“Care to dance?” Wes grabbed Kaylee’s hand and practically lifted her out of her seat and onto the dance floor.

What was he up to?

Kaylee glanced back and gave the nice man she’d been talking to an apologetic smile. “Do I have a choice?” she said as she stumbled behind Wes.

He pulled her close and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, rocking to a slow song from the eighties. “No.”

“Good to know.” She breathed in. God, he smelled good. Why did her ex have to smell so incredible?

She’d always liked dancing with Wes. And it was a good thing, or he’d have a sore shin right now for hauling her away like that.

She cocked her head. “Those were some impressive moves you performed out there. Didn’t know your hips could gyrate like that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. I’m a changed man.”

She held back a smile. “With limber hips as proof.”

He looked up, as though considering. “Proof of my extracurricular talents, yes. But to find out how the rest of me has changed…” His dark blue gaze skimmed down her body. “We’ll have to spend more time together.”

Her eyes narrowed and her heart hammered in her chest. “I thought we did that at the driving range. You know, all those grueling hours of practice you put me through?”

He chuckled. “Nah, that was just me laughing while Bella tried to teach you how to swing a golf club.”

“Hey!” She swatted his shoulder where her hands rested. And tried not to feel him up.

Wes had always been sexy and handsome, but now he was filled out and rugged, his five o‘clock shadow already showing, though he must have shaved before the wedding. Her single-lady hormones liked the older Wes a little too much for Kaylee’s comfort.

“Bella’s a golf prodigy,” she said. “And it’s not polite to point out that a five-year-old is better than me.”

He smirked. “My apologies. But I would like to spend more time with you—outside of the driving range.”

Her smile faded and she studied his face. He was serious? “Why? We’ve only recently cleared the air over the past, and you didn’t seem pleased to have me at your brothers’ beer night.”

His face hardened. “That was because you were flirting with another man.”

“You were jealous?”

He tightened his arms around her. “Jealous of the guy drooling all over you tonight during dinner too.”

She chuckled. “No need to be. I just met Ted. I barely know him.”

“He wants you.”

She shook her head. She might be attracted to her ex, but that didn’t mean it was a good idea to go there. “Why would it matter?”

He seemed to catalog her features, his gaze dropping from her eyes to her nose to her lips… “Do you need me to spell it out?”

“Yes.” Wes was…well, Wes. The man was handsome as hell, confident, and she wasn’t kidding about the hip-gyrating thing. It had been erotic and made her think of other stuff. But no way would she give in. Her mouth firmed and her voice turned icy. “You’ve been hot and cold since I came into town. What is it you want?”

He grabbed her bottom and pulled her up, searing her lips with a quick, hot kiss. “Let’s try again, Kaylee,” he said low, hovering above her mouth.

Wes lowered her to the dance floor but kept her pressed against his chest and thighs.

Her breaths came out choppy. She tried to respond—to unleash some fury on his ass—but his hands on her bottom were ruining her concentration.

She eased back a few precious inches. “Are you insane?”

His gaze fell to her lips, like he might take her mouth again. “Not in the least.”

She couldn’t help it: she laughed. This was absurd.

“Why are you laughing?” he said. “Do you find it funny that I’m attracted to you?”

Her smile fell and a wash of exhaustion came over her. “Tragic—I find it tragic we’re eternally attracted to each other. That’s just cruel on the universe’s part.”

He dipped his head and breathed in beneath her ear. “Not tragic. Maybe it’s destiny.”

She jerked back. “Holy shit. That was the corniest line that’s ever left your lips.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Can I help it if poetry spouts from my mouth when you’re near?”

She laughed. “I’m not sure I’d call that poetry.”

He frowned and squeezed her bottom tighter. Fortunately, the dance floor was crowded, or they’d be putting on a show right now.

“Wow. Okay. You really want this?” She watched him leerily, though she was silently soaking up the heat of his body, because Wes.

Kaylee had always been attracted to this man. Nothing had changed there. It was everything else that had shifted.

“We’re older, more mature,” he said as though reading her thoughts.

“Exactly, which means we have to be able to do better than rebounds and repeats.”

“I’m not the one rebounding,” he said, and led her to the side of the dance floor as a fast song came on. “And there was nothing wrong the first time we dated. Just bad timing and miscommunication.”

She pulled on his hand to get him to stop and look at her. “There was so much wrong the first time. It tore my world apart.”

