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Matt wanted me. It was all there in his gaze. Warmth flooded through my body. If I were honest with myself, I’d acknowledge that I wanted him too, despite him breaking two of my three dating rules. Maybe he didn’t want anything too serious, maybe we both could enjoy each other’s company while I was in town and not over think it. Maybe. I smiled and Matt’s gaze shifted to my lips. Already slightly breathless, I slowly licked my lips, my eyes never leaving his face. Matt’s pupils dilated slightly and his eyes snapped up to mine. I leaned toward Matt just as the wheel began its final climb. When my face was just a whisper away from his I breathed out, “Kiss me, please.”
    Matt’s lips were not gentle like I imagined he would be with everything he did because of his temperament. Instead, his lips crashed into mine and my breath was stolen away on kiss that left my body pulsing, my mind spinning, and my soul longing for another taste. Just before our seat made it back to the bottom of the ride, Matt pulled back gently and I immediately felt bereft of his presence. The look on his face was inscrutable and I had to shake my head to try and make sense of his stern demeanor. Did he not just feel what I had? Matt took his hand from my neck and ran his fingertips one last time over my collarbone and he gently tugged on my earlobe.
    “This is us.” I jumped when our gate screeched open. The ride operator held the door open and Matt stood up and helped me off of the seat. When we came around to the exit Matt dropped my hand and called over to his brother and Jen.
    “Can I see you after tonight?” Matt’s breath whispered across my shoulder and I shivered.
    “After tonight?” I asked, slightly dazed.
    “Yeah, you know, can I come by Jen’s and see you?” He smiled crookedly and my heart melted a little more. “Maybe take you out somewhere?” He shrugged and glanced quickly over to Hunter and Jen weaving their way through the crowd toward us. A small giggle escaped my still tingling lips.
    “You’re asking me out on a date?” Matt smiled back and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
    “Yeah I guess I am.” I was feeling all giddy on the inside when reality came crashing in. I was only going to be in Salem another few weeks or so and Matt wasn’t the type of guy you had quick fling with. He was the kind of guy you took home to meet your parents and the kind of guy you settled down with. I couldn’t start something with him, he was too … dangerous. He was a guy who could get under my skin, one I wouldn’t be able to walk away from if the mood struck me. He was too good for me and for the first time in my life I regretted all my self-imposed dating rules.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Matt,” I said softly. His brow creased and I could almost hear his mind working through the past several moments. The kiss on the ferris wheel, then him asking me out, trying to figure out where he had misread the situation. “Listen, I really like you. You seem wonderful, but, I am going to be gone in a few weeks and I don’t take you for the kind of guy who takes relationships lightly. I can’t offer you anything other than some fun for a week or two. Can you tell me that would be okay with you?” Matt’s mouth flattened into a thin line and his jaw clenched. He stared at me for so long that I began to fidget. He finally averted his eyes as he stepped forward into my personal space. He leaned into me, his mouth an inch away from my ear.
    “I want a lot of things from you, Beth,” he said finally. “I want to taste the sweetness of your lips again, but next time I want to be able to take my time. I want you under me so I can feel your entire body quivering beneath me when I make love to you.” His voice lowered and his words taunted my heart and did funny things to my body. “But, having a quick, meaningless fling is not one of them,” he added. I stepped back quickly, my heart thumping