Pounding on the front door stopped his self-berating for a moment. He lifted his head off the pillow and turned it toward the door. Who the hell was here now? Megan’s party would go on for a few more hours at least, so it couldn’t be her or Chris. Plus, they had keys, and it wasn’t like he’d locked the door anyway. Lance and Abby had been at the party, too. Maybe it was them checking up on him? Make sure he didn’t drink himself to death this time? They didn’t need to worry about that. After the pounding he’d given his liver over spring break, he hadn’t had more than a few beers in the intervening weeks.
The pounding sounded again, and the doorknob jiggled. With a groan he forced himself off the bed. He wanted to be left alone. He’d go reassure Lance and Abby that he was fine, or at least that he wasn’t going to give himself alcohol poisoning in a bid to forget this shitty night and all the shitty nights leading up to it, and send them on their way.
He’d gotten as far as the couch when the door flew open, and the sight that greeted him took his breath away and froze him in place. Hannah stood there silhouetted against a car’s headlights in the unlit living room, her hair wild and messy, her dress hugging her curves. Curves that he wanted to run his hands over again and again. Curves that he’d memorized a long fucking time ago, and that he was pretty sure he’d never be able to touch again.
But what the hell was she doing here?
Before he could ask that, she stepped inside and slammed the door behind her, anger projecting through every movement and line of her body. She stalked across the room and stopped in front of him. He could just make out her nostrils flaring in the glare of the street lamps shining through the parted curtains. She crossed her arms and stared at him, and he was so stunned that she was there in his house that he still couldn’t manage to say anything, just marveling at her closeness, at the smell of vanilla and citrus that wafted to him with her movements. He wanted to close his eyes and breathe her in, bury his nose in her hair, nuzzle his way down her neck, kissing and licking and biting to get her to make that sexy sound that always made his cock throb. Like it did now as he imagined all the things he’d done to her, all the things he wanted to do to her again.
He shifted, glad that he still had his jeans on to hide his growing erection. And that movement seemed to break whatever spell held Hannah in silence.
“I fucking love you, you asshole.”
Matt flinched, both at the words and the anger behind them. He opened his mouth, trying to formulate a response to that declaration.
She poked him in the sternum. “I love you, and I need to know if you feel the same as I do.”
He caught her hand before she could poke him again. Her sharp fingernail stabbing him in the chest hurt. “I love you.” His voice was a croak. He cleared his throat. “I love you, Hannah. I told you that weeks ago.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t pull away. His thumb rubbed along her wrist, almost unconsciously. He couldn’t help it. Caressing her was an involuntary response to touching her again.
“Yes, you did. But you also tried to get me to give up my career before it’s even begun. You can see how that might send mixed messages.”
He grunted, running his free hand through his hair. “I know. And I’m sorry. I said that before, and I’ll say it as many times as you need until you believe it. I was being a selfish asshole, and I’m sorry.”
Her eyes dropped to where he still held her wrist in his hand. Should he let go? He decided to wait, to see if she’d pull away. She didn’t, so he continued to hold her arm, stroking the soft skin inside her wrist with his thumb.
“What does this mean?” The question came out as a whisper, and she raised her eyes to his once more.
He lifted an eyebrow. “You tell me. What about Carter?”
Guilt flashed across her face, and he held his breath waiting for her answer. “There wasn’t really anything between Daniel and I. We went out a few times. Nothing serious.”
“Then why were you there with him tonight? Why did you let him wrap himself around you after we talked? That looked like something more serious than a few casual dates.” Jealousy and bitterness infected his voice, but he couldn’t rein it back in.
Her gaze sharpened. “We were broken up. I was trying to get over you. Again. Once and for all.”
He sucked in a breath and pulled her closer by his hold on her arm until their hands were trapped between the press of their bodies. “And how did that work out for you?” He almost growled the words, knowing her answer, but needing to hear her say it.
With her head tilted up to look at him, her green eyes caught the light from the street lamp, flashing with anger and lust. “I’m here, aren’t I?” She shook her head. “I haven’t been able to get over you since that summer we first got together. You stole a piece of me then, and I’ve never been able to get over its loss. You’re the only one who fills the hole you put there. No matter how hard I’ve tried over the years, I’ve never been able to move past what we had, what we have. No guy has ever measured up. It’s always been you.”
Matt couldn’t help the swell of pride, the hole in his chest filling in with her words. She’d never been able
