CHAPTER 18

“Thank you for dinner,” Kelsey said as they strolled back to her place. It was full dark now, and despite the fact that it had been a relatively warm day for January, the night had a definite chill. “It was even better than I imagined.”

“It was my pleasure.”

And it was true. Kelsey had asked tough questions and made him think about stuff he’d rather forget, but he liked that she wasn’t

afraid to challenge him. He liked that she cared enough to take the risk of pushing him past his comfort zone. He liked how

comfortable it felt to walk beside her, even when they didn’t say much at all. He liked her smile, her fragrance, the color of her eyes.

He couldn’t think of a single thing he didn’t like about her. Apart from her relation to his soon-to-be ex-wife, that was.

Noticing when she tucked her hands into the sleeves of her sweater, he asked, “Are you cold?”

“A little.”

He reached out to touch her fingertips. “You’re freezing.” Stopping, he slid both her hands between his palms and rubbed them for

warmth.

Her chocolate eyes seemed to grow darker. “That feels nice.” Her voice was low and husky. “Really nice.”

Despite the danger that touching her posed to his self-control, he didn’t let go of her hand as they started walking again.

He couldn’t help but relish the feel of her so close to him, the sound of her voice as they small-talked about nothing earth-shattering

or deep, the kinds of things they wouldn’t even remember the next day. But he knew he would recall the peacefulness of it, even in

the midst of the sparks that kept shooting off between them.

All too soon, they were back at her condo. He wasn’t done yet. He wanted more. Being with Kelsey was so good. So right, despite

everything.

She turned at her door and let go of his hand to take out her key and put it in the lock. She smiled at him. “Thank you again for

dinner.”

He wanted to beg her to let him in. Wanted to beg her to let him love her. Tonight. Tomorrow.

Forever.

Working to shake off the crazy thoughts, he said, “Good night,” then forced himself to back up.

“Good night,” she said, fluttering her fingers at him. The fingers he’d held in his. He couldn’t take his eyes off her mouth, the lips

he’d kissed.

What the hell would Sally think if she knew he was lusting after his sister-in-law when he’d split from Keira only a month ago?

He turned, thinking it would be easier to leave if he couldn’t see her anymore.

But nothing was easy about leaving her behind.

“Kelsey.”

He reached for her, dragging her into his arms. Her lips opened under his, and he sank into her.

She was spicy and hot. Sexy and warm.

Perfect.

Their tongues met, toyed. He lost himself in her taste, her scent, the sensual feel of her in his arms. The kiss consumed him until he

was completely lost in sensation. She’d been cold before, but now her hands were hot on him, sliding along the collar of his jacket,

into his hair, holding his face close so that the kiss went deeper still.

There was no doubt. He wanted Kelsey.

Now.

Craziness didn’t matter.

Right and wrong flew off into the night.

There was just her mouth beneath his, her body pressed so tightly against him that they were almost one.

“Come inside,” she whispered when she backed off to drag in air.

There was nothing he wanted more. Go inside. Strip off her clothes. And love her until neither of them could remember why they

shouldn’t be naked and tangled together.

But her question, the sudden loss of contact, brought him back to who they were. To the night. To reality.

If he went inside with her, he would have her, probably right there on the floor of her living room.

And there would be no going back for either of them.

He couldn’t do that to her. Couldn’t take her without giving her anything but his body. It would destroy them.

Because whatever she wanted from him, he simply didn’t have it in him to give. He was coming down off a bad marriage. And Keira

—her sister would punish Kelsey mercilessly.

Yet it still killed him to say, “I shouldn’t.” But Lord, how he wanted to.

“Why? You keep saying it’s wrong, but it’s not. We need to talk about this, Ares. What happened in the library. And the way you

kissed me just now.”

She’d promised him that discussion when they spoke earlier. He thought he’d avoided it with all the talk about Paul and Tessa and

his feelings, which was bad enough. He should have known that wouldn’t satisfy Kelsey. And he owed her more. He recognized that.

An explanation. A reason. All the damn good reasons he’d been telling himself since he’d first kissed her.

He wanted to repay her for all her goodness, her kindness, all she’d done for him time and again. Staying away from her would be

the best way to do that, wouldn’t it? It could be the only way to protect her. From him. And from Keira’s wrath.

“I’m married to your sister,” It was the easiest answer.

“And you’re getting divorced because she treated you horribly,” she reminded him. Just as he’d known she would, because Kelsey

always saw right through the easy answers. Straight to the honest ones. “Tell me the real reason why.”

So many reasons. Too many. Because he didn’t deserve to be with her now after he’d been so stupid as to let Keira turn his head nine

years ago. Because risking his heart again seemed impossible when it was so badly bruised and battered. Because Kelsey deserved

more than a man with such a complicated past and present.

And Kelsey would shoot down every one of them, because she didn’t understand how irreversibly damaged he was.

All he could get out was, “It’s just not possible.”

She gazed at him for a long moment, her eyes tracking his face. Her lips were still wet and lush from his kiss. Slowly, she stepped

back, leaving him feeling frozen all the way to his heart.

“Anything’s possible, Ares. You just have to be willing.”

Then she walked inside and shut the door behind her.

* * *

Kelsey sagged against the closed door, dropping her head into her hands.

She’d practically begged him to come in, to make love to her.

But he couldn’t see past the other women in his life. Or the darkness that still haunted him.

Her phone rang, and when she dug it out of her purse, she saw that it was Keira again.

It was just like her sister to choose the absolute perfect—or worst—moment to call. Frustrated, and angry, Kelsey swiped the call

away. She would not let Keira destroy the beautiful, hot memory of being in Ares arms. It didn’t matter that his almost ex-wife was

her sister. Sure, it might be slightly awkward when they explained things to people. But it didn’t matter, damn it! Keira had given up

her rights to him when she’d demolished him.

Kelsey put her hands to her cheeks. They were burning, and her lips were still tingling from his kiss.

Ares wanted her. She had no more doubts about that. If the door had been unlocked and she’d pulled him inside, they would have

made love.

Only, instead of doing that, she’d stopped. Asked. Let him overthink and beat himself up for all the “wrong” things he thought he

was doing. She’d let him walk away.

If he could, he’d stay away. Because that would be easier. Safer.

He’d lock himself away from all of them—not just her, but also his long-lost family—just as he’d tried to lock himself away from

the foster family who took him in.

But Sally and George had fought for him, through difficult teenage years when he’d tried to stay inside his battered shell.

The Baddricks had fought for him, through thick and thin, profits and losses, personal hells and triumphs.

They’d all fought hard enough for him that he’d eventually had to accept their love as real. As strong. As lasting.

Now Kelsey would fight for him too. Because she’d loved Ares too long and loved him too deeply to walk away without a fight.