Page 400 of Summer Heat
Remember, you can’t keep him. You have to give him up in two weeks. At least that reminder had the desired effect. Steeling herself, she asked casually, “Did you want to go out for a change?”
It was a simple question and yet it was taking all she had to keep the tears from showing.
He stared at her silently for a moment before nodding. “Why don’t we go to Le Mille Feuille?”
One of the most expensive restaurants in the area.
Her heart couldn’t take much more. “Sounds great. I’ll call you so we can plan a time.” She quickly took her last suitcase from him and shoved it in her ‘SUV’—even she was using the quotation marks now. She slammed the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“Tomorrow.”
* * * * *
ABBY FELT HER breathing go haywire when she heard the doorbell ring.
Aside from the one brief phone call they’d had to confirm what time he’d be picking her up tonight, they hadn’t spoken at all since she’d moved back to her cottage.
Twenty-four hours.
She’d spent nearly that entire time at the library—reading, writing, arranging her books by cover color instead of topic. Anything in her power not to think about Connor.
Now here he was.
And all the work she’d put into walling up her heart was soon going to be tested.
“Hi, Connor.”
Talk about failing with flying colors.
She was right back where she started weeks ago, losing herself in his intense blue gaze.
“You look gorgeous, Abby.”
“Thanks. So do you.” It occurred to her that in all their time together, they hadn’t once gone out on a date.
Now she saw why.
They stood there awkwardly for a moment before he reached out and dragged her into his arms. “God, I’ve missed you.”
The last bit of her ineffectual wall came crumbling down. “I’m sorry I moved our dinner to tonight,” she blurted out then as she slid her arms around his waist.
He leaned back and brushed a thumb against her cheekbone. “Feeling bad about that are we?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” His lips came down on hers swiftly. The kiss was frantic, hungry. Just this side of angry.
By the time he pulled back, the room was spinning. “Don’t ever shut me out like that again, Abby. Not unless you mean it.”
No. She wouldn’t push him away anymore. Couldn’t. “Do you want to cancel our dinner reservations and eat here instead?” she asked softly, hopefully.
He slid his hand through her hair. “Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to having a night out with you.”
“But—”
“Let’s go out tonight, Abby. Let me prove to you that we can do this.”
How was it that he knew exactly what she was worried about? “You sound so sure.”
