Ryder McCall wasn't exactly the last person Kaila Dyer wanted to see, but he was the last one she wanted to turn into a puddle of lust over.

Kaila eyed her ex-high school sweetheart across the busy dance floor and wished he didn't look good enough to lick up in big slurping bites. It wasn't fair that he was still so sexy after ten years. Especially after breaking her heart.

She figured she had two choices. Avoid him. Or make him wallow in miserable regret for ever letting her go.

With a wicked smile, Kaila smoothed a hand down her silk skirt.

"Well, well," she said when she reached him. "If it isn't the boy most likely to do the backseat boogie."

Ryder grinned. "Wanna dance?"

"I've got a better idea," Kaila said flirtatiously. What she had in mind was the perfect revenge, and it had nothing to do with dancing.

"What?" Ryder said, looking confused. She almost took pity on him for a moment, but then remembered how he'd hurt once her so callously.

"You know what we *didn't* do in high school?," she said, licking her lips seductively. "How about we make up for lost time?"

Heat flashed across Ryder's features -he still wanted her- but his mouth flattened into a hard line. "I don't know what you're up to, but-"

Kaila's heart skipped a beat. Could she really go through with this? "All I want is to find out what we missed back then. Don't you?"

Ryder's gaze sharpened on her, and Kaila could see curiosity warring with suspicion in his eyes.

"Won't your boyfriend object? he asked casually, but Kaila saw his body tighten, as if anticipating the feel of her against him.

Kaila sidled even closer, heart racing, until she could feel the heat from his body seeping through the material of her little silk dress.

She ran one finger down his broad chest, admiring how the years had honed and sculpted his body. "I'm as single now as I was in high school," she said. "The only difference is that now I know exactly what I want. And how to get it."

Ryder's gaze settled on Kaila's lush mouth. He remembered how she tasted. Like honey, all sweet and sexy. He wanted another taste. He'd come here tonight to see Kaila, to figure out why he'd never forgotten her. And now he knew. Kaila did it for him in a big way.

Ryder stared into her crystal blue eyes. His hand covered hers, pressing it against his chest. "What do you want, Kaila?"

Suddenly, the music changed and Madonna's 'Crazy For You' began to play. "To start," she said, tugging him forward. "We'll dance."

Ryder knew how Kaila loved that song. He knew a lot about Kaila. But not near as much as he planned to before the night was over.

Kaila slid into his arms as easily as she had ten years ago. "Do you remember the last time we danced to this song?" she asked.

With her breasts pressed against his chest, it was hard to remember his name let alone ancient history. "Senior prom. Last dance."

She smiled. And damn if he didn't want to crush her against him and kiss that full mouth. But he didn't have that right. Not anymore.

His fingers tightened on her waist. "Yeah. I remember." How could he ever forget the biggest mistake of his life?

Kaila melted under the heat of Ryder's smile. She'd only planned to tease and show him what he'd missed by tossing her aside ten years ago.

But now? After feeling his arms around her? After sliding against his deliciously hard body to the beat of the music? Now she wanted more. She moved even closer, her hips weaving an invitation against his thighs.

His eyes blurred. Perfect.

"Let's go," she said breathlessly.

"Where?" he asked, following anyway.

"To finish what was so rudely interrupted last time," she said, ignoring the nerves in her tummy.

"Sex?" he asked, his grin wicked. Like saying it would bring her to her senses.

"Not just sex," she reminded him. "The best sex of my life."

They were barely out the door when Ryder saw the man he'd been looking for. He had to make sure the guy didn't see Kaila. That was his job.

He turned Kaila into the wall, pressing up against her, his mouth covering hers.

She was sweeter than he remembered. Softer, hotter.

When she moaned into his mouth, he forgot he was being paid to watch her -- he'd never meant to get this close. Now he wanted to be closer.

He slipped his fingers along the edge of her dress, edging it up to touch her silky thigh, fully blocking her from anyone's view.

"Let's go somewhere more private," she said against his mouth.

