Unexpected Chances Read Online Free PDF Page B

gone, and she went out of her way to make sure her bent knee didn’t touch his. She was waiting for an explanation, and he wondered if anything he said would make sense—or make a difference to her now.
    “You know how badly I wanted to act.”
    She nodded. “You said Broadway. We had plans. Dreams. At least I thought we did, but after you took off, I convinced myself they’d been my dreams and you’d humored me through high school before moving on.” At times, she even thought that he’d used her, Holly thought.
    She bit down on her lower lip, not wanting Dylan to see the extent to which he’d hurt her. Certainly she didn’t want him to know his betrayal had probably ruined any chance she had at trusting any other guy. Now that she was beginning to understand how deeply he still affected her, in a way, she resented him even more.
    He gazed at the needles on the tree as if they could offer clarity until finally he spoke. “The closer we got to graduation, the more trying for Broadway and acting in New York seemed like a sacrifice,” he admitted. “Like I’d be accepting second choice without even trying for the big-time.”
    “So why didn’t you just tell me? Or was I that much of a burden?” she asked, admitting her fears out loud for the first time. “Were you afraid I’d hold you back?”
    He jerked backward and stared. “Are you serious? It was just the opposite. I didn’t want to hold you back. Your family had dreams and goals for you. You had those same dreams.”
    Then, at the same time, they both said, “Yale, like your father and his father before him,” laughing despite the serious conversation.
    “You see? I knew if I told you I wanted to go to L.A., you’d probably have insisted on going with me. Yes, there was Stanford or other schools, but none of them were Yale, and none would uphold your family tradition.”
    “Wasn’t that my choice to make? Unless it was an excuse and you really didn’t want me—”
    He grasped her hand hard. “I didn’t want you to end up resenting me. And in case you need a reminder or proof of how much I did and still do care, here it is.” Taking her by surprise, he leaned over and met her lips in a searing, demanding kiss.
    A kiss she both wanted and needed, and this time she didn’t hesitate. She parted her lips and allowed him inside. His tongue swirled in her mouth, teasing, tasting and demanding she understand. And though she still held the pain in her heart, a part of her accepted the explanation. His kiss and gentle touch went a long way towards helping her heal.
    She placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed backward. He toppled to the floor, pulling her on top of him until they lay sprawled beneath her Christmas tree, her legs tangled with his. Their bodies fit tightly yet perfectly together, the hard ridge of his erection thrusting upward against her, making her very aware of his desire, which found a feminine answer inside her.
    She couldn’t deny the aching emptiness only he could fill or the trickle of desire dampening her panties. She wanted him. Scarier yet, she needed him.
    He stared up at her, his sexy gaze smoldering with raw passion and emotion she couldn’t mistake. “I missed you, Holly.”
    “I missed you, too,” she admitted, and then, to keep things light, she nipped at his lips with soft kisses and teasing strokes of her tongue.
    His hands came to rest at her waist. “I told you why I left. Don’t you want to know why I came back?”
    She trembled, and desire wasn’t the reason. “I’m really not sure I want to know. I can’t imagine with all that’s happened in your life that you just couldn’t stop thinking of me,” she said, forcing a laugh.
    “I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”
    Her heart filled with warmth. “You always knew how to make me feel special, Dylan.” But common sense told her not to read too much into his comment.
    He’d come home to visit, the first time since she’d been back home, and he