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She was soft and warm and responsive, and her mouth parted for his as she shifted to get closer to him. Her other hand moved to tangle in his hair.

Both of them were dirty and sweaty, but it simply didn’t matter. Rob was completely into the kiss, lost in the feeling and sensations and the hot sweetness she was so eagerly offering him.

It went on long enough for his body to respond, and the pulsing of his groin was a painful sort of pleasure. She was making little whimpering noises and fisting her hand in his hair, and he suddenly realized he’d better pull back or he was going to take her right there in the dirt of her backyard.

With effort, he released her and leaned back, willing his arousal to back down a little. Allison was coming off of a difficult divorce. She wasn’t likely to want to jump into bed with a guy she’d known for only a week.

Allison’s cheeks were deeply flushed, and she was panting as she stared at him.

They just looked at each other for a long time, during which Rob continued to fight a battle with his body not to pull her back into his arms.

“I…” Allison began at last. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I know.” His voice sounded too thick, so he cleared his throat. “I…” He wasn’t going to apologize. He wasn’t the least bit sorry. He had no idea what else to say, though.

Allison evidently did know. She rubbed her face and took a few deep breaths. “It was... it was a good kiss, but I’m not… I’m not looking for a relationship.”

The excitement in his chest dropped in an instant with a painful thud.

“I just got divorced, you know, and I’m trying to get myself together. I just can’t...” She gave him a strange look that was half self-consciousness and half regret. “I’m not assuming that’s what you’re looking for, but I’m just saying. I can’t get into anything like that right now.”

He was so disappointed he wanted to groan, but he didn’t, of course. She believed he was strong and in control, so that was what he was going to be with her. He gave her a little smile. “I totally get it. It’s too bad, though. We’d be good together.”

She finally dropped her eyes. “Maybe. But I just… can’t.”

For a moment he saw reluctance on her face. He knew he hadn’t mistaken it.

She wasn’t completely convinced by her words.

He was hit with a new surge of hope. Just because she thought one way today didn’t mean she always would. It had only been a week, after all.

He wasn’t going to give up so easily.

He gave her a smile—one that felt more real than before. “All right. We can just be friends and neighbors, then. How about that?”

He knew he’d said the right thing when she looked up at him with a glowing smile that took his breath away. “We still can be?”

“Of course. Did you think I was some kind of asshole who stops talking to a woman if I can’t get what I want from her?”

“Oh. No. Of course, I just…” She shook her head, evidently altering what she’d been going to say. “I’m glad. You’re the first friend I’ve made in this town.”

He really hoped that wasn’t all he was ever going to be to her. His body was still howling for more of her. But all he said was “I’m sure I won’t be the last.”

9

The next morningAllison went into work slightly anxious.

She’d been exhausted the night before, after all the yard work she’d done, so she’d gone to sleep right away. But she’d woken up in the middle of the night, thinking about Rob, replaying the kiss they’d shared, imagining what would have happened if they’d taken it further, reminding herself of all the reasons it was a good thing she’d put a stop to it.

He’d said they could still be friends, and he hadn’t looked too unhappy or annoyed with her as he’d left her house. But she was still worried. Rob was the best thing about living in Fielding right now, and she didn’t want to lose him.

There were more early customers than usual, so she’d barely had time to show Chelle her new shoes—which she’d bought with Vicki on Saturday—when she was pulled away to take a large family with very loud kids. A steady stream of customers came in from six to seven, and she couldn’t help but wonder why a Monday morning was so busy at the restaurant.

Surely more people would want to sleep in as long as possible on Mondays.

She kept glancing at the clock, waiting for Rob to make an appearance. If he didn’t come in today, then she would know things had changed between them.

She really hoped he’d show up.