Torn, he knew he should tell her the truth, but he wanted this. Wanted her.

A laughing couple passed them, jolting Ryder back to reality.

Christ, they had to leave. Now. Before he did something they'd both regret.

He released her abruptly and glanced around, but the guy had disappeared inside.

No way they could go back into the ballroom. Not now.

"C'mon. My car's just around the corner," he said, and slung an arm around Kaila's shoulders, thinking fast, needing to keep her close.

Kaila's father might be a wealthy, arrogant bastard, but he'd come to Ryder for help when he thought Kaila was in danger. Ryder couldn't refuse; this was Kaila they were talking about.

But while he could protect her from danger, who would protect her from him?

Kaila was going to make him hot and then leave him as he'd left her.She was going to make sure it was humiliating. Like it had been for her.

Ryder tugged Kaila towards a fancy black sports car. The powder blue pickup from high school absent. A reminder that the past was gone.

Somehow, that car jolted Kaila with a bit of reality.

Whatever she did here and now, she would own in the morning. Revenge was immature.

Beside the car, Ryder pulled Kaila close.

She melted into his strong arms, melted into want and desire. Into a burn only he could satisfy.

Kaila hated the way Ryder controlled her desire after so many years.

Screw immature. She wanted revenge.

It was going to be oh so sweet.

She purred in his arms, but Ryder knew what Kaila planned--love him and leave him. Work him up and then walk away.

He couldn't blame her. But he could stop her.

He pushed her back against the car and inched his hand beneath her skirt. "Your skin is still so soft."

She slid her hand over his erection. "I'm sorry I can't return the compliment."

He chuckled. "You won't be sorry in a minute, I promise."

Pantiless, she gave him easy access to the trigger that would destroy her plan. She was wet. Ready.

"Not wasting time?" she asked.

"Not giving you a chance to run," he replied.

He pleasured her clit until she came. "So sweet, but you need more. You always needed more."

Oh, god, he was good.

Panting as her body shuddered in delight, Kaila stared at Ryder's wicked smile and realized he'd done it to her again.

He'd made her forget everything with just the flick of his fingers. Forget all the pain and wish for the forever, all with just one orgasm.

What had she been thinking?

Maybe this wasn't about revenge any longer. But neither was it about getting her heart broken. Again.

"I can't do this," she murmured, not meeting his eyes. Instead she turned and, teary-eyed, stumbled away.

She had to go before she begged. His tone impatient, Ryder called her back. Before she could respond, even decide if she would, a hard, mean hand seized her arm.

"What are you doing?" the guy asked, shaking Kaila hard. "You're mine!"

Ryder's chest tightened as fear turned her flushed cheeks pale. He stepped forward, his tone calm. "She's not yours, Ben. Never was, never will be. She doesn't even remember you. Let her go."

"Wh-why are you doing this?" Kaila managed, her eyes meeting Ryder's. "Ben who?" Then her eyes widened in fear as she remembered.

"Shut up! You know me. You love me. You said so, back then. Then he stole you from me," Ben said, looking at Ryder, shaking her again.

"Let her go, Ben." Ryder slipped his hand inside his coat. He'd do what he had to to keep her safe. No way was Ben taking her anywhere.

The other man's eyes narrowed, but he released Kaila's arm. Ryder thrust her behind him.

"It's over, Ben. Go home. Leave Kaila alone."

Years ago, on the same night that Ryder had rejected Kaila, she had turned her charms on Ben, hoping to spark Ryder's jealousy. What should have been a harmless flirtation had turned dangerous, and Ryder hadn't been there to protect her. But he was here now.

"She's mine, Ben," he growled. "She always has been, and she always will be. I'll kill anyone who tries to change that. Even you."

Ryder faced off with Ben. "You were told not to show up here and harass Kaila. Be smart. Walk away before while you have the chance."

A security guard appeared. "Trouble here folks?"

Ryder eyed the man and then Ben. "No trouble. Ben here was just leaving. Weren't you Ben?"

