“Thanks for dinner, Kenz,” I say when we move to our rooms.

“You’re welcome.” She slows then comes to a stop just outside my room. “It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me.” She goes up on her toes and presses her lips to my cheek. Before I can stop myself, my hand moves to her lower back, holding her close to me. I wait a minute, expecting her to freeze under my touch.

“Beau.” Her breath is warm, and I anticipate more of an argument, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she presses in closer.

Using my free hand, I place my finger under her chin and tilt her head back. Her tongue runs along her bottom lip and it all but invites me to join it.

“Darlin’,” I warn. I’m not sure if it’s a warning to her, or to me. I can see how much she wants this. Can see the fire in her eyes matches my own need. I know one taste of her won’t be enough, but it’s like my body isn’t listening to my brain.

“Please, just kiss me, Beau,” she pleads, shutting down my reservations. It’s all the encouragement I need. She parts her lips as I lean in closer, and when my tongue seeks its entry, I own her mouth.

I don’t move slowly. My tongue fights with hers, desperate for a connection. Her taste is fucking addictive—vanilla, strawberry and I don’t fucking know what—but I can’t get enough. Moving her tongue with mine, my hand on her back pulls her closer. I’m hanging on by a thread here, but does it stop me? Fuck no.

The kiss grows wild, her soft moans stirring my dick to life. The poor bastard has only been seeing my palm since the night she moved in. If I’m not careful, he might blow just from hearing her needy groans.

Taking two steps forward, I reach down and twist the handle. Using my boot, I kick the door open and drag us over to my bed.

She comes willingly, her mouth and hands just as desperate as mine, but as soon as I push her back to my bed, she freezes.

“Oh, God,” she blurts, coming up from my bed and finding her feet.

Shit.

“I’m so sorry.” She starts to walk past me to leave, but my hand reaches out, stopping her escape.

“Mackenzie.” My voice is a lot calmer than the frustration building in me, but she still flinches under it.

“That was a mistake. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” She pulls out of my hold, and as soon as she was there, she’s gone, blowing all chances of taking this any further out the window.

Fucking awesome.

Nine

Mackenzie

“That was a mistake.” I turn to rush out of his room as fast as I can, hoping he doesn’t come after me.

“Mackenzie, stop.” His tone has me halting before I reach the door, but I don’t turn to face him right away.

How could I be so stupid?

Shit.

Deciding it’s better to hash this out now, I spin and face him. “I’m sorry, Beau, I shouldn’t have. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He looks taken aback for a second before his dark mask sets in place.

“You didn’t do anything, darlin’. I shouldn’t have touched you.” His voice loses the spark that stirs something in me whenever he talks. “This isn’t what you need right now.”

He’s trying to make me feel better, but it’s not working. I’m an idiot for coming on to him then pulling away.

What the hell was I thinking?

“I should go to bed.” I ignore my body telling me how much I’d like to go to bed with him and step out of his room.

“Good night, Mackenzie.” He uses my full name and for once, I hate it. Only Beau calls me Kenzie and hearing him call me anything else just feels wrong.

Seriously so messed up.

“’Night, Beau. See you in the morning.” I lamely wave then spin, walking as fast as I can to my room.

Forgoing a shower, I change into my pajamas, climb into bed then play over every single detail that happened tonight.

Seriously, it’s too much to process.

Between Beau offering me a room at his place, and me practically begging him to kiss me, the night has been a hot mess.

I didn’t expect when I sat down to talk with Beau about moving he would freak out like he did. I knew he would be apprehensive, maybe put up a little fight, but to flat out deliver an ultimatum? No. That was unexpected.

I didn’t know what to say. Short of telling him the truth, I had to agree. What else could I do? The last thing I want to do is upset this awkward situation, especially with things growing between us.

Ever since I came to Rushford things between Beau and I have been tense. Small sparks between us have been building, pulling us closer every chance we’re alone. Initially, I thought it was one-sided. My need to forget about Chad and everything in my past pushed me forward, but after a couple of weeks, I started noticing it wasn’t just me feeling this draw. Every small touch, every slight look, it’s like an unspoken conversation between us.

And now I just ruined everything.

Deciding I can’t even go over the kiss, or the way being in Beau’s arms felt, I reach over and flick the lamp off.

I don’t need to have the scene playing over and over in my head. Maybe tomorrow everything will be clearer.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and realize it was all a dream.

The tingling in my lips tells me otherwise.

Stupid girl, Mackenzie.

I wake the next morning still feeling like a complete fool, a fool for probably making this situation ten times worse. Determined not to deal with any of it right this second, I kick off my blanket and roll out of bed. My alarm clock tells me it’s barely after six. Knowing I won’t be able to go back to sleep, I change into my favorite dress and fix my hair. It’s not like I have plans to go out today, but since I’m up, I should get a start on breakfast before Beau wakes up. Even if eggs aren’t my strong suit, I still try to make them when Beau isn’t in the kitchen looking over my shoulder. Somehow over the last few weeks, we’ve fallen into some kind of routine. I cook dinner and he fights me on breakfast.