*Stepping into the club, Chloe got lost in a daydream. A familiar song sent her heart racing. She glanced up and her eyes locked on her biggest regret.
Molten chocolate eyes, shaggy brown hair, and perfectly curved lips twisted in a sinful smirk. That sexy mouth, and talented fingers—and damn, the man could play an instrument.
A smoldering stare locked on hers for a brief second and hope ignited with her desire. Then his brow furrowed as he looked away. Closing his eyes, Doug Walsh threw himself into the music like he wanted to banish her from his mind.
She couldn’t blame him.
Karma was a cruel bitch. Doug was even hotter than the last time she saw him, seven years ago. A twinge of guilt thrummed through her.
She had cried on his shoulder after graduation. He’d awakened feelings she’d tried to bury because she had a boyfriend through most of high school. One who dumped her when she didn’t want to go to another stupid societal party with her parents, instead of having fun with her graduating class. Doug made her feel special, wanted, even loved, and she couldn’t resist making the first move. Knowing she was going to college across the country while he stayed behind, she bailed on him before he woke up.
The very next summer, she fell for him even harder. She tried to make up for her mistake and landed back in bed with him. He fell asleep holding her like he never wanted to let her go. Her doubts crept in and she ran all over again.
Chloe turned with the intention of walking out the door. Someone looped their arm through hers and dragged her toward the bar.
“Thought I mentioned your favorite mistake was playing tonight,” Jackie sing-songed. They’d been best friends since kindergarten. As much as Chloe loved her, Jackie was going to torture her about Doug.
Hopeless, she looked over, carefully avoiding the stage as she twisted the ends of her hair. “If you had, I wouldn’t have come.”
With a dejected sigh, she climbed onto a stool and dropped her chin into her hand. Nodding at the man behind the polished wood counter, she ordered, “Hard cider, please.”
The bartender dipped his head in acknowledgement.
Jackie nudged her. “Why not? Clearly you’re still hung up on him. I saw your reaction.”
“He probably hates me.”
“Nah. He never let your bolting slow him down.”
Her mouth fell open. “Are you saying Doug turned into a man-whore?”
Jackie’s brow scrunched. “Not exactly. Though he doesn’t have a problem picking up women.”
“That’s karma for you.” Chloe turned to find her drink. Tracing the disposable coaster, she took a sip from the tall glass before asking, “Why did you invite me here?”
“Figured it would be like old times. Only without having to sneak into bars to watch Nights Embrace play.”
Chloe giggled. “What the hell. He’s already seen me and the worst he can do is ignore my sorry ass.”
A smirk lifted one corner of Jackie’s mouth as she looked to the stage. “Doubt he’ll ignore you for long. He can’t seem to keep his eyes off you.”
Unsure what to say, she kept her mouth closed. It wasn’t like she could turn back time and stay with him.
Jackie led her to the stage. Chloe’s eyes landed on the lead singer of Nights Embrace. Roxy was pregnant—like way pregnant.
“Holy shit!” Chloe leaned in to ask, “Tell me Jordan didn’t knock her up.” He was a cheating bastard last she’d heard.
“Not a chance. She dumped him years ago. Though Jordan’s not the ass he used to be. Roxy married an Irish hunk from a different band. You’ll have to come early enough to see his group play sometime. But he’ll be singing the last song with Roxy.”
“And the guys? What have they been up to?”
“Like I said, Jordan straightened up his act. He even has a girlfriend. Mike’s with a feisty woman, they’re perfect together. And Doug still flies solo.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You like to pour salt in my wound, don’t you?”
Jackie shrugged, attempting an innocent smile as she glanced up briefly. “You’re here for good, right? You’ve always wanted to fix things? Well, now’s your chance.”
Chloe repressed a groan. “He won’t even look my way.”
“Yeah, because he wanted more than one night, and you bailed on him. Twice.”
“I did, unfortunately. Can’t blame him if he ignores my existence.” That’s why she’d tried to forget the boy who stole her heart with his big brown eyes, and passion for music. He wasn’t afraid to be himself.
For too many years, she’d tried to please her parents. Being across the country helped her realize she needed to live for herself.
Chloe had made it into Brown University and graduated at the top of her class. Then she went on to medical school against her parent’s wishes. Had they paid attention, they would have realized she ditched the idea of being a lawyer before her first day of college. Her mother had always been more interested in trying to get Chloe to fit her mold.
She came back to Seattle exactly once during her college years. Her first summer break, when she got swept up in Doug on a warm, lazy evening. Then she remembered the next seven years she’d be in Rhode Island, across the country. Last thing she wanted was a long distance relationship as a distraction from her studies.
She wasn’t home thirty minutes before her mother laid into her about how improper it was to fool around with a kid who would never go anywhere. A poor, two-bit musician, as opposed to a young man worthy of her, like her then on again/off again boyfriend. Except, he really wasn’t worthy of her, and she was well on her way to figuring that out by then.
In tears, she got herself to the airport and left for good, or so she thought. Her excuse was that she needed to prepare for her next semester. In reality, she needed to find her own path without her mother’s influence.
Part of her hoped she would come back to Seattle, and find Doug. In a perfect world, she would confess everything, and he would forgive her. Too bad she lived in the real world, and he had zero reason to trust her a third time.
If his scowl was any indication, it was far too late.
*
Can I resist her this time around?
Probably fucking not.
Doug tried to forget the longing on Chloe Mae’s beautiful face when she walked in and her eyes landed on him. She’d already stabbed him in the heart twice. The night of graduation, and again the following summer.
He wished like hell she didn’t still affect him. She always had, probably always would.
Stupid considering she’d proven he was nothing more than a hot bod and a decent lay. On both occasions, she disappeared without a word. No explanation. Nothing.
This time, he refused to fall for her sexy smile and pouty lips. She would have no problem finding another man to keep her satisfied.
Mindlessly keeping tempo, he strummed the bass rhythm and scanned the crowd. Right there, two feet in front of him, she stood with Jackie Oceans. Chloe’s eyes were locked on his. Her expression somewhere between lust and—guilt?
Can’t be guilt. Even if it is, she’ll only pull the same stunt.
Thank god. Time for the last song. Maybe everyone would be ready to leave early and he could escape before being pulled into her web all over again.
Trevor walked on to sing with Roxy, and Doug couldn’t help smiling at the pair. They were so damned perfect together. And Mike had found his match. Even Jordan was happily monogamous, though they were still in the fuck-like-bunnies stage and not a real couple.
Maybe one day he’d find love.
His eyes travelled the crowd and landed once again on Chloe, who stood perfectly still, watching his every move.
Why does she look so hopeless?