Page 79 of Mr. Swoony

I drain the rest of my wine. “I need a refill.” I slide out of Conor’s arms.

“I’ll get you one. Come on.” Conor takes my empty glass. “Have a great year, Rigby.”

“I’m sure you’ll see me. Well, you’ll see my cellys after my pucks get by you.”

Conor huffs, stops, and circles to face him. I place my hand in his free one. Conor stares Rigby down for a second, then gives him a cocky smile. “Can’t wait.”

He doesn’t let Rigby bait him, which I’m glad about. The last thing I want is another fight breaking out to defend my honor.

“Come on. Let’s get you a drink.” Conor tugs me forward.

Once we’re a good distance from Rigby, I pull him into the corner of the room, not interested in another drink. “What are you doing?”

He looks behind him, grabs my hand, and walks us out the doors of the ballroom.

“Conor…”

He doesn’t stop until we’re at the end of the hall. Whirling me around, his hands fall to my hips to stop me. “I’m an idiot. I was being stupid.”

“Okay.”

Conor cocks his head to the side. “No objection?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

He chuckles softly. “I guess I deserve that.” He doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Listen, after I spied on you at the restaurant, Jade forced me to go to her house.”

My forehead wrinkles. “Why?”

“Because she thought I wouldn’t be able to give you space. And she was probably right. I would’ve tried to check something off your list, or take you drinking, or turn you on by smoking a cigarette.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, the smoking thing can end anytime now.”

He gives me one of his wicked smiles that makes my body go all tingly.

“She also mentioned that if I push too hard, too fast, I’ll be your rebound. Just your rebound.”

It all connects now. Why he’s been so hands off and distant and why I feel as if I’ve been the one trying to drag us over the line with him kicking and screaming the whole time.

He takes my hands and squeezes. “I really hope this doesn’t scare you off, but I’ve never felt this way before.” He releases one of my hands and places his palm over his heart. “This chemistry. This desire. And it’s not just sexual before you say that. It’s more. So much more that I can’t explain. So, I don’t want to be your rebound guy. I want to be your guy, period.”

I slide my hands out of his and step closer to him, the scent of his cologne drawing me in. “That’s why you’ve been pushing me away?”

His hands slide down my sides, anchoring to my hips. “I shouldn’t have told you that you weren’t ready. I’ve been schooled by more than one person that it was a stupid thing to say. But I just don’t want to move too fast and have you regret this.”

I wrap my arms around his neck, eliminating the remaining distance between us. “You know, I was there that night too.” I twirl my fingers around the strands at the back of his head, my fingers running down the back of his head and neck. “You weren’t the only one who felt something.”

“But—”

“There isn’t a but, Conor. I want this. I can’t explain the feeling either, but I know I’m ready, and you’re not the rebound guy. You’re the guy who opened my eyes to the possibility of finally having the kind of relationship I want with a man who will make me happy and encourage me and do crazy things like?—”

“Have sex on a washing machine?”

I laugh. “Yeah. And donate blood with me. And do random acts of kindness. There’s something here, Conor, and I understand that the timing isn’t great, but I want to explore this.”

His hands squeeze my hips. My breath catches, but he pauses, his lips hovering over mine, his eyes searching for permission I’ve already given him. My mouth tingles with anticipation, waiting to feel him, to taste him for the first time.

He closes the gap, brushing his lips along mine, feather light and tentative. It’s barely a kiss, but a spark races through me, and my heart pounds so loudly he can probably hear it. Then he pulls back, hesitation still glimmering in his eyes.

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