of him. Mind, body, soul—everything inside her wanted, craved, needed him. “I feel it.”
She’d never felt this way about anyone but him. Those early ripples of awareness, anticipation, and attraction she felt with other men, with Clint, fizzled out because none of them were Tate. None of them ever turned her attention away from him. Not for long. Because her heart had always belonged to him.
It probably always would.
Tate’s hands came up to cup her face. He stared down at her, his eyes intent. “This is serious, Liz. It’s real. Believe in that and let the rest happen.”
This time, she initiated the kiss. Soft. Sweet. She lingered with the press of her lips to his. She took in the way his mouth fit hers and how her body nestled against his like it was made to fit.
She pulled back and stared into his eyes, the blue depths serene and welcoming. “A movie.”
“Pizza.”
“You and me.”
“Sounds good,” he agreed.
She slipped out of his arms as he pulled his phone from his back pocket. She went into the living room, taking in a breath and all that happened this evening. She picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and pushed buttons until she got to the On Demand feature. As she scrolled through movies looking for something she and Tate would both like, a movement outside the window drew her gaze. At first she thought it was one of her neighbors walking a dog but her gaze rose to the glimpse of the parking lot between two neighboring buildings and Clint standing there staring at her while he leaned against the back of his car. Too far away to really see his expression, she knew he saw her. Watched her.
A cold chill raced up her spine.
He raised his hand and typed something into his phone.
Her phone buzzed a few seconds later with a text. Afraid to stand there letting him watch her like some creep, she walked to the dining table, retrieved her phone, and stared at the message.
CLINT: We’re not over!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tate’s hands gripped the tops of her shoulders. She jumped under his soft touch.
He read the text over her shoulder. “Bullshit.” Tate snagged her phone. “I’ll make him believe.”
LIZ: This is Tate Liz is with me now
LIZ: Leave her alone
LIZ: Or you deal with me
CLINT: She’s mine!!!!!!!!!!!
Tate’s head snapped up and his gaze locked with hers. “He’s delusional.”
“I told you, he wouldn’t listen to me.”
“You need to stay away from him.”
“I intend to, but . . .” She glanced at the window.
“What?”
“I saw him out in the parking lot watching me.”
Tate ran to the window and stared out, his head turning one way then the other. “Where?”
She came up behind him and peeked around his shoulder, not wanting to see Clint or feel that creepy shiver up her spine again. But . . . “He’s gone.”
Tate glanced down at her with a question in his eyes.
“I swear. He was there.” She pointed to the empty parking spot between the two buildings across from hers.
“I believe you, Liz. I’m just wondering, what’s his game? You broke up with him, but he still thinks you’re his.”
“Ever since that night at the bar, nothing between us has been the same. He’s been . . . possessive, demanding, and a little mean. It was all good the first two months, but . . . something about him always bothered me. I could just never put my finger on it. Until now.”
Tate stared down at her. “I didn’t know you were seeing this guy for that long.”
“I don’t tell you everything.”
“You used to.”
She pressed her lips tight, then confessed, “This time I wanted to really make a go of it with someone. He was nice and flirted and made me feel like he really wanted me.”
Tate let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay. But then it changed.”
“It was subtle. But when you came into that bar demanding to talk to me, I don’t know, he took it as a threat to our relationship.”
“Maybe it was.” Tate handed her back the phone. “You stopped talking to me, and I saw you with him, and I thought . . .”
“You thought I left you for him?” It sounded so implausible he’d think that.
“Yeah. And for the first time, I really thought about what we have and how much it means to me.”
“Declan prodding you had something to do with that.”
He nodded, but added, “Kinda. But it’s more that what he asked wouldn’t let me shove the thoughts and feelings