Diamonds Are Forever - Brooke St. James Page 0,26

more, please." He leaned in and kissed me again. "Goodness." He kissed me twice more. "Stop," he said.

"You're the one doin—" I couldn’t even finish my sentence because he kissed me again. He kissed me lightly for another full minute before he finally pulled back.

"Okay, we have to go," he said. "Gosh."

"Yes, we do," I agreed. And I put my words into action by stepping out of his grasp and beginning to walk away. I smiled at him and waved. I was dazed, but I did my best to act normal.

"Thanks for the lantern," I said, like a big dork.

"You're welcome," he said.

I took a few steps toward my car.

"When will I see you again?" he asked.

"You're looking at me right now," I called, smiling.

"I'm serious!" he yelled.

I lifted my hands and made an exaggerated shrugging motion. "You know where I work."

"I'll call you!" he yelled while I was already in the process of getting into my car.

"Okay!" I yelled back.

I was acting unaffected, but my body was absolutely reeling from that kiss. My mind was racing. Everything he just did was exactly what I wanted to happen, but I honestly didn't know what to think about it or what to do from here. I could easily fall for Drew, but in my heart, I knew that wasn't an option. Or was it? Could it be possible that he would want something more than just a casual relationship with me?

I thought of Mac.

I went through the process of getting back into my car and stashing the lantern, thinking of my life and how unlikely the odds were that someone like Drew would ever be able to fall for someone like me. I wasn't trying to be down on myself. I loved Mac, and I had no regrets. But I knew Drew's family would have felt differently about him "dating" me if they knew I already had a child.

My kiss induced bliss was interrupted somewhat by my hopeless thoughts. I told myself to let go of it and enjoy the moment for what it was. It had been an amazing night.

I saw a shadow caused by something in front of his headlights, and I turned just in time to see Drew approaching my side of the car. I gave him a curious expression through the window, but he just smiled at me and reached down to open the door. I felt vulnerable sitting there with him staring down at me with my door open.

"What?" I said when he just stood there for a few seconds. "You better get back to that party," I added, smiling at him.

"I wish you could come back with me," he said.

I shook my head, still smiling. "I would, but I have to go pick up Mac and get him home. Back to reality."

"This is reality, too," he said.

I started to speak but then hesitated, closing my mouth and not knowing the proper response to that statement.

"When can I see you again?" he asked.

I was so surprised by his persistence that I said, "I don't know."

"Tomorrow?"

"Uh, sure," I said, sounding uncertain.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I said. "I was just thinking, tomorrow's Sunday. We were planning on eating lunch at my aunt's house after church, and then I just have Mac after that, so… I didn't know what you were thinking, but… "

"Should I eat lunch with you at your aunt's? Can I? Is it Billy Castro's house, or your other aunt? I've been wanting to meet your uncle."

(I had told him during one of our earlier conversations that the famous boxer, "Easy" Billy Castro, was my uncle, so he was right to assume that was where I was going for lunch.)

"Yeah, it's at their house, and you can come if you want. But it's just my family. Nothing fancy."

"I don't need fancy," he said. "Could you take a second and write down the address and phone number, please. And your phone number, please."

"Sure," I said.

I was so surprised by his persistent interest that I felt shaken. I was almost sure he could tell I was shaking as I wrote down the information he needed. I handed it to him, trying my best not to shake—holding paper always made it so obvious.

"The stuff on top is my information, and the bottom is my aunt's," I said, distracting him. "I guess if you were just going to meet us for lunch, you don't really need my address, but… anyway. Those are our addresses and my phone number."

"Where's this phone number