I must have lost my mind. I was dancing with my boss in the town bar where everyone could see. Dancing with the man who’d walked away from me once before.
But Mike’s large hand splayed against the thick fabric of my shirt, hot against my back. With a grateful sigh, I leaned my head against his chest and listened to the rapid beating of his heart.
His fingertips dipped slightly lower, into the top band of my jeans, and pressed my lower body against his. I wanted him more than my next breath.
But how could I go there again and walk away whole?
Maybe a better question was, how could I not try?
“Cara?” he asked, his voice a gruff, low rumble.
I tipped my head back and met his gaze. “Yes.” I knew exactly what I was agreeing to.
His impossibly brown eyes darkened even more. “Are you sure?”
I nodded.
He leaned close and whispered in my ear. “Go up the back, and I’ll meet you outside my apartment in a few minutes.”
Leave separately, I thought. Protect our jobs.
“Okay.” I slid out of his arms and waited an appropriate amount of time before I headed outside.
When I hit the fresh air, it was cold, but Mike caught up with me almost as soon as I reached his place above the bar.
He unlocked the door, then slid his hand into mine and pulled me inside.
A glance around at the sparse apartment gave me a stark reminder of his constant state of impermanence. The man didn’t need a home base. Just a bed in which to sleep.
I’d do well to remember that, and the knowledge helped shore up my defenses, which had slipped while he held me so tightly on the dance floor.
“Mike, I just expect one thing,” I said, forcing myself to turn and face him. “It’s a deal breaker.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “What is it?” he asked, clearly wary.
The poor man was obviously worried I wanted commitment. I actually felt sorry for him. His unwillingness to open himself up to anyone meant he’d miss out on so much in life.
I stepped closer, my hands on the top of my blouse, and slipped one button out of the loop, then worked on another. “I just want you to promise me that things between us won’t be awkward tomorrow. That you won’t go back to defensive mode and treat me like…”
I was going to say dirt, but I realized that hadn’t been his intent. “Like you’re afraid I’m going to want forever.”
Find out what happens next in Perfect Fit!
Welcome back to Serendipity, where fate, fortune, and love are destined to meet.
Join the Marsden siblings as they navigate careers and love under the shadow of their beloved police chief father, over mom’s Sunday pot roasts, and deep in a small town they’ll never quite manage to leave behind. What could be more perfect?
Read the full series if you love:
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Opposites Attract
- Small Town
- Blue Collar
- Second Chances
- One Night Stand Romance
- Police / Cop Hero
- Surprise Baby
- Insta-Love
- Romantic Suspense
Get all four books and settle in to enjoy the best of small town life—and maybe uncover some family secrets. This bundle includes separate paperback editions of the four Serendipity's Finest series stories: three novels and 1 shorter length novella.
PAPERBACKS INCLUDED IN BUNDLE