didn’t have time for the stupid libido that had been magically ignited by Myles being in the same room as me. It didn’t take much. My girl parts had been engaged when it came to Myles for years now. I was usually able to ignore them.
Until he freaking kissed me. Then it was unleash the Kraken!
I was supposed to explore the world outside of my hometown and find myself. This. Was. Not. In. The. Plans.
I turned to face him, my chin lifting just a notch. I had to; he was the perfect height for me. One of the few men in this blasted city who was. Being five feet eight was a blessing in only two things—reaching the high shelf at the market and not needing to wear heels.
Actually, more like not allowed to wear heels when the average guy seemed to be just under six feet.
Except Myles.
He’d always been perfect for me in all ways.
Damn him.
He tucked a lock of hair that had fallen out of my braid around my ear. “I think you’ve kept me waiting long enough.”
“As opposed to the two years you’ve been gone?”
“Just one.”
I frowned. “Pretty sure the calendar has been replaced twice on my wall since I’ve seen you.”
His lips quirked up. “To be fair, I did come back last Valentine’s.” He caught my hand, playing with my fingers like he always used to. “I was too stupid to stay. Especially when you had some overblown Ken doll with his hands on you.”
I frowned. “Ken doll? What are you…” Oh. When I’d attempted to push Myles out of my head with the cute lawyer. I’d only lasted two months with him. And for the first time in my life, I’d had a valentine. Too bad I’d broken up with him a week later.
I hadn’t been able to string the guy along any longer.
Not when Myles was the only one I could picture next to me. Even though he’d left me standing in the door with rain and tears on my stupid face. Two years was a lifetime ago at this point, but right now—with him right in front of me—not so much.
I twisted my fingers out of his hold. “You burned that bridge spectacularly. Perhaps you remember?”
Now that he was in my sphere again, my anger boiled up. Anger I hadn’t really allowed myself to feel. It had been drowned out in hurt, then I’d stuffed it down to get through each day without him. And also to find some purpose in my life.
After college, it had been hard to find accounting work. If I wanted a job in the city, I could be a cubicle drone. I’d even tried it for a few months, but the mind-numbing work had driven me crazy. My life felt even more inert because everything I’d done in school to create a career ended up feeling like a box that was too small.
“I made a mistake. I’m here to make it right.”
“And what? You standing here is supposed to make that all okay?”
His lack of reply only incensed me more.
“So, you just assumed I was pining after you?”
His blue eyes blazed. “Obviously not. What happened to surfer boy?”
“Ken, and now surfer Ken?”
His jaw clenched. “If the plastic fits.”
I shrugged and stepped back. “You’re one to talk. I’ve seen some of the women you were photographed with. Obviously, you got along just fine without me.” I needed to get his scent out of my brain. It made me stupid. And I couldn’t be stupid right now. I needed a clear head and to figure out what the hell he was doing back in Turnbull.
“You paid attention?” His teeth flashed from the scruff hiding half his face. I would have to get used to that.
Ugh.
No, I didn’t have to get used to anything. Especially if he was going to be all cocky. We were different people. Two years was a damn long time.
“How could I not? People loved to show me all the rags. Sex tape in the wings?”
“Nah, I don’t like to be filmed. Not my kink. Unless it’s yours, Fee.”
Could you die from embarrassment and be turned on at the same time?
Suddenly cognizant of the room full of people around us, I grabbed my jacket and brushed by him. So many people staring. And thank goodness it was my last night.
They’d be talking about me for weeks.
Just great.
He backtracked to his table before following me out to the patio. I pulled on my jacket, my eyes drawn up