On A Night Like This (Callaways #1)

the fine dark hair that ran along his chest and down toward the waistband of his jeans.
    She cleared her throat, not wanting to think of Aiden naked, but she couldn't help herself. His teenage body had been impressive, but years of physical demanding work had turned him into a rugged, sexy male, and she was more than a little attracted him. Last night, she'd gotten so caught up in kissing him, if he'd thrown her down in the sand, she would have had sex with him on the beach and not even considered where they were or how cold it was. When she was with him, she was always hot.
    But he wasn't always as hot for her, she reminded herself again.
    Damn! This run wasn't working at all. She might be sweating, but she still had way too much time to think. Turning toward home, she picked up the pace, sprinting when she reached her street. As she neared her house, she saw Emma on the sidewalk. She was talking to a guy who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. He had blonde hair and was dressed in khaki slacks and a dark brown sport coat. Judging by Emma's stiff posture, the conversation didn't appear to be friendly. And as she drew closer, their raised voices were impossible to ignore.
    "I told you I don't want to see you anymore, Jon," Emma said. "It's done. We're over. Accept it and move on."
    "You have to give me another chance. This wasn't all my fault."
    She shook her head. "You've had all the chances I can give you. Just go, please."
    "Em, baby."
    "Stop! I'm not your baby. I'm not your anything. We were not good together. You're just feeling lonely. You miss having a girlfriend, but it's not me you miss."
    "That's not true."
    "It is true, and we both know it."
    Emma turned to go, but the guy grabbed her arm.
    Sara ran over to them. They looked at her in surprise. "Everything okay?" she asked.
    "It's fine," Emma said, pulling her arm free. "Jon was just leaving."
    "We're not done talking," he protested. "I know I hurt you, but you hurt me, too."
    "I'm not doing this with you. I've said all I had to say. Go home."
    Jon gave her an angry glare. "You can be such a bitch." He strode to his car, got in and pulled away, the tires squealing.
    Sara looked back at Emma and saw her mouth tremble just a little before she quickly forced back the emotion. "Who was that?" she asked.
    "My ex," she said. "Jon Wickmore the third."
    "Did he hurt you?"
    "Not today," she said with a humorless laugh.
    "But before…"
    "He didn't hit me," Emma said. "He just cheated on me. We'd been living together for almost a year, and I had no idea that when I was at work, he was sleeping with other women. Of course he's sorry now, but I'm not going back to him, because the cheating wasn't the whole issue. He didn't like my job. He thought I put it before him, and to be fair, I did sometimes. Anyway, it's over."
    "It sounds like it's for the best."
    "I think so." Emma gave her a painful smile. "I just thought I was in love with him, that's before I saw him for who he really was. I was too caught up in lust and passion to see what was right in front of me. I won't make that mistake. That's why I've sworn off men for at least a year." She paused, her gaze narrowing as she noted Sara's sweat pants. "So, you're a runner now? Aren't you the girl who would use any excuse to get out of P.E.?"
    "I don't like to run, but I try to get in a little exercise because I spend so much time sitting. And I'm coordinated enough to put one foot in front of the other. All those other sports that involve balls and rackets and clubs are not for me."
    "You should have called me. I would have gone with you."
    "It was a spur of the moment decision."
    "What happened with Aiden last night?"
    "Nothing," she said quickly.
    "Really?" Emma gave her a suspicious look. "Then why are you blushing?"
    "I'm just red from my run."
    "I know you two didn't come home right away, because Aiden's truck was not here when I got back from rescuing Shayla."
    "We took a drive. We talked. That's it. There's nothing else to say."
    "Got it. So what are you doing today?"
    "Trying to decide whether or not I should go home."
    Emma's brows knit together in a frown. "Let me make that decision for you—don't go. We're just getting reacquainted. I don't want to say goodbye yet."
    "I'd love to stay a few days," she said slowly. The idea had been going around in her head for most of the last twenty-four hours "But then I think what's the point? My dad doesn't want me here. He wants me gone."
    "Screw what he wants. He's