As Hannah passed by Anton on her way out the door, he got a whiff of her scent. She smelled the same. Like heaven and everything good in the world. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“You’re here for a work lunch?” he asked, stepping off to the side of the building and out of the way.

“Yeah.” She blew out a hard breath. “My first day on the job. My bosses took me out for lunch.”

“That’s nice of them. Congrats on the new gig. What are you doing these days?”

“Oh, just some accounting type stuff. Boring finances, you know.” She chuckled. “What about you? Did you ever make it to CEO like you dreamed?”

“Close, actually. And eventually, I will.”

Her eyes widened.

“I’m in the family business.” He gestured across the street, to the large sign that read, “DeCalvo Shipping.” My grandfather runs it right now, but he’s training me to take over.”

“Wow.”

He saw her look him over with what he thought was appreciation in her eyes. He was glad he’d worn this suit today. It was one of his favorites. Very expensive and looked great on him.

“I guess you could say most of my dreams have come true,” he continued. This might be his only chance to impress her. “I’m more successful than I ever thought I would be.”

“Most of your dreams have come true? Which haven’t?”

He shrugged and held up his left hand. “Still no special lady in my life. That will come in time, I suppose.”

Her face turned pink, and it made him ache with longing. He could throw her down and take her right here on the sidewalk.

She held up her hand, too. “Me either.”

He pulled in a slow breath. “Hannah, I know I broke your heart, but I haven’t stopped thinking about you once in the last ten years. When I saw you and walked over here, it was like all the feelings I’d had in high school bubbled up from somewhere and came rushing back.”

She tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear and looked up at him. “I know the feeling,” she said quietly.

Everything about the way she stood screamed to him. She was like a magnet, drawing him closer. He found himself taking a step toward her.

“It’s really so good to see you.” He took one more step and pulled her in for a hug.

He didn’t know how she’d react, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck, it was confirmation of what he’d suspected. Having her body so close, feeling her warmth… It was more than he could take.

With his heart racing, he pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. They were so close. It was dizzying. Before he stopped to think about it, he leaned in and kissed her.

When their lips touched, the last ten years melted away. They’d always had a steamy relationship. Late night romps in his car or under the school bleachers. Anywhere they could, anytime they could, they were having sex. And even though it was only high school, it was the hottest sex he’d ever had.

Kissing her now made him hard as a rock. He pressed against her, hoping she would feel what she did to him. His fingers found their way into her hair, his tongue found its way into her mouth.

The kiss heated up and right there on the sidewalk, they were making out. He didn’t care who saw. He could not get enough of this woman.

She broke the kiss off suddenly and stepped back. “I’m sorry.” She looked flustered and patted her hair. “I can’t do this. I’m in the middle of a work lunch. It’s my first day and I… I…” She gestured toward the restaurant.

“Then let’s get together. Tonight. I have to see you again.”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t. I’m sorry.”

She turned and hurried back into the restaurant. He watched her go, his mouth hanging open in shock.

As she sat down and refused to turn back to look at him, heat flared up his neck. She’d just turned him down. It was rare for him to be rejected or resisted like that. Maybe she had changed more than he knew. The old Hannah could never resist him. One little kiss, one small caress, and she was melting in his arms. Now she’d stopped mid-kiss and ran off, telling him she couldn’t even see him again? It was hard to believe and harder to accept.

Now that he was successful, getting women was easy. Nearly any woman he talked to for more than a few sentences ended up coming home with him. The money and his good looks were a powerful combination that most women didn’t bother trying to resist. Except Hannah.

But then, she always had been different. He’d dated some before he met her and of course, he’d dated some since. No one ever compared. But maybe that was it. He had broken her heart and left her. They were still in high school and he’d left suddenly when his parents died, ending things before he went.

After getting settled with his grandfather in his new home and new school, he’d begun to miss her desperately. Months had passed, but he’d checked on her and found her with another guy. She’d moved on so fast and not only that, she was visibly pregnant. There was no way he was going to try to get in the way of that relationship. If she was having a baby with some other guy, then she was gone forever.

Yet, she hadn’t married that guy, whoever he was. Maybe she hadn’t kept the baby. She didn’t mention anything about being a mom or having a child. And that had been part of the reason he hadn’t contacted her again back then.

His new life was not exactly an upstanding one. Sure, he didn’t mind that the family business involved illegal activity and killing, but most people took issue with that sort of thing. And it wasn’t the safest life. He didn’t want to drag her into that. Not Hannah, who was a sweet little southern belle until her father relocated the family and brought her to New York and into his life. She’d lost her accent completely now, he noticed as an afterthought.

No matter what had happened between them in the past, it was in the past. But here today had just happened. She’d stood here, kissing him, just minutes ago. Whatever she held against him had been forgotten. She’d lost herself in him. He could feel her body wanting him. Maybe it was just the work thing. Fine. He had interrupted her lunch, and they had just made out in a public place, where her boss might have seen. She could be in trouble over it. But that didn’t change the facts.

He was still hard in his pants, and he wanted her more than ever. Even now, watching her through the restaurant window, it took all he had not to go inside and put his arms around her. He had to have her. He’d take his time. Seduce her properly if that’s what it took. Even if they still couldn’t be together, he had to have her again. Even if it was just one last time.

Anton stood there for a while, watching her. Then he had an idea. He went back to his building and to his office. There, he took out a piece of paper and wrote her a note.

“Hannah, I’m sorry for today. I don’t know what came over me except that I still have deep feelings for you. I would be honored if you would join me for a drink or a meal. We can just talk and catch up. Please call me. Day or night, anytime.”

He added his number at the bottom, then folded the note. He hunted down one of his employees, or lackeys, as he often thought of them.

“Hey, Matt. Take this note to the restaurant across the street. There is a woman sitting at a table with two other women. Her name is Hannah. She’s wearing a blue dress and has long, dark hair pulled up. Give her this note.”

Matt nodded and took the note. Anton watched him cross the street and enter the restaurant. When he came back without the note, Anton was glad.

“How’d it go?” he asked.

Matt shrugged. “I just asked if she was Hannah, handed her the note, and walked away.”

That was fine. She hadn’t given the note back. She hadn’t told Matt to tell Anton to get lost or anything like that. She’d taken it. The next move was hers.