Page 29 of Chasing Amanda

“In my purse.” At the bottom of the steps leading to the door to her building, she faced him, grabbing his other hand. “You’re coming upstairs, right? For dessert?”

Desire flared inside him, and he stepped back. “That’s not a good idea.”

Her head tilted to the side. She looked confused and hurt, blinking those pretty blue eyes. “Why not?”

“I’d love to. I mean, I’d really… You have no idea. But you’d regret it in the morning. Or, after, you know?” He sounded like an idiot, but surely, she understood what he was saying. “I don’t want to leave you with that. That’s the last thing I want for you.”

Her eyes widened, and even in the faded glow of the streetlights, he could see her face redden. “No, I meant… I have some leftover cheesecake.”

“Oh.” He blew out a breath, stepped toward her again, and rested his forehead on hers. “Oh. Wow. Okay.” He chuckled. “You’re so innocent. You should know, for next time, that when you invite a guy up to your room this late, he’s not thinking about cheesecake.”

“That’s good to know.” She backed away and looked up at him, her lips lifting at the corners. But the smile faded. “What do you mean, next time?”

“I’m going to be gone for a long time, Amanda. You might change your mind.”

“I’m a very patient person. I can handle it.”

“You shouldn’t have to, though. When I come home”—if I come home—“we can see how we both feel. But until then⁠—”

“Are you going to be dating other women?” She gave him a look—eyebrows hiked, chin lowered, that told him she already knew the answer.

“That’s different. I dated a lot when I was in college. You should too.”

“I don’t want to, and you can’t make me.” The tone—half petulant, half joking—made him smile.

“You’re very stubborn.”

She stepped into his space and laid her hands on his chest. “Said the pot to the kettle.”

He used to be stubborn. He’d been rejecting women for years, women a lot stronger and more forward than this one.

He should end this with Amanda right now. It would be the kinder thing to do.

But to know that while he fought, she would be waiting for him? What better incentive could he have to come home?

Her hands slid around his neck, and he surrendered to her. Surrendered to everything he’d never admitted he always wanted.

He bent low and took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. He was careful, gentle, and their kiss was warm and slow, as if they had all the time in the world.

As if he weren’t going off to war. As if his life wouldn’t be on the line.

It was full of promises he’d never planned to make, not to Amanda or any woman. She was kind and gentle, melting in his arms, trusting him. Trusting him to be true to her. Trusting him to protect her.

Too soon, she ended the kiss, gazing up at him with almost…reverence in her eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” He cleared the hoarseness from his voice and stepped away, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to cool himself down.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”

“Yes.” He spoke too quickly, earning a little giggle.

Oh, she shouldn’t giggle like that. This was hard enough already.

He looked up at the building. No way he should walk her to her door, but he didn’t want to leave until he knew she was safe, either. “Is your apartment in the front?”

“Yeah.”

“Which one?”