brushed against mine. When he pulled away, I groaned—disappointed.
He grinned. “I’m going to take that as an invitation.” He leaned in again and gave me what I was hoping for. His lips connected with mine, and he didn’t waste any time. He pushed his tongue into my mouth, and I gladly welcomed it. His hands left the car, pulling me against him.
I broke the kiss. “I better go.”
“Wednesday.” He looked at me hungrily, but backed up and opened my door.
I got in and started the car. “Wednesday.”
“Bye, Emily.”
“Bye, Jake.”
I waited until I was back on the interstate to call Mel.
She answered on the third ring. She’d probably left a patient’s room to pick up. “How’d it go?”
“Well. Very well.”
“Is that all you’re giving me?”
“He’s a good kisser.”
She squealed. “Alert the authorities! Emily Taylor got her first action in years.”
“It wasn’t action. It was a kiss. Well, four—or I guess five.”
“Five? You kissed five times? Were they consecutive?”
“Not consecutive, but all towards the end of the date.” I smiled thinking about it. I might have liked that he was taking things slow at first, but I definitely enjoyed discovering what more he had to offer.
“When are you seeing him again?”
“He’s making me dinner on Wednesday.”
She laughed, but it came out more like a snort. “That’s sweet—or just an excuse to get you in bed.”
“What does it say about me that I don’t care which one it is?”
“Emily!” she shrieked.
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just awesome to hear you talk like a normal girl.”
I didn’t even respond to her comment. “He called me an optimist.”
“Haha. Did you tell him you were about everyone but yourself?”
“No. But I thought it.”
“Fine. Want to do dinner?”
“Maybe take out?”
“I’ll be over at seven.”
“Awesome. See you then.”
I spent the rest of the drive thinking about those kisses—and Jake.
Chapter Eight
Jake
Wednesday couldn’t come fast enough. I’d gotten through my first meeting with the assistant coaches, but looking through playbooks wasn’t nearly enough to distract me. If I had a license, I probably would have shown up at Emily’s door. Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t have one.
I checked my watch again. She was at least ten minutes late. I didn’t care if she was late, but I hoped she wasn’t going to bail on me. Finally, I heard a knock. I jumped off the couch like my life depended on it and opened the door.
“Hey.” I took Emily’s hand, pulling her inside. I barely let the door close before I kissed her. I’d missed those lips.
“Hi.” She ran a hand down my chest. That small touch drove me wild.
“I was worried you weren’t coming.”
“I’m sorry. I got held up at work.”
“Don’t apologize. I wouldn’t have cared if it were one a.m. I’m just glad you’re here.” I knew I sounded sappy, but I didn’t care. I seriously couldn’t get enough of her. I looked it up, and you weren’t supposed to remember much when they sedate you like that, but I swear I remembered seeing her. It made me feel connected to her in a way I didn’t actually understand.
I took her hand again and led her into the kitchen.
“That smells good.”
“You said you liked Italian.” I’d called her to make sure before catching a ride to the store with Ben. If he thought it was surprising that I needed the ingredients for lasagna, he didn’t show it.
“I do.”
She seemed to really enjoy it. I liked that she ate. Some girls didn’t, and it just seemed weird. I think I scored points by remembering to make a salad, and not one that came from a bag. After dinner, I cleared the plates while she tried to insist on doing the dishes. I wouldn’t listen and made her sit while I did them. Usually I would have offered her wine, but I was still staying away from alcohol and figured she wouldn’t expect it.
We moved into the den, and I sat down right next to her on the couch.
She brushed some hair behind her ear. “Thanks for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” I put an arm around her shoulder.
She leaned into my arm slightly. “My first impression of you was so off.”
“Hmm. Is that good or bad?”
She turned a little to look at me. “Neither…or mostly good, I guess.”
“What did you think I was like?”
“I don’t know. Maybe stuck up, self-absorbed.”
“Because I had a DUI?”
“Yeah. I know that’s judgmental…”
“Nah, it’s human nature to make assumptions about people.”
She ran her fingers over the edge of her dress. “Did you make any assumptions about me?”
“Of course.”
“What