He squeezed her hand. “My biggest regret is what you went through and that I wasn’t there for you. But not everything between us was wrong. We can’t help what happened. That part was a tragedy, but the rest…” He stared into her eyes. “I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you.”

Feel. He said feel—as in present tense.

Wes slid his hand to her lower back and walked them toward the ballroom exit. The only reason he got away with it was because she was still reeling over his declaration of “feelings.”

“That’s not enough,” she finally said, attempting to clear her head. One of them had to think straight, because she could easily see herself falling for Wes again. And that was frightening.

Falling for Wes nearly killed her the first time.

“Where are you taking me, anyway?” She glanced back.

He gave her a wicked grin. “Out.”

“But the wedding—”

“Is over. There’s only dancing left.”

“Exactly. Dancing. The reception? Won’t your brother be angry?”

He shrugged lazily. “Probably. But only until he leaves with Hayden. For some reason, this wedding has him stressed out.”

“Weddings can do that.”

He looked down at her, concern in his eyes. “Are you sad? That today should have been your day?”

She shook her head slowly. “No. I’m relieved. Discovering Eddy had cheated saved me from a divorce. His infidelity didn’t change what was already wrong. It was never right between us; I know that now.”

Wes nodded and walked on, out the back doors and past the lazy river. They turned into a semi-hidden nook with two lounge chairs behind the fire pit island. The nook had a pristine view of the lake and a part of the South Lake Tahoe lights.

Obviously, Wes knew every inch of the club. Including supercool hidden spots with great views. She wondered if he took many women here.

He gestured for her to have a seat on one of the lounge chairs. “Would you like anything to drink? Champagne?”

She held up her hand. “No. Thank you. I’m tempering my alcohol consumption after the Fireside Lounge with you and your brothers. Clearly, I’m a lightweight these days.”

He unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket and straddled the lounge chair next to her, easing down with his arms folded behind his head. “I guess that night got us to this point. What you said might have slipped out eventually, but I’m glad it came out sooner rather than later. I would have always wanted to know.”

“I should have told you years ago.”

He looked at the view. “Things work out the way they’re meant to. We’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

She felt his stare land on her again. The heat of it. The weight. “Speaking of here and now,” he said, “why don’t you come closer?”

She tilted her chin down. “You’re bad. I can’t believe you kissed me in front of everyone.”

“Come on, Kaylee. That kiss had been brewing for weeks. It was inevitable.”

It had been, much as she was loath to admit it. And it was cold out. The season had turned quickly from summer to fall, the chilly air nipping at her skin.

Who cared what they did? Especially now that there were no more secrets. They were both single… “Fine. But keep your hands to yourself.”

“I am a gentleman. I would never touch a lady. Unless she asked me to.”

Kaylee heard the humor in his tone. Saw the twitch of his lips. She rolled her eyes but scooted onto his lounge anyway.

Of course he didn’t give her room, which meant she was smashed up against him, practically sitting on his lap. “You can put your arms around me. It is cold out. And it’ll prevent me from falling off this thing, since you’ve given me half a cheek’s worth of space.” She shot him a disgruntled look over her shoulder.

It was all for show, though, because she liked being right up next to Wes. He said he’d never felt for anyone what he felt for her. Well, she’d never loved anyone the way she’d loved him.

Wes sat up and took off his jacket, then draped it over them. He slid his arms around her waist, tucking her head beneath his chin.

His hand made a lazy pass up and down her arm. “Better?”

Better? It felt amazing. Like there was nowhere else she should have been all this time except in Wes’s arms. But that couldn’t be right. This wasn’t real. The past was real—visceral.

She spun around until she was facing him, her chest pressed to his. “Why was golf more important than me?”

The kiss, them hanging out—it wasn’t going anywhere, even if she was attracted to Wes. She didn’t know why she felt the need to dredge up history, but she did.

Fine. She was considering seeing him again as more than friends, since he’d put his lips and hands on her, igniting all sorts of naughty thoughts. And if she was considering naughtiness, she needed to know what had gone on inside that stubborn man brain of his when they’d dated.

Wes adjusted his arms with the new position, but kept them wrapped around her. She sensed him shake his head above hers. “Golf was never more important. You were…”

She lifted her chin so she could see part of his face. “I was what?”

He leaned back and looked down. “Everything.”