about his past—and possibly present—relationships.
Amanda looked hurt. “He didn’t mention me?”
“He said the wedding was coming up quickly. I might have missed what else he said because I was thinking about what I would get you for a wedding present. I finished my wine, excused myself and went back to my apartment for Tara’s gift.”
Amanda glared at her. “That’s not what the bartender told me. He said you went to the ladies’ room before you had a drink with him. Were you expecting Greg to come join you maybe?”
“No!” Charlie realized she might have said it a little too sharply, a little too I-can’t-imagine-anything-more-disgusting. Amanda was studying her openly. “Amanda, have you asked yourself why you are so insecure about this relationship?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You don’t seem to trust Greg. Why is that?”
Amanda tossed her hair. “Because of women like you.”
She meant women like her. “I’ve told you,” Charlie said. “I’m not interested in Greg. Tonight I broke up with Daniel and—”
Just then, Shep came out of her bedroom. His hair was still wet from a shower and he wore nothing but a towel wrapped around his slim hips.
“I’m sorry, am I interrupting?” he asked.
Amanda looked at him agape. Charlie was doing the same thing. She hadn’t seen Shep like this in years. Everything about him appeared to have only improved since then—as if that were possible.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” He took a step toward Amanda and held out his hand.
Charlie felt her heart lodge in her throat. If he lost that towel—
“I’m Shep,” he said. “Charlie’s...” He looked at her as if waiting for her to fill in the blank.
“He’s a friend,” Charlie said.
“A good friend, apparently,” Amanda said, clearly flustered. “I should go and leave you two...at it.” With that, she walked to the door.
“I hope this answers any questions you have about me and Greg,” Charlie said. “I kind of have my hands full as it is.”
“I can see that.” Amanda looked past her to where Shep was still standing before she left.
Charlie closed the door and locked it. Behind her she heard Shep chuckle. She turned slowly. His gaze was electric. She felt a jolt move through her. No wonder Amanda had looked dumbstruck. The man was gorgeous.
“If you think I’m going to thank you for that—” Charlie began but lost the rest of what she was going to say as Shep took a step toward her.
Water droplets glistened in his dark hair. One broke free and coursed over the hard muscles of his chest to disappear into the hollow just above where the towel started.
“Shep.” The sound that same out was more like a sigh. Or was it a plea?
“Charlie?” He was within inches of her now.
She felt as if the floor under her was no longer solid. If she even breathed, she’d lose her balance and fall into his arms. She was again that teenager, mesmerized. Desire spiked through her, making her knees weak.
It would have been so easy just to lean toward him and let gravity do the rest. Not that Shep would let her fall. Not this man. He’d sweep her up, carry her off to bed, lose that towel and—
Charlie swallowed and took a step back, dragging her eyes away from the spot where that water droplet had disappeared. She raised her gaze to look into that handsome face, those eyes filled with the kind of desire that now coursed red-hot through her veins. She felt something melt inside her.
Daniel had never looked at her like this. Shep was right. Daniel wasn’t the one. He’d never been the one. She’d never felt like this with him. There was only one man who’d ever made her quiver inside like an autumn leaf in the breeze, and he was standing in front of her half naked.
But it was Shep’s mouth and what that mouth had done to her all those years ago that had her pulse thumping. She wanted to kiss him like she’d never wanted to kiss another man.
“Say the word, Charlie,” Shep said quietly.
The word was on the tip of her tongue when his cell phone rang.
Shep let out a curse but didn’t move. His gaze held hers, daring her to tell him to let it ring.
Not tonight, she told herself silently. She wasn’t going from one man’s arms to another in the span of one night, no matter what Amanda thought.
“You’d better get that,” she said, her voice breaking.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BY THE TIME Shep was off