can handle that.”
“You clean up nicely,” I blurt out, checking out his fresh shirt.
His expression stays the same, but those brown eyes smile, making me melt in my seat.
I don’t know what I wanted out of tonight, but I didn’t expect this, and I’m hoping that he kisses me before the night is over.
And if he doesn’t, maybe I’ll kiss him.
After all—right now is for living.
Chapter Four
We finish the grazing plate, and then end up ordering more food. We switch from wine to soda, and keep chatting into the night, moving right next to each other instead of on opposite sides of the table. We even put some music on, giving the hotel room quite the vibe.
“Ivy said you had to be home by twelve,” Temper says, checking his watch. “It’s eleven.”
I roll my eyes. “I can be home whenever I want to. I’m a grown-ass woman.” I pause, and then add, “But I should probably message her and let her know that I’m alive.”
He smirks.
I send my sister a quick message and then glance around the suite. “Are you going to stay here tonight?”
“No, I’m going to head back to the clubhouse,” he says, glancing down at his own phone.
“You have a clubhouse here and back in California?”
“This is the Nevada chapter’s clubhouse,” he explains to me. “So not ours exactly, but we’re welcome there whenever we’re in town. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”
“Oh,” I whisper. “So, I’ll see you next year then?”
Quite the depressing thought, but what did I expect? This date was an experience, and that’s all it’s ever going to be. I still don’t regret coming tonight. If anything, I regret not saying yes to him the very first time he asked me out.
“Or you could come and visit me,” he says, narrowing his gaze slightly. “Or you could even come with me tomorrow.”
My eyes widen. “Yeah, I can’t do that. Maybe I could come and visit sometime, but I can’t just leave tomorrow with no warning. I have to work. And my mom.”
He nods slowly. “I understand. I’ll tell you what, give me your phone. I’m going to give you my number, and you message me, or call me.”
“You chat on the phone?” I tease.
“Not unless it’s an emergency,” he replies, lip twitching. “But for you I’ll make an exception. You call me if you ever need anything, you hear me? Anything. You need something, I got you.”
Our eyes lock and connect.
This is the moment.
The acoustic version of “Power Over Me” by Dermot Kennedy plays, the powerful song setting the mood. He cups my cheek with his rough fingers, and my eyes flutter shut of their own accord, and I’m still, so still, just waiting. When his lips press against mine, I melt into him, tasting him gently at first, then I get a little bolder, exploring, my tongue brushing against his. I can feel my heart racing, the butterflies in my stomach out of control. This is the kiss.
Our instincts take over and soon I’m sitting on his lap, straddling him, his fingers in my hair and mine resting on his hard chest.
When we pull apart, our faces are still close together, scanning each other’s eyes. I lick my lips, still tasting him there, and feeling bold, I cup his stubbled cheek and press another soft kiss against his mouth.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers. “Your eyes, I can’t look away from them.”
I smile widely and rest my forehead against his. “Where have you been?”
“Asking you out every year and getting rejected,” he murmurs, chuckling, and trails kisses down my neck. “I better get you home.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I reply, moving back when I feel how hard he is. Clearing my throat, I slide off him, my cheeks heating a little.
He chuckles and says, “I might need a minute,” making me blush even further. Trying to keep myself busy, I tidy up the table and put my shoes back on. Then we