Begin Again - Jennifer Probst Page 0,25

her hand in his. He led her a few steps to the open space and gently took her into his arms.

The scent of wildflowers and sunshine filled his nostrils, and within moments, she’d settled against him with a naturalness confirming she’d always belonged to him. He lowered his head to her ear, his arms wrapped around her lithe body like a lover rather than co-worker or friend. The world fell away, and he was once again at the wedding. They’d been dancing and laughing to Prince, having fun on the floor, until Etta James suddenly belted out her rich, sexy voice, singing about a forever love under a night sky. Awkward, shaky with the need of a teen desperately crushing on a girl of his dreams, he’d reached out his hands in invitation, and she’d stepped into his arms.

“I always wondered why you said yes to that dance,” he murmured, pressing his palm to the small of her back. “You never seemed interested before. Treated me like a younger brother. Yet, suddenly I got to hold you, and I was never the same again.”

A tiny gasp escaped her lips. She tilted her head up and their cheeks brushed. Her grip tightened on his shoulders and he tamped down a groan as the fire hit his body and exploded in tiny licks of flame. “I don’t know. I always liked you, but it was never romantically until that dance. The way you looked at me with your heart in your eyes. The gentleness in how you touched me. And then you said—”

“Thank you for this past summer. You changed me, and any guy who doesn’t treat you like the best thing he has doesn’t deserve you.”

She stumbled. He eased her closer. “Yes.”

“I was so clumsy with words. I finally managed to ask you out by the end of the song. I can’t believe you agreed to go on a date,” he said.

“It wasn’t what you said, Owen. It was the way you said it. Like you really meant it. Like I was special.”

He pressed his lips against her temple. “Because you were. You are. Knowing I made you question that by leaving will haunt me forever.”

The last of her resistance faded and she melted against him. His thighs brushed hers. Her breasts pushed against the wall of his chest. His lips coasted over her face in light brushes as they fell into the song, into the night, into each other. Time slowed, stilled, stopped. Light streaked the sky, Etta James crooned about finding the one, and Owen tumbled all over again, on this night, in this moment, holding the woman he’d always loved and always would.

When the song ended, he stepped back, still holding her hand. Her blue eyes were wide, a bit stunned, as if she’d experienced the same emotions. Wild hope surged and shook through him. God, he wanted her. Needed her. He whispered her name, sensing she was on the verge of giving him back a part of herself, of giving him a second chance to protect her heart.

Instead, she slowly retreated, her hand slipping from his grasp. The wall slammed down between them, and Chloe turned away, shoulders squared as if leaving a battle she’d just barely won. “It’s late. I think we better go. I need to hit the rest room, I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Chloe—”

Her name hung on the breeze as she walked away from him.

Chapter Eight

The flowers came the next day. This time, the blooms were a rich, creamy white, looking almost like an Instagram photo, the open petals tinged with a touch of dusty pink. The vase was square and crystal cut. The card read, Can’t wait for tonight.

This time, Owen didn’t mention the delivery. He kept his distance, immediately launching into work mode and trying to catch up on the leads they’d been given from last night’s fundraiser. He’d already contacted the Animal Defense Fund and agreed to get help for Regina and the puppy mill case.

Chloe went through the motions and tried to convince herself it was for the best. Last night had been too intense. Dancing with him to their song created a storm of emotion inside. Her mind blurred and her body came alive, practically zinging under every stroke of his hands, glide of his hips, and burning stare that reminded her of how good it had been between them.

Until it had gone bad.

Her instincts screamed for her to run when the song ended before he could utter words she