Ben hesitated. "Yeah fine. I'll go." His gaze raked over Kaila. "See you soon, sweetheart."

The minute Ben left, Ryder turned to Kaila.

With a mixture of trepidation and accusation in her face, Kaila demanded, "What did you mean? He'd been told? What is going on Ryder?"

Ryder stared at Kaila, the woman he'd lost once. At the woman that made him burn inside out and he knew he'd lost her...again.

"Your father," Ryder said.

Fury and comprehension danced in Kaila's glare. "He's behind this? You?"

Ryder ignored the betrayal in her eyes. He chose silence over explanation.

Kaila needed to be away from the reunion, and Ben. Ryder had driven her away once. He could do so again.

But instead of retreating, Kaila moved close, pressing her soft curves against his body so unexpectedly all breath escaped Ryder's lungs.

"I should have known you'd never change." Her lips brushed against his, a taste of heat and anger and passion. Then she was gone.

Kaila's heart raced as she fled Ryder and her past. She had no time to react when Ben stepped out of the dark and smiled. "Where were we?"

Kaila's breath lodged like a rock in her throat. "Ben? Ryder told you to leave."

"I don't take orders from him," he snapped. "Or from you."

"Well you take them from the mayor, don't you?" Kaila held her breath, knowing that it'd been years since her father was a real threat.

His grip loosened, his anger turning into a pout that was pathetic to see on a grown man. "We belong together. We love each other."

"I don't love you," she said, pulling her arm away and stepping back. "I told you before, I'm telling you now."

"It's Ryder," he spat.

"Yes," she said with a sigh, finally admitting aloud her deepest, most heartfelt secret. "It's always been Ryder. It always will be."

Ben stepped closer. "That doesn't matter. If he loved you, he wouldn't have let you walk away from him once, let alone twice. Forget him."

"Ben, no!" Kaila objected, trying to pull away, but he had her between two cars, and before she could stop him, he was kissing her.

"Some things never change, I guess," Ryder's cool voice interrupted.

She ripped away from Ben. "Ryder, wait," she said, her voice choked.

"He's not right for you, Kaila, and you know it. Your father knew it, too. You just needed to get him out of your system. You have me."

"Ryder, please!" Kaila cried, ignoring Ben, her heart aching. She had to convince him that she loved him, but how, after she'd walked away?

In another minute, Ryder would be gone.

Shucking her stilettos along with her pride, Kaila ran after him. She reached him by his car. "Ryder, I made a mistake ten years ago. I was young and you hurt me, and I thought if I made you jealous then you would come back to me."

Ryder stood with one hand on the driver's door handle. A muscle worked in his jaw. "I did come back," he growled. "But I was too late."

"Maybe then, but you're not too late this time," she said softly. "When I saw you on the dance floor tonight, I thought I wanted revenge."

Ryder looked at her, and Kaila was emboldened by what she saw in his eyes. Hope flared inside her.

"So what do you want?" he asked.

"I know I don't want to walk away and never see you again," Kaila said, daring to say what was in her heart.

Ryder's eyes went from hot to cold, telling Kaila she'd failed to say whatever he'd wanted to hear. "There's always next reunion," he said. "We can always twitter or facebook too ," Ryder added, bitterness etching his tone. "Maybe Ben can join the fun. Make it a threesome."

Kaila steeled herself for rejection, taking a leap of faith. "The only fun I want to have is with you Ryder. Now and in the future."

Seconds ticked by as Kaila waited for his response. She'd come too far for regrets. She took a step forward, hoping he would do the same.

Ryder raked her with his eyes. He had two choices. Say goodbye. Get in the truck and drive away. Or he could stay.

Her shoulders sagged. "You're leaving. Again."

Ryder took that step forward. "No! This time we leave together. It's only ever been you, Kaila."

"And you, for me."

Then she was in his arms. And he was kissing her with desperation. At last he opened the truck door.

"You know, I'm not sure the mayor intended this."

Kaila slanted Ryder a smoldering look."I must thank Daddy one day. I never knew personal protection could feel so damned good!"