LITMIR.BIZ

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on the last word as he pressed a finger against a vertebra. When had that spot become an erogenous zone?

      “I don’t. I’ve already stayed longer than I intended. Not to mention that everyone in this room is watching our every move.”

      She pulled back a little. “I guess I’m used to living under a microscope.”

      “And I’m used to putting people under one.”

      “Now there’s a cryptic comment. Care to explain?”

      “No.”

      The song was ending. Panicked she would miss her opportunity, she hurried her words. She only had seconds to say what she’d been wanting to all these years. “I was sorry, Sam. You protected me and got hurt because of it. I became much more aware of the consequences of my actions after. Much more cautious.”

      “Is that why you married Randall Sterling? It was the prudent thing to do?”

      Two

      Before Dana could come up with a response she stumbled as Sam suddenly stopped dancing. Without releasing her he angled toward the man who’d tapped Sam’s shoulder, cutting in. She felt him tense, like an animal facing its prey—or its enemy. Harley Bonner was the enemy. And she’d already turned him down twice tonight.

      “Time to share, Remington.”

      Tightening her grip on Sam, Dana moved closer to him, hoping he would pick up on her unspoken need to avoid Harley—even as she knew it was unfair to expect him to rescue her once again.

      “Sharing is an overrated social skill,” Sam said as the music switched to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

      He moved Dana out of range, his hand still resting against the small of her back in a gesture that was both seductive and protective. She didn’t know which one appealed to her more.

      “Thank you,” Dana said, more grateful than she could say. “I’m in your debt. Again.”

      “We’re square. Nobody owes anyone anything.” He took his hand away when they reached the edge of the crowd. “I have to go, Dana. It was good seeing you.”

      Already? She stopped herself from saying the word, grabbing his elbow instead.

      “I have your valedictorian medal,” she said. “It’s at my parents’ house.” When she’d reached her car after the graduation ceremony she’d found it hanging from her rearview mirror. She’d cried the whole time she spent looking for him. She couldn’t believe he’d done that—given her his medal.

      “I didn’t want it then,” he said, “and I don’t want it now.”

      “Please, Sam.” She was excruciatingly aware of people dancing and milling around them, although the volume of the music kept their conversation private. And she was so aware of him as a man. “Come with me. It’ll just take a few minutes. My parents are out of town. It’d be just you and me.”

      “I have to go,” he repeated.

      Was that regret in his eyes? Temptation? Although their unique relationship had begun in elementary school they’d dated only once in high school. Just once. A date she’d dreamed of for years. A date that had started wonderfully and ended abysmally. She never knew what had gone wrong, how she’d ruined the evening, but she had.

      She had so many questions to ask him now, had played out the scene in her head so many times. How could he just leave when there were so many unanswered questions?

      “I know you don’t owe me anything, but at least tell me why you gave me the medal,” she said.

      “Running away again?” asked a male voice.

      Harley ambled up beside them a second time, his chest puffed out, eyes hard, hands fisted. Dana’s hatred for him deepened. A bully in high school and a rich bully now.

      “Move aside,” Sam said, low and threatening.

      “Oh ho! Feelin’ cocky, are we, Remington? Think you could take me on this time?”

      “One on one, I could’ve beaten you then. Five against one weren’t great odds.”

      Dana hadn’t heard the chilling details before. Most people assumed Sam’s father had hit him again, but Dana knew Harley and his friends had been responsible. She just didn’t know how many people were involved. If she could go back in time, she would handle everything differently.

      “Don’t make a scene,” Dana said to Harley, hurting at the picture of Sam being a punching bag. Because of her. “Just go away.”

      Harley bristled. “This is my turf. You don’t have any power here.”

      “But I’m wearing my ruby slippers,” she said, making an effort to defuse the tension.

      He glanced at her feet, not getting the joke. An ominous silence hung between them. Old contentions seemed painfully fresh.

      Sam took a step, bringing himself shoulder to shoulder with Harley. “One would think that two ex-wives would’ve taught you a little something about women and power, Bonner.”

      Harley drew back his arm. Before Dana could blink, he was on the floor, looking more bewildered than hurt. If Sam threw a punch she hadn’t seen it.

      “What happened?” someone asked.

      “Harley fell, I think,” came the response.

      Dana felt Sam’s gaze on her. She faced him.

      “I gather you’re running for reelection, six more years. You’ve got my vote, Senator Sterling,” he said, his expression sincere.

      “I’ll be looking for your contribution.”

      He smiled at that.

      “Are you sure you won’t come to the house and get your medal?” Don’t go. Please don’t go. We have so much to talk about. Regrets. Choices. Dreams.

      He didn’t pick up on her unspoken signals this time but dug into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “You can mail it if that would make you happy.”

      “It would.” She would have his address now. His phone number. Was that worse than not knowing where he was? She remembered something else just as he turned to leave. “Thank you for the sympathy card you sent after my husband died.”

      “I admired him, Dana.” He held her gaze for a few seconds then strode off.

      She could see the military influence in his posture. She knew she couldn’t stand there forever watching him go, but she wanted to. Maybe she’d gotten the chance to apologize, as she’d always wanted, but it wasn’t finished. He didn’t know everything. And now something new intruded—her body’s response to him, a kind of sizzling need, down low. A loudly beating heart. A mind spinning with old images and now new ones.

      She drew a calming breath as her lifelong friends Lilith, Candi and Willow appeared at her side.

      Candi leaned over Harley. “You know, you should probably have someone take you home so you can sleep it off.” She angled closer and whispered dramatically, “I didn’t realize your little problem had gotten so out of control.”

      Dana was sorry that the conversation had taken the turn it had. She wasn’t one to make waves. In fact, she’d dealt with Harley just fine until Sam came along. Sam and the feelings of guilt he brought. Sam and the surprising physical reaction he’d created.

      She’d been too long without a man. Without her husband, she amended, having been widowed for more than two years. Two hellish years. Two hectic years. She hadn’t had time for dating, given the demands of her job. Nor had anyone interested her enough to make the time. She could make the time for Sam Remington—

      “I have a lot of friends,” Harley said, his tone vicious. “Friends who will withdraw the financial support you

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