“It was a long time ago. We were eighteen. Dan is nothing like me. And, as I said before, I don’t believe one person’s relationship experience has relevance to someone else’s. We’re all different. How about you? Engaged? Seriously involved?”
“Neither. I never get in that deep with people. That time when you threw me over your shoulder? That’s the most action I’ve had in a looooong while.”
“Any particular reason for that?”
She sat up and put her glass down on the table. “Yes. I’m a coward. There. I said it. I’m a coward. Every time you love someone you risk getting your heart beaten to a pulp.”
“Cheerful thought.”
“I’m risk averse. I’m not brave. You were wrong about that. I can’t handle that bone-deep anxiety that comes from loving someone. I only understood that recently. So apparently I’m now a psychiatrist as well as a specialist in emergency medicine. The one thing I’m not good at is relationships, but hey we can’t all be good at everything.”
“But you must date.”
“Usually I see a man once. No one calls me a second time.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“It could be because I always hand out a fake phone number.”
His eyes narrowed with amusement. “Dr. White, you shock me.”
“I also give them a fake name. And I have no idea why I just told you that.”
He started to laugh. “Tell me the name. No. Let me guess—you go by the name of Tiara. Or maybe Aurora. Geranium?”
“Karen.”
“No. I don’t believe you. No way are you a Karen.”
“Karen. Is there any more wine? If this is confession time, I’m going to need it.”
“Yes, Karen.” He topped up their glasses. “Sorry, but you are not a Karen. Guys in London must be stupid.”
“How about you?”
“I don’t have a fake name. Never seen the need.”
“I mean, do you date? You must have been involved since your wife.”
“I guess I’m pretty wary, too.”
They were side by side on the sofa, elbows touching, thighs touching. She was acutely conscious of him.
“Jordan?”
“What?”
“The other day, I lied.”
“About what?”
“When I told you the earth didn’t move.” She turned her head and found he was already looking at her. Her stomach curled.
“It moved?”
“It might have moved. A little.”
His gaze slid to her mouth. “You’re not sure?”
“The wine has made things a little hazy.” She inched a little closer. “If I kissed you now, would you be shocked?”
“Try it and I’ll let you know.”
The last of the daylight was fading and the only light came from the flickering fire. It was as if nothing existed beyond the wooden walls. The cabin had become a cocoon.
She sat up and put her glass down on the table. Then she did the same with his.
“I can see you’re focused,” he murmured. “A woman on a mission, seeking an answer to the question of whether the earth is going to move.”
“This is a controlled, clinical trial. Nothing more.” She lowered her mouth toward his and then stopped, her breath mingling with his. “To clarify, if the earth should happen to move, you’re not going to ask for my number, are you?”
He slid his hands into her hair, holding her head close to his. “Not much point, since I already know it will be fake. Karen.”
Their mouths hadn’t touched, but she was excruciatingly aware of him. Those blue eyes, veiled, watching her. His fingers, strong as steel, gently cupping her face.
The teasing atmosphere had vanished, leaving only delicious tension.
Was this a mistake? She didn’t know. All she knew was that she was sick and tired of feeling bad and being with Jordan felt good. Rosie said she’d forgotten how to have fun. She needed to know that part of her was still alive and well.
She moved her mouth even closer to his. “You can still stop me.”
“Why would I stop you?”
They moved at the same time, mouths colliding, hands seeking. She’d intended it to be a kiss, that was all. One kiss. But the moment his hand stroked down her back she knew one kiss was never going to be enough.
Without breaking the contact he shifted himself so that he was lying full length on the sofa and she straddled him.
She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt then gave up and tore at it, sending a couple of buttons flying. Later she’d wonder what it was about him that brought out a wildness in her, but right now she wasn’t thinking. When she felt him pull at her sweater she raised her