He’s got me there. I don’t know what to say to that.

I look at the floor, shifting on my feet, feeling instantly shitty again. I wrap my arms around myself. “I guess…that makes sense.”

He lets out a humorless laugh. Then, I see his hands lift from the counter. By the time I look up, he’s on his way to the door.

“You’re leaving?” I hear the panic in my voice. I really hope he didn’t.

Stopping, he turns back to me. He looks suddenly weary.

My heart aches for him. Well, everything in me aches for him.

He rubs his forehead with his hand. “I came to tell you about the mistake I’d made. I needed to be honest with you.” Those words feel so incredibly pointed, and that’s probably because they are. “I’ve done that. Now, I’m going home.”

“You don’t think we need to talk about this? Discuss what we’re going to do.”

“Yeah, we probably do. But not right now. Right now, I just want to have a drink and go to fucking bed.” He moves the distance back between us, pulling something from his inside jacket pocket. “My cell and office numbers.” He places a business card on the counter and slides it toward me. “Call me tomorrow, and we can talk.”

Then, he’s gone.

And I’m still married.

Adam and I are still married.

Holy. Shit.

I lift the card from the counter, looking down at it.

ADAM GUNNER

CEO, GUNNER ENTERTAINMENT

I already knew he worked for the studio.

One time, about five years ago, I looked up his profile on Facebook, using Casey’s profile. I couldn’t see much as he had it set to private, but I did see his work info, showing that he worked for the studio. I remember how sad I felt at the time. I knew how much he hadn’t wanted to be a part of that world. I had been his reason to stay away, and my leaving had sent him straight back.

I had always hoped that he would fight back, stay away.

But he didn’t.

And I was to blame for that.

The choice I made was to blame for that.

But we weren’t supposed to still be married.

Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about that.

We’re still bound by marriage.

I guess I’m terrified and…thrilled.

I’m still Evie Gunner.

Well, legally anyway. But in my heart, I always have been. It’s why I could never move on.

But I know I’m no longer in Adam’s heart. He let me go years ago.

I guess it’s time for me to let him go now.

I’m so done for.

The way I feel about Adam, after knowing him for such a short amount of time, can’t be good for me. I mean, it feels good, but it’s definitely dangerous.

We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now, and I’m smitten, totally smitten. I’m a smitten kitten. And clearly a massive geek.

We’re at the beach. It’s early morning, and I have to be at work in a few hours. But we’re all here this morning, surfing at the beach just outside Adam’s house. Max is out there with Grady, Base, Tad, and Paige. Adam and I quit surfing a while ago. We’re sitting up on my rock, and I’m sketching a picture of them all surfing.

Adam is here, with me. He’s wrapped around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, while he watches me draw.

His lips skim over my shoulder, and his teeth graze my skin, making me shiver. His fingers trace over the skin on my stomach where they’ve made their way under the hem of my tank top.

We haven’t done anything more than kiss.

He knows I’m a virgin. I told him that on our fourth date. We were making out, and it was getting pretty heavy. I didn’t want to lead him on, to think he’d be getting sex, which I wasn’t ready to give to him, so I was honest with him. And he was really cool with it. He told me he’d wait for when I was ready. I don’t know when that will be, but trust me¸ if I’m going to lose my virginity to anyone, it will be with Adam.

But my inexperience in that department does worry me a little because I know Adam is very experienced. He hasn’t told me that, but I just get the feeling that he has been around the block a few times. I’m not surprised. Looking like Adam does, he could have his pick of girls. So, knowing he’s choosing to spend his time with me, sans sex, makes me feel pretty damn special.

And seeing the way Max is with girls also leads me to believe that, prior to me, that was how Adam was spending his time. In the last few weeks, I’ve seen Max with four different girls, each one exiting his bedroom.

But, man-whore aside, I like Max. He’s cool, and even though I’ve come in and invaded his and Adam’s time here together, he has had no issue with it.

I’m not precious when it comes to my virginity. Just right now doesn’t feel like the right time. I want to spend more time with Adam, get to know him more, before I go all the way with him. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to do other stuff with him. This past week especially, all I’ve been able to think about is taking things a little, or maybe a lot, further.

And the way he’s touching me right now with the heat of his breath on my skin has me tingling in all the right places, making me want his mouth in other places than just my shoulder.

Putting my pencil down on my paper, I lift my hand to his face, scratching my nails over his scruff, until I’m cupping his cheek. I tilt his eyes up to mine.

He smiles at me, and my heart clenches, as do a few other parts of my anatomy.

The way I feel about him…I’ve never felt anything like it before. In a short space of time, he’s become beyond important to me, and I’m struggling to remember my life before him.

But I do remember that it was gray. Now, with him in it, it’s filled with color, all varying shades of brightness illuminating my days.

I press my lips to his, giving him a soft kiss.

“So, I’ve been thinking…”

“About?” he murmurs over my lips, his eyes closed.

“Well…I’m still not ready to have sex, but…I was thinking that maybe…we could do, you know, other stuff.”

I feel his body stiffen, and his eyes open to meet mine. “Define other stuff.”

A blush creeps onto my cheeks. I feel a little embarrassed, talking about this. To be honest, I can’t believe I brought it up.

“I don’t know…just…all I do know is, when you kiss me…I want more.”

“More,” he echoes.

“Mmhmm…more.” My gaze flickers down.

“When? I mean, there’s no rush—”

“We could…now.” I bite my lip, suddenly feeling a little more than nervous.

Adam is up on his feet before I even get a chance to blink.

“Um, where are you going?” I stare up at him.

“You said now. And, well, I’m not doing more with you now, on this rock, with an audience.” He gestures out to the surf. “I thought we could go back to the house. Max will be out here surfing for hours, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”

A thrill runs through me. “Okay.” I shove my sketchpad and pencil in my bag.

Adam climbs down the rock. I follow, loving the feel of his hands on my waist as he helps me down the last part. His hand grazes my ass.

“Copping a feel?” I smile.

“Totally.” He grins at me.

Linking his fingers through mine, he leads me on the short walk to the beach house.

By the time we reach the house, my body is a riot of nerves.

We’ve just gotten through the door when Adam has me backed up against it, his mouth on mine.

My bag drops to the floor. My hands go to his hair.

God, he smells amazing, like the ocean. I can taste the salt on his lips, and it just fuels me, making me want him even more.

This kiss is so different, compared to our others. There’s a need and urgency that hasn’t been there before, and I love that he wants me so badly.