When best friends Jamie Eckert and Derek Duran realized they were in love, they took their relationship to the next level. But then Derek's budding music career took off, and so did Derek. Twenty years later, Jamie still lives in the small town of Ashbury, Virginia, where he grew up. He's grown up and moved on -- now he owns the family funeral home business and is raising Riley, his precocious six-year-old adopted daughter. But emotions Jamie thought long buried are stirred up again when he gets an early morning removal call. The deceased is Derek's mother and Riley's babysitter, Mrs. Duran. Now Derek's back in town for the funeral, and he turns to Jamie for support ... in more ways than one. Angry at Derek for not keeping in touch, and angrier at himself for still loving the man who left him behind, Jamie is torn between his professional duty and his feelings for Derek. Will he be able to put aside his past with Derek to carry out Mrs. Duran's final wishes? Or is Derek interested in rekindling their relationship after all this time?

Not Another One Hit Wonder

Still, I pick out a slice and bite into it, refusing to look at him. I won’t let myself fall into his trap.


He draws a soft circle on my shoulder with his thumb. “You know,” he says, his voice low, “I didn’t really invite you over here for pizza.”


Hoping to keep things light between us, I joke, “I know, you said this or Chinese, but Riley really likes pizza. In case you didn’t notice.”


Derek shifts on the seat and leans in, hugging me to him. His other arm eases beneath the table to wrap around my middle, his hand coming to rest so high up on my thigh, there’s no mistaking his intentions.


He props his chin on my shoulder and stares at me openly, waiting for me to meet his gaze. I can’t, I won’t. I concentrate on the pizza I’m eating and only spare him quick glances from the corner of my eye.


“You said you weren’t seeing anyone,” he whispers, his breath hot against the side of my neck.


Chapter 29