Free Loch and Key by Shelli Stevens

help but release a small groan against her mouth.
    It took a moment for him to register her hands on his shoulders, gently pushing him away.
    “Enough,” she said raggedly.
    Struggling to focus, he stared down at her. Her lips pink and moist, her gaze lowered beneath her lashes.
    “Kenzie?”
    “My roommate’s not here, I don’t have to work tonight. I could invite you inside and we’d have the house to ourselves.”
    He moved a hand to cup her face, unable to resist touching the softness of her lips. Yet his gut clenched, because he knew where she was heading with this.
    “You could, but you won’t.”
    “I won’t. Because nothing’s changed in seven months. I’m still not that girl. Not the kind who sleeps with a guy right away.”
    “And what if I said I’d wait until you were ready?”
    She gave a disbelieving laugh. “You didn’t wait the first time before you ran out to find someone else. You’re hardly going to wait a second.” She fished her keys from her purse.
    He latched onto one thing she’d said. “Hold on a moment. What makes you think I found someone else?”
    She shrugged, shoving the key into the lock. “I saw you guys at Safeway, does it matter?”
    What the hell? Safeway. He wracked his memory, but was coming up empty.
    After pushing the door opened, she hesitated.
    “At one point there was a real window of opportunity for something between us. But…it’s closed now.” Her gaze lifted to his once more, and her expression was resolute, if not a little sad. “Thanks for the ride.”
    The door closed in his face a moment later. Brett stood there staring at the dark wood, a frown tugging at his mouth.
    Who the hell was the woman she’d seen him with at Safeway?

Chapter Six
    “Hey, how was your date the other night?”
    Kenzie set the drink tray down at the counter and grimaced at Delonna’s question.
    “Pretty bloody awful, actually.”
    “You’ve got to be shitting me.” Delonna grabbed the empty glasses off it and pulled it behind the bar. “How does it get more awful than your last one?”
    “Oh you know, ending up at a table full of Navy men, one being your date from seven months ago who disappeared off the face of the earth.”
    “Wait, that Brett guy was there?”
    “Aye.” Kenzie glanced around the pub, glad to see the dinner rush was mediocre at best. Even if it meant fewer tips, she needed a long lunch tonight to get some homework done for her online class.
    “Crap. That’s awkward.”
    “Mmm. To say the least.”
    “I’m not sure I understand why you ended up with a bunch of Navy guys in the first place. Wasn’t this a first date with the personal trainer?”
    “I’m not sure I understand either, and yes, it was a first date. The restaurant Carl picked was surprisingly crowded and we would’ve waited at least a half hour for a table. He saw some friends who invited us over, and, bam, horribly uncomfortable moment with Brett ensues.”
    Delonna scowled. “Did you give him shit for being an asshole? Dump your beer on him or anything?”
    “No. I simply got through the evening.” She glanced away, hoping her friend wouldn’t see the flush of embarrassment in her face.
    No need to mention she’d climbed into his truck and then kissed him goodnight. It was one bad call after another.
    And yet that kiss was hard to regret. It had been just as titillating as the first one. Actually quite a bit more. Especially when he’d pressed his tongue into her mouth, it was almost juvenile the pleasure she’d taken in it. She was nearing thirty and how a French kiss could be so seductive and stay in her mind for days now was mind-boggling.
    Or maybe it wasn’t the kiss, but the man behind it. She suspected that had more to do with it. She’d been right to send him on his way, though. Everything she’d told him had been the truth. If he’d been hoping to get laid, then he would’ve been sorely disappointed.
    As much as she sometimes wished she worked that way,