mussing the neatly organized locks when they clenched at the husky question. “No.”
One eyebrow lifted. “No?”
Kate rose onto her tiptoes. “No,” she murmured. “I’d rather kiss you.”
And then she put words to action.
Luckily, Jaime didn’t seem to mind.
Five
Jaime
It had been a spectacular first date.
And he’d been engaged for the entirety of it.
Snorting, he made a few notes in the computer and thought of the snap he’d sent to Kate a few hours earlier, beyond glad he’d managed to finagle her number from her.
Well, in all honesty, it was less finagling and more common sense.
Fiancés had their future wives’ numbers.
Simple as that.
Except . . . nothing was simple when it came to this woman and the depth of feeling he had for her after one dinner and a short walk. Maybe it was all the social media stalking, or maybe it was just her, just the realization and fleshing out of that feeling he’d had upon seeing that first picture.
The notion deep inside that this woman was more than just a face in a photograph.
Now he had a chance to prove that to himself . . . or maybe to her . . . or the universe, her parents, her siblings, and friends.
Long ass list, that was.
But the thought of lying to everyone important to her, and the unease it caused, had slipped way to the back of his brain. Because when he was in her presence, the only important thing was getting closer, unearthing all the little—and big, he supposed—things that made Kate, Kate.
Like the GIF and chain of emojis she’d replied with after he’d sent her a picture of him and Barry.
He’d never actually seen that many emojis in a row and had spent a good amount of time going one by one before he’d been able to translate the gist of the message.
And when he’d texted back
Please spare the old man so many emojis. It took me way too long to figure that out.
She’d simply replied with another chain of the tiny pictures. Though at least he’d been able to deduce the meaning of the hearts and kissing face emoji and had replied with
I like kissing you, too.
Long minutes had passed before he’d seen actual words.
You really don’t use emojis.
Is this an emoji? :)
A beat
Nope.
Then. Nope, I guess I don’t.
Hmm.
Do I need to read up on emoji etiquette?
Only if you want to understand my messages.
He’d laughed out loud at that but then had needed to slip his cell into his pocket and get down to work, otherwise he wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting out of the clinic on time.
Jaime had focused on getting through his patients, on returning calls and following up on lab work, but when he was on lunch break, he’d downloaded an Emojis for Dummies Guidebook, screenshotting the cover and sending it to Kate, along with a message.
Prepping for my crash course.
She’d replied almost instantly.
Smart. *thinking emoji*
(see, he’d already learned something)
Then
You said, you’re an old man. How old exactly? I may need to rethink my plan.
Snorting, he shoved a bite of salad into his mouth and typed back.
Thirty-two. Birthday is August 2nd. You?
A long, long silence.
Don’t you know that’s an impolite question?
Don’t you know that fiancés know these things? *sad eye emoji*
And okay, now he saw that the tiny and weird little pictures might truly be worthwhile, especially when her reply came through.
Not the sad eyes. Dear God, my heart can’t take the sad eyes.
Noted. *another sad eye emoji* Now, tell me. Please?
I’m alternating between sighing out loud and giggling in my cube, and my coworkers think I’ve gone crazy.
He frowned.
Didn’t you eat lunch?
No time today. Not if I want to be on time. I’ve got a big project that’s due. Note the deliberate use of *sad face emoji* in payback to you.
Turns out, I’m immune. How old, Red? Then I’ll let you go.
*eye roll emoji* Thirty-two, but the painful truth is that my birthday is July 22nd.
Jaime grinned.
So less old man and more old woman?
Blasphemy! *cursing emoji*
The tech came in as he was laughing and told him his next patient was there, and he quickly shoved the last bite of his salad into his mouth.
I know. It’s terrible. *sad eye emoji* That’s so you’ll forgive me. But I’d better let you work.
Unfortunately, yes.
A beat before another message came through.
I like texting with you, Jaime the Vet.
He could imagine her looking up shyly as she said that, the same way she’d looked up and said No, I’d rather kiss you the previous