Page 34 of Fire and Rain
She sank against him, held onto him. It felt so good to be in his arms, his body hard against hers, his strength encircling her.
He tucked a finger beneath her chin and lifted her gaze to his. Then his brow furrowed, and his gaze dropped to her lips. Excitement and desire made her pulse pound, and for a moment, she was certain he was about to kiss her. She leaned closer, all but offering him her lips.
Then he lifted his gaze once again, his blue eyes looking into hers. “I promise I won’t take chances with my life. I came close to dying once, and I don’t want to repeat that experience. But I’m a flight mech. That’s what I do—at least for now.”
Disappointment lanced through her at the kiss that hadn’t happened, her blood still running hot. She willed herself to smile. “I know.”
ChapterSeven
It took allof Sean’s will to let Eden go. “Let’s get you that yelloweye.”
Heart still racing, he turned away from her, walked back to his rod, neither of them speaking.
What the hell? You almost kissed her!
She hadwantedhim to kiss her. She had lifted her lips toward his, her body pressing against his with its soft curves. He’d seen desire in her eyes, had watched it become disappointment when he’d pulled away.
But she couldn’t truly wanthim.
Justin had been gone for only five months. Eden wanted Justin, not him. She was probably missing a man’s touch. Sean couldn’t blame her for wanting to assuage her grief and loneliness. But if he’d kissed her, he would have led them both on a path to remorse. She would surely regret it, and Sean would hate himself for taking advantage of her vulnerability and loneliness—and for betraying Justin’s friendship.
It was your job to keep Justin safe, and you failed. And now you want to sleep with his widow? What kind of bastard are you?
Sean had known it was a bad idea to come out on the boat with her, but he’d thought they would have a toddler for a chaperone. He hadn’t known Maverick wasn’t coming until he’d met Eden at the marina.
Sean knew he ought to say something to Eden to make it clear they could never be more than close friends. Or maybe he should just let it go, pretend it hadn’t happened. He didn’t want to embarrass her.
A harbor seal popped up about twenty yards off the port bow, its black eyes, dark nose, and round head giving it the look of a gray bowling ball.
“Hey, buddy.”
“He was over here a moment ago. They’re curious—and he probably hopes to steal our catch.” There was a brightness to her voice, as if she were trying to hide her hurt.
Shit.
“Seals do that?”
Was he going to keep pretending nothing had just happened?
Apparently so.
“Right off the hook if they can.”
“Damn.” Sean looked the seal in the eyes. “You stay away, man.”
“I got a bite.”
The seal disappeared beneath the surface.
“I think the seal is headed your way.” Sean glanced over his shoulder, saw Eden busy reeling in her catch, her rod flexing. “Looks like you got a good-sized one.”
“Might be a halibut.”
He felt a tug on his own rod. “I’ve got a bite, too.”
A few minutes later, two good-sized halibut lay in the fish box.
“I guess the seal didn’t want to steal our catch after all.”
