loss, in every life, was inevitable.
Which was where faith came in. Faith and the people around you...
“Which is why you turned to me,” he guessed, pulling on his shirt.
Hope wiped away her tears before they fell. She squared her shoulders, and seemed to pull herself together, as she surveyed his chest. “Well, that and your hot bod,” she teased.
He winked, following her easy lead. “Turned you on, did I?”
“I admit it. You’re so different from the men I usually date. I was curious what it would be like to hit the sheets with you.”
He came closer, aware he didn’t like the mental image of her in any other guy’s arms. “What kind of men do you usually go out with?” he asked gruffly, already wondering how to get rid of the competition.
She tapped her index finger on her chin. “Tactful.”
Ha-ha. “You mean wusses?”
She shook her head. “Nonmilitary.”
“So in other words, execs...”
“One reporter.”
“Your basic white-collar types.”
“Yes.”
The kind of guy, he figured, she could probably dominate. The kind of guy that, in the end, would bore her silly. He tilted his head and flashed her a cocky grin. “You’ve been missing out.”
For a moment, she seemed to agree. At least in bed. Which made him wonder. “So, now that your curiosity about my sexual prowess has been satisfied...?” He fished around for a little more information.
“I realize you are talented in many areas.”
He laughed, as she’d meant him to.
The impishness in her gaze faded. She touched his wrist in a way that felt like goodbye. Slowly met his eyes. “Seriously. I’m sorry if I took advantage of you.”
He shrugged and caught her hand with his. “I think it was mutual.”
She disengaged their palms, stepped back, all professional scandal manager. “In any case, it won’t happen again.”
His gaze drifted over her lazily. “You really don’t think so?” Because if it were up to him, it would.
Her conflicted attitude faded as fast as it had appeared. She walked out into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of milk. “I get that we had fun here, Garrett. But I have a job to do. That has to take precedence.”
He helped himself to a bottle of water, took a long thirsty drink, before promising, “I won’t interfere with that.”
He could see she didn’t believe him. But she had stopped trying to run away. Garrett decided to try another tack. He leaned back against the counter. “Did you ever see When Harry Met Sally ?”
Hope stopped in mid-sip. “One of the greatest romantic comedies of all time? Ah, yeah, about a million times when I was growing up.” She lounged opposite him, a curious expression on her face.
“Well, so did Sage.”
Understanding dawned. “Which meant you watched it a lot, too.”
Way too many times. Or so he’d thought then. Later, he had realized what valuable information the movie contained about the differences between the sexes when it came to dating and relationships.
“You know those little vignettes that were woven throughout, about how couples met each other?” he continued.
“And fell in love?” Finishing her milk, she sighed in wistful appreciation. “They were all so funny and unique. And real.”
And she deserved even more than that. “Well, this is our story, Hope.” He took her glass, put it aside and drew her back into his arms. “And one day soon, maybe even today, you’ll look back and see our initial hookup was even more original than any of those.”
She splayed her hands across his chest. “You’re sure that’s all this is? A hookup?”
He rubbed the pad of his thumb across the softness of her cheek. “Would it make you feel better if it were?”
She hesitated, but just for a millisecond. “Between work and Max, it’s really all I have room for in my life right now.”
He could understand that. What she didn’t know was that she wouldn’t be this busy—or conflicted—forever. He lowered his mouth to hers,
Which was where faith came in. Faith and the people around you...
“Which is why you turned to me,” he guessed, pulling on his shirt.
Hope wiped away her tears before they fell. She squared her shoulders, and seemed to pull herself together, as she surveyed his chest. “Well, that and your hot bod,” she teased.
He winked, following her easy lead. “Turned you on, did I?”
“I admit it. You’re so different from the men I usually date. I was curious what it would be like to hit the sheets with you.”
He came closer, aware he didn’t like the mental image of her in any other guy’s arms. “What kind of men do you usually go out with?” he asked gruffly, already wondering how to get rid of the competition.
She tapped her index finger on her chin. “Tactful.”
Ha-ha. “You mean wusses?”
She shook her head. “Nonmilitary.”
“So in other words, execs...”
“One reporter.”
“Your basic white-collar types.”
“Yes.”
The kind of guy, he figured, she could probably dominate. The kind of guy that, in the end, would bore her silly. He tilted his head and flashed her a cocky grin. “You’ve been missing out.”
For a moment, she seemed to agree. At least in bed. Which made him wonder. “So, now that your curiosity about my sexual prowess has been satisfied...?” He fished around for a little more information.
“I realize you are talented in many areas.”
He laughed, as she’d meant him to.
The impishness in her gaze faded. She touched his wrist in a way that felt like goodbye. Slowly met his eyes. “Seriously. I’m sorry if I took advantage of you.”
He shrugged and caught her hand with his. “I think it was mutual.”
She disengaged their palms, stepped back, all professional scandal manager. “In any case, it won’t happen again.”
His gaze drifted over her lazily. “You really don’t think so?” Because if it were up to him, it would.
Her conflicted attitude faded as fast as it had appeared. She walked out into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of milk. “I get that we had fun here, Garrett. But I have a job to do. That has to take precedence.”
He helped himself to a bottle of water, took a long thirsty drink, before promising, “I won’t interfere with that.”
He could see she didn’t believe him. But she had stopped trying to run away. Garrett decided to try another tack. He leaned back against the counter. “Did you ever see When Harry Met Sally ?”
Hope stopped in mid-sip. “One of the greatest romantic comedies of all time? Ah, yeah, about a million times when I was growing up.” She lounged opposite him, a curious expression on her face.
“Well, so did Sage.”
Understanding dawned. “Which meant you watched it a lot, too.”
Way too many times. Or so he’d thought then. Later, he had realized what valuable information the movie contained about the differences between the sexes when it came to dating and relationships.
“You know those little vignettes that were woven throughout, about how couples met each other?” he continued.
“And fell in love?” Finishing her milk, she sighed in wistful appreciation. “They were all so funny and unique. And real.”
And she deserved even more than that. “Well, this is our story, Hope.” He took her glass, put it aside and drew her back into his arms. “And one day soon, maybe even today, you’ll look back and see our initial hookup was even more original than any of those.”
She splayed her hands across his chest. “You’re sure that’s all this is? A hookup?”
He rubbed the pad of his thumb across the softness of her cheek. “Would it make you feel better if it were?”
She hesitated, but just for a millisecond. “Between work and Max, it’s really all I have room for in my life right now.”
He could understand that. What she didn’t know was that she wouldn’t be this busy—or conflicted—forever. He lowered his mouth to hers,
Similar Books
