you were miffed at not hearing from me all day.” He dropped five Kisses beside the pizza box, all tip-side up, waving their white flags in the air just like her heart was doing.
“The only kisses I want are yours,” she said, stepping up to him until he was pressed against the counter. Then she went up on her tiptoes, bringing her lips to linger just a breath away from his. He was here, bearing treats, so he must not regret last night. She met his eyes and searched for anything less than desire.
“About last night,” he said. “I guess we should discuss it.”
Emma swallowed. “If you really want to.”
“I loved every minute of it.”
She grinned. “That makes two of us.”
His gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth and back. “I’m done talking now. And if it’s okay, I’m going to kiss you.” His hand slid around her waist.
She was done with words too. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him first. She’d been waiting for this all day. Waiting to melt into his arms and let go of everything but him.
“I’m sorry this isn’t how we woke up this morning,” he said once she’d finally pulled away.
“Me too.”
Emma glanced back at the pizza box on the counter, the aroma wafting under her nose and making her mouth water. “As much as I love kissing, I’m starving.”
“That makes two of us.”
She was about to offer him wine because that would cap things off perfectly but then stopped herself. “I have sweet tea in the fridge.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Even though taking things slow would be the sensible thing, perfect would be having a repeat of last night. And while Hershey’s Kisses were nice, Jack Hershey was what she hoped to have for dessert.
* * *
Jack had been a little worried that Emma would slam the door in his face when he’d come over tonight. Instead, she’d acted like it was no big deal that he hadn’t contacted her during the day. Maybe he hadn’t started the day with Emma, but he was ending it with her. And there was no place he’d rather be.
“So what kind of appointment did you have this afternoon?”
Emma’s smile disappeared, which got his attention and made him think it wasn’t a simple hair appointment. She shrugged a shoulder and looked away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It was nothing.”
“We’re done with secrets and lies this summer, remember? Everything is out in the open now. My sister knows about you and me. Sam knows that she’s getting help for her addiction. No more keeping things from the ones we care about.”
Emma met his eyes again, and he saw an emotion there that got his attention. “I, um, went to the Women’s Wellness Center.”
Jack didn’t think this had anything to do with the 5K event for her mom. “Oh?”
“Just for a routine checkup.” She swiped a lock of hair away from her face, anchoring it behind her ear. “I canceled my last appointment. I’ve been avoiding it.”
“Why?”
Emma’s chin quivered. “My mom’s illness happened so fast. I guess I’ve been just…terrified of going. One day she was healthy, or so we thought. Then she went to an appointment and suddenly she was preparing me and my dad for her leaving us.”
Jack scooted his chair right up to Emma and took her hand. “Are you…okay?”
He could feel Emma trembling. “Dr. Rivers said everything checked out great. There’s no reason for concern. It was just a matter of me making myself go there. If I’m going to be a part of an event encouraging women to take care of themselves, I need to do the same. And if I want to honor my mom’s memory, this is what she would’ve wanted.”
This was a big deal for Emma, and he’d had no idea she was even struggling with it. “Hey,” he said, gaining her attention, “she’d be really proud of you.”
Emma nodded. “Thanks.”
She said she was okay, but she looked completely drained, so he added, “I’m really proud of you too. For everything you’ve accomplished this summer. You’re kind of like Superwoman.”
She giggled weakly. “Hardly.”
“You could’ve told me, you know? I’d have gone to support you. And stayed in the waiting room, of course.”
Emma laughed softly. “You would have gone and waited for me at the Women’s Wellness Center?”
He felt his face burning. “I mean, yeah. For you I would. I’d pretty much do anything for you, Em.”
She stared at him, and he wondered what was going through her mind.