Page 6 of One Night Stand After Another
Chapter Three
Clara’s hands were sweaty. She didn’t even know where to put them. So much about Jack felt familiar and right, like slipping into her favorite sweater. But everything was different. She’d treated him so badly. How could he be hugging her with what felt like real affection?
“I missed you, Clara,” Jack said.
And with that, her pat, two-minute speech went out the front door. “I missed you, too.” She hugged him back, really hugged him, her eyes flooding with tears. “I’m so sorry for what happened after graduation. I handled everything wrong. I’ve made terrible choices since I left.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
She swallowed hard and cleared her throat, blinking away the hot tears that might ruin her makeup. “But I’m changing all of that now, and the first thing I wanted to do was tell you that I’m sorry for what I did that night at the party, but I’m more sorry for how I treated you after it happened. You didn’t deserve that. And I know this isn’t the time or place for a lengthy discussion about old history, but when I saw the invitation in the mail—”
Jack squeezed her, knocking the breath from her lungs, and swung her around in a tight circle. “You’re already forgiven, silly.”
It took her a second to catch her balance—and her breath. Forgiven? Just like that? “Really?”
“Life is short, Clara. I’ve had a crash course in that lately.”
“I read about your father’s heart attack. How is he?” Concern shadowed the relief that coursed through with dizzying speed.Forgiven. Free to move on. California, here I come.
“Fine, thankfully. We’re talking now. I still can’t believe it.”
Neither could Clara—and she wanted to hear all about it. She really had picked an epically awful time for reconciliation.
Jack smiled. “You’re probably wondering why I invited you, so I’d better warn—”
A hand reached from behind Clara and clamped Jack’s shoulder. He stopped dancing, forcing Clara to a halt, trapped between two large male bodies.
“May I cut in?” Zane’s deep voice reached inside her to places she’d locked away, safe.
She held very still, trying to stop the flush she knew was sweeping her pale cheeks. Goose bumps blazed up her arms and down her legs. Her lungs shrank to raisins, and her body softened with awareness. She had enough experience now to identify her instant response to Zane as arousal. And ridiculous. It was sense memory and association, pure and simple. He’d gotten under her skin in a formative moment. It meant absolutely nothing.
Worse than nothing.
It was dangerous. Their apocalyptic chemistry had caused her to make the worst decisions of her life. His betrayal had sent her running away from her dreams, yet all she really wanted to do was turn around, close her eyes, and see if the magic that had made her lose her damn mind was still there. The desire was absurd.
She tried to swallow casually, but her gulp was audible. Jack’s hold on her loosened. It was clear he was going to step back. She pleaded him with her gaze and mouthed, “Don’t you dare.”
Jack’s smile was wicked. “This time, you have my blessing.”
He released her, grabbed Lila, and was gone.
“Clara?”
Oh God.She couldn’t just stand there, ignoring him. People were looking.
Slowly, she turned to Zane.
Crystal-gray eyes trapped hers. “Will you dance with me?”
Her hands felt like they belonged to someone else as they lifted to his shoulders. She stopped breathing as his hands clasped her waist. She stared over his shoulder but saw nothing in the room.
Dancing with Jack had been comfortable.
Dancing with Zane made her feel like her lungs had been turned inside out and her skin set on fire.
She saw a shadow of the boy he’d been at eighteen within the man who confidently waltzed her around the room. His hair was shorter, but even a more disciplined cut couldn’t entirely tame the curl in his dark-blond hair. He felt solid, like he’d packed on some muscle. His five o’clock shadow was darker. She hadn’t expected that. And his scent grabbed something in her belly and squeezed. How could he smell exactly the same after ten years? Not fair. She would happily drink whatever it was that made him smell like cool sheets and deep blue water.
An idea tickled her brain, and the comfort of Jack swirled with the sensuality of Zane. She could see it in wool. Soft. Sensuous. A swirly pattern.This is not the time to be thinking about yarn!her brain screamed. She felt dizzy.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Zane said. “Please breathe.”
