear, “All done.” He let his hands slide down her arms as she stepped out of his grasp. She didn’t face him right away, her shoulders rising and falling as if she were trying to control her breathing. Finally, she turned.
He saw was a mask of protection from the hurt he’d caused all those years ago. Damn it, he hadn’t meant to, but he’d been immature and stupid, lost in a world of who played the best, had the biggest house, the fastest ride, and hottest wife. He wasn’t proud, but that had been who he was then.
Her lips parted and, even with the distance between them, he could taste the sweet flavor of her mouth and wondered if she still used the same strawberry lip shine. Perhaps she tasted different now.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone sounded cold and reserved, nothing like her body’s reaction to his touch.
“I owe you an apology.”
“And you thought Valentine’s Day was the day to give it? Hey, sorry I slept with you and took off without a word.” She shot him a cold, hard stare with her sarcasm.
“I am sorry.”
“Or are you hitting the bottom of the barrel again? Had a bad fight with whatever wife you’re on now and thought to yourself, hey, Aspen was an easy lay. Maybe I’ll pop in there on the loneliest day for a single woman and get another piece of that easy ass.”
When had she become so vocal and angry?
He stepped toward her, and she boldly took two steps in his direction, her arms crossed, lips tight.
“Everything about that sentence was wrong. Bottom of the barrel, easy ...” He shook his head. “I’ve never thought any of those things about you.”
“I don’t really think you gave me any thought at all.”
That wasn’t true. She had no idea. He had planned to apologize and hoped they’d walk out of here civil, and ready to build a relationship.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that night. If we’re being completely honest, you’ve always been in my head.”
Confusion flitted in her eyes.
“I didn’t have my shit together and I have no excuse for the way I left you or for not contacting you since. I’m sorry, Aspen.”
Her eyebrows drew together, causing a small wrinkle across her forehead. “That’s the most sincere thing I think I’ve ever heard you say.”
“I mean every word of it.”
“You should.”
“I do.”
Her tongue darted out and left a slick trail on her pink lips. “Thank you for zipping my dress.”
“You’re welcome.”
“They’re waiting for us.” She grabbed a black jacket and clutch from her desk.
Creed reluctantly walked to the door, greedily wanting to spend more time alone with her.
He opened the door. As she passed, he caught her arm. “I meant every word that night. I might not have been able to live up to what I said, but I meant it.”
She looked up at him, her eyes the darkest shade of intoxicating brown.
“Keep your distance tonight, Creed.” She waved a finger between them. “This isn’t going to happen.”