Flashback by Jill Shalvis Page B

magical effect on him as it had last night. While he stood there taking in the glorious sight of her naked body, she pulled on the sweats, kissed him on the cheek, then walked out of the room.
    And, given the sound of the front door opening and then closing, out of his house.
    And, most likely, out of his life.
    Fitting justice really, as he’d once done the same to her. Moving to the living room, he looked out the window in time to catch her taillights as they vanished down his driveway.
    I’ve changed, she’d said, and she had.
    But as the blood once again began a northward flow from behind the zipper of his pants back up to his brain, another thought managed to get his attention.
    He’d changed as well. And he was going to prove it.

8
    S OMEONE WAS KNOCKING on Aidan’s door when he turned off the shower. She’d come back. With his pulse kicking, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, heading for the door at a speed far faster than his usual get-there-when-I-get-there saunter.
    Only it wasn’t Kenzie at all. “Dammit.”
    His best friend and partner Zach just looked at him. “Nice to see you, too.” Without waiting for an invitation, he pushed past Aidan and walked in.
    Fair enough. Aidan had let himself into Zach’s house plenty of times. Aidan shut the door behind Zach and shoved his fingers through his wet hair. “Sorry. Thought you were someone else.”
    Zach took in Aidan standing there dripping wet, wearing only a towel. “Clearly. Who is she?”
    â€œHow do you know it’s a she?”
    â€œBecause if you’re meeting a guy dressed like that, we have a whole different issue to talk about.”
    Aidan rolled his eyes and left Zach to go get some clothes. In his bedroom, he looked at his bed as he pulled on a clean shirt. The covers were tossed half on the floor, and on his nightstand were two empty condom wrappers.
    And though it was crazy given that Kenzie had used his shampoo, his clothes and his soap, he’d have sworn he could smell her scent, some complicated mix of soft, determined, sexy woman. He stared at the bed, remembering how he’d felt when she’d crawled in with him, remembering how natural it’d been to kiss and touch her, to sink into her body and go to a place he hadn’t been in a long time.
    Then they’d slept together, and that had felt good, too, being all tangled up in each other again. Familiar, but new. Even better, if that was possible. Things hadn’t been complicated in the dark.
    Things had been amazing.
    But she’d left.
    When he walked back into the kitchen, he found Zach staring at the breakfast he’d made for Kenzie.
    â€œYou made breakfast,” Zach said. “As in got out a pan and cooked something.”
    â€œYeah. So?”
    â€œYou put out napkins.”
    â€œLet me repeat myself. So?”
    â€œSo you never put out napkins. Not when it’s me or the other guys.”
    â€œDo you want to split the food with me or not?”
    â€œYou didn’t cook this for me.”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    Zach raised an eyebrow.
    â€œYou’re going to question a plate of food?” Aidan said. “Really?”
    Zach didn’t have to be asked twice. He grabbed a plate and pulled up a chair.
    â€œI thought you and Brooke were going away for a few days since you haven’t been cleared to go back to work yet.”
    â€œWe are. We’re leaving tomorrow morning. Wanted to see you first.”
    â€œAh, that’s so sweet. You’re going to miss me.”
    â€œActually, I’m not.” Zach shoveled in some food, and looked at him. “I heard about the explosion. I should have been there.”
    Aidan looked at the cast on Zach’s left wrist, remembered how close he’d come to losing him along with Blake, and felt the food get caught in his throat. “You’re not healed yet.”
    â€œIt’s coming