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we’ll never make it to dinner.”
    “I shouldn’t be here when your brother and sister get home.”
    “That still gives us a few hours to get reacquainted.”
    “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
    He rolled from the couch. Reese got a spectacular view of his naked ass as he bent to retrieve his boxer briefs. All too soon, he had them on.
    “Relax. I’ll be right back.”
    Paxton walked out of the room. He’d just turned her world upside down, and he hadn’t even realized it.
    Relax. Right.
    She needed to go home. The more time she spent here, with him, the harder it would be to find the life she so desperately wanted.
    He didn’t want her. Her body maybe, but not her. He’d made his position clear. She’d given her promise not to expect anything from him. It was a promise she’d honor, no matter how much it killed her to do it.
    Problem was, he wanted her to stay, made it clear he’d have her again … and she’d let him. She’d cram as many memories of him into this night as she could, and then tomorrow … well … she’d deal with tomorrow when it happened. No sense buying problems she didn’t have yet, right?
    Reese got up and slid her panties on. Darn it. Her shirt and bra were still in the kitchen. She picked up Paxton’s shirt and put it on instead. She bunched the material in her fists and brought it to her nose. She’d always loved the way he smelled. Like rich soil and saddle leather. A spicy mix of rugged rancher and hot-blooded male that went straight to her head.
    Bottles clanked. She turned to see him leaning in the doorway. Two beer bottles dangled from between his fingers. In his arms, he carried what looked to be several packages of cookies.
    “Cookies and beer?”
    He gave her a sheepish smile. “What can I say? I’ve still got a wicked sweet tooth, baby.”
    She rolled her eyes. Where he put those sweets was anyone’s guess. He was built like a linebacker—from his strong, broad shoulders to his powerful thighs. A light smattering of dark hair covered his chest, morphing to a thin line that disappeared below the elastic of his boxer briefs.
    The man was a work of art.
    “What? I ordered a pizza. These are just the appetizer. And let me say, you look hot in my shirt, darlin’.”
    “Chocolate chip cookies and pizza? This night is going to go straight to my hips.”
    He cocked his head. His gaze dipped. “Hmm, damn fine hips they are too. Just like the rest of you.”
    She took his compliment in stride. He’d just fucked the hell out of her, made sense he’d want to say something to make her feel good. It was nice to hear all the same.
    He unloaded the treats onto the coffee table. He moved with ease, sinking to the floor and crossing his legs with a fluidity that belied his size.
    “Come here.” He patted the floor in front of him. “Join me.”
    She went to her knees in front of him, her stomach tightening in a hard knot. After everything they’d just done, she shouldn’t be nervous.
    This was Paxton. The man who’d come to her rescue more times than she cared to count. The man who’d been there for her. The same man she’d walked away from when he’d needed her.
    “We should talk.” She winced at the tremor in her voice.
    He tore open a package of cookies and offered her one.
    “Nothing good ever comes from a conversation that starts like that.” Bitterness laced his tone as he popped a cookie in his mouth, whole, making her wonder yet again what had happened to his marriage. He chewed and swallowed hard, followed it up with a swig of beer. “This might be a record. Fastest time between orgasm and we should talk . What do you think? Guinness Book worthy?”
    “I’m serious, Pax. I realize we haven’t seen each other in a long time, but the way we left things … there are things that need to be said.”
    “That was a long time ago, Reese.” Tiny lines formed between his brows. She itched to smooth them away.
    “I know, and I’m sorry.”