catch the bus home and grab a quick shower before I head in to work. I would kiss you good night, but…”
“Let me drive you,” she says. “That’s why I asked Dan to drop us here. I figured we could grab my car, and I could drive you home.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to,” she says, punching me lightly in the stomach. “Let me be your warrior princess in shining armor.”
I grin. “I’ve never been with a warrior princess before.”
“I think you’re going to like it,” she says with a wiggle of her brows. “All the perks of a normal princess, but with saving services included when you need them.”
“I do need saving services every once in a while.”
“Everyone does,” she says, digging her keys from the bottom of her swim bag. “It’s a known fact. Come on, my car’s parked around back.”
While Melody drives us across town, I make a few phone calls and discover that my car was, in fact, towed. The towing company said they left a card behind, but I’m not sure if they’re telling the truth.
Either way, at least the car is safe, if impounded.
“At least it wasn’t stolen,” Melody says, echoing my thoughts as I end the call with a promise to get in touch again tomorrow when the lot manager is in.
“Probably better if it had been.” I sigh. “Unless I can talk the manager into giving me a first time tower discount, it’s going to cost a bundle to get the Midge out of the impound lot, and I just emptied my savings to open the shop with John.”
Melody hums thoughtfully. “Well, I can give you a ride to any catering events, so don’t worry about that. And your apartment is close enough to walk to the shop if you have to.”
“True,” I say, strangely unfazed by the frustrating turn of events. Usually, I’d be pissed that I’d been towed when there wasn’t a single sign alerting people that parking in that area wasn’t allowed. But Melody’s look-on-the-bright-side attitude is infectious. She makes me feel happy and at peace…when I’m not on fire from wanting to get naked with her, of course.
We reach my apartment, and she pulls to the curb. “Want me to come up and make you some tea while you shower? Tea soothes the wounded soul.”
“Thanks, but I have to take a rain check.” I smile as I smooth a stray hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her neck. “If you come up, I’m going to be late to work.”
“I’m sure John would understand,” she says, the look in her eyes pure temptation. “I mean, from what you’ve said, he understands that kissing is very important.”
“Five dates,” I remind her before adding in a softer voice, “I don’t want to rush things with you.”
“Why not?” she asks, her brow furrowing. “Because if it’s just the first-time thing, I promise you, Nick, I’m not going to do anything I’m not ready to do.”
“I know, I just… I don’t want to mess this up,” I confess, my breath catching as her lips move closer to mine. “I don’t want to scare you away.”
“I’m not scared,” she whispers. “Not at all.” And then she kisses me. Even though I’m covered in bugs and probably smell like gasoline and mud from the mess shifting around in the back of Dan’s truck.
It’s a hell of a kiss—sweet and sexy at the same time, with a warmth that soaks through my skin, deep into my bones, penetrating something deep inside me that a kiss usually doesn’t. It doesn’t last long, a minute at most, but when it’s over, I feel less alone than I have in a long time.
“See you tomorrow,” she whispers against my lips.
“Tomorrow,” I echo as I slide out of the car.
I stand on the sidewalk, lifting a hand as she turns the car around and starts back to her place, my head spinning and my heart beating faster.
I don’t know what to call this new, post-kiss feeling, but I know I want more of it. I want to wrap Melody and me in that feeling and hide away from the world for a few months.
Or years, or maybe an entire lifetime…
“I knew you had your own code, baby brother,” comes a low, familiar voice from beneath the awning of the convenience store under my apartment. “But I didn’t think you were a liar.”
Nash. Shit.
So much for hiding from the world.
Cursing