As they jogged across the bridge together Meg felt lightheaded. For weeks, she watched Cade and Confetti cross the bridge to go home. She could only dream of going on the other side with him.

"You didn't want to tell me you lived in Cambridge."

Cade smirked. "I didn't trust you. Your persistence wore me down."

"How did I do that?"

He laughed. "You kept up with me."

"You proved last week I can't keep up with you."

"I like running at your pace."

"You didn't last Sunday."

He nodded. "Yeah, I was in a bad mood."

"It wasn't me." She tried to sound teasing.

"No, you surprised me by making my pancakes more enjoyable."

She felt embarrassed. "My burger was good."

He chuckled. "I wasn't sure I believed burgers were your favorite."

She stopped walking. "I don't lie. Well, to you. I lied to Tyler, and the guilt ate at me."

He turned to look at her. "Why did you lie to Tyler?"

She studied her running shoes. It was almost time for a new pair. "You know. I wanted to be friends, but I pretend to be something more."

"Will you pretend with me?"

She shook her head. "With you I didn't have to, um." He affected her so much she wasn't thinking.

"Didn't have to do what?"

"Nothing." She laughed. "Forget it." They had walked beyond the bridge. "How much farther?"

"Not much." He took her hand and held it as they crossed onto a residential street. A lot of houses were multi-units, but some weren't. Parked cars lined the streets.

Meg didn't care how much longer they walked because he held her hand. She felt his callous and instantly remembered. "I remember this."

He chuckled. "You do? I remember the freckle on your hip."

Meg frowned slightly. Tyler had been fascinated with it. After his attention, she worried. "I actually googled to make sure it is normal."

"It is, right?"

She nodded as Confetti pulled on the leash Cade held. He veered to the left side of the street and into the yard of a small single home. "It's an actual house."

"I know. I feel lucky to have found it. It's almost a hundred years old, but everything has been updated at least once."

He opened the door and unclipped his dog who ran for the water bowl. She unclipped Blue who followed. "Do you think they'll share?"

He shrugged. "Come on in."

She stepped into an entryway that led to the small modern kitchen. The light colored decor made it look airy. Meg smiled as the two dogs shared the same bowl.

Cade pulled down two glasses and filled them with ice and water. "Here. Why are you frowning?"

She sighed. "I feel guilty. I doubt he imagined I would bring his dog to your house."

"I guess he doesn't like me much. I could tell he liked you, but I was being greedy."

She sighed again. "Why am I the only one who didn't know?"

He chuckled. "You were too busy looking at me."

She had meant before she met Cade, but ignored her nagging question. "Your beautiful eyes."

"The same as your birthstone."

Her jaw dropped. "You remembered."

He took her hand. "I remember everything. I clung to that night until I found out you were engaged."

"That's why you were so hostile?"

She saw a hint of pink under his beard. "I wasn't that bad."

"You weren't nice."

"But you didn't give up. How did you figure out what was bothering me?"

"I called Eli and asked him for your reaction to me. He mentioned he told you I was engaged. That's sick. Imagine if Tyler and I were engaged, and he left me with you?"

"Perverted."

"Worse than the bride. I didn't hide my feelings about her."

He nodded. "I was messed up with eroded trust. Honestly, I'm still affected. The reason I got Confetti was because I get scared after dark. Now you know, run away while you still can."

Meg looked at the dogs stretched out on the floor together. "Blue isn't ready. Besides..." she put her arms around him. "I want to help you."

"I'm sorry for being a jerk to you."

She smiled. "When you said have a nice life, you might as well have said fuck off."

His eyes opened wide. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant go on with your life." He turned, so they were face to face. "I'm glad you didn't listen."

When his lips descended on hers she understood why it would never work with Tyler. Maybe the lust would die out, but she definitely wanted to give it a chance. If it turned out to be a short-lived spark, she would walk away, but she wanted it to run its course. His large hands covered her back, and she wanted them to move.

Instead, she pulled back. "I must stink."

He shook his head. "But I do. Shower?" He smiled showing his straight teeth. Should she say yes? She bit her lip. He took a step back. "I'm gonna. Join me if you change your mind."

He lifted his shirt over his head as he disappeared. She remembered him taking off his shirt. She had to tell Eli. It was on top of her dress where he dropped it to prove he hadn't left the room. Hotel room doors and locks were loud, so no one could sneak in and out.

She wandered out of the kitchen into the connected living room. Aside from the large screen TV there was art from CEJ Games on the wall. She looked at it in a new light, not as parts of a game.

At the sound of the water from the shower, she wondered what would happen if she took her clothes off and stepped in. It seemed a little too intimate now they knew each other. Odd how it was easier to get naked for a stranger, except they had been undressed, skin to skin before.

Every door was open except for the bathroom. She peeked into the other rooms, a guest room, an office, and Cade's room. There was only one bathroom, and she wasn't about to pee while he was in the shower. When the water turned off, she turned away from looking in his bedroom. She returned to the living room, and both dogs flanked her for pats. When the door opened with a burst of condensation, Cade appeared with towel dried hair and wearing only a towel around his waist. She couldn't look away.

He smiled. "You have two choices. You can wear one of my shirts and a pair of boxers while I wash your clothes or I can drop my towel and we can kill time with nothing on at all. Come on, Rice, it's nothing we haven't done before."

"It's not my birthday, I'm not looking for a hookup."

He put his hand on his chest. "I'm hurt. I thought I meant more to you than that."

She giggled. "You did?"

His eyes turned dark with intensity. "I never planned to let you go without getting your phone number. Shit, you still owe me morning sex."

She laughed. "I do not!"

"But you want to." Before she stopped him he closed the distance and picked her up.

She banged on his back. "Stop! I need to go to the bathroom."

The towel came undone as she slid down his body. "That's how we met. Shut the door when you're done Confetti likes to redecorate with TP."

She laughed and stepped inside the damp room. After she relieved herself, she sniffed under her arm. Her deodorant held. The only damp spot was on her sports bra under her breasts. It wasn't exactly sexy.

When she stepped out, Cade was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. "Hey, no pressure. I know it's a little weird."

"I like you. Really, I do. I liked you that night and after, especially since we started running. It's just weird because I tried to be with Ty in between."

"Tried?"

She shook her head. "Was with. I tried to feel something."

"So you never?"

She bit her lip. Maybe he would see she trusted him. "I did, but only when I thought of you."

Cade's eyes grew wide, then he laughed. "The irony. I was so damn jealous that you were in his bed."

"I never told him, but I faked it sometimes."

"Don't fake it with me ever. If it isn't working, I'll change things up."

"You sound sure of yourself."

He stepped to her. "We will have sex and you will get off."

His mouth devoured hers, and she was wrong. Her shorts were damp. 

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