Page 19 of Mending Me

“I had a really good time with you tonight, blondie.” My hands were shoved in my pockets as I looked down at my shoes, my nerves so high that I could hardly look at her. If there was going to be an end of night kiss, now would be the time to make it happen.

“Thanks for taking me out. I had a really good time too.” She leaned down and caught my eyes with hers, a playful smile on her face, and we both laughed at the palpable awkwardness between us.Come on man, kiss her. Do it now, she looks like she wants you too. Just do it!

“Hey, soldier,” she said in a hushed tone. I pulled my eyes up to look at her again as she took a step closer to me.

“Yeah, blondie?” My breath hitched in my throat as I spoke, because as I did, her hands reached out to grab either sides of my jacket and pulled me into her.

“Are you always this shy?” she whispered, bringing her face closer to mine. Her eyes flashed between mine and my lips. The smirk on her face was almost devilish.

“Only with women as beautiful as you.”

I’d hardly finished speaking when she pulled me in with a sharp tug and pressed her lips to mine. I wrapped a hand around the side of her neck and gently pulled her closer to me, not wanting any distance between us. My other hand found her waist and held her where she stood. I had kissed women before, but none of them even remotely compared to kissing her.

The way her lips felt on mine, it was as if a missing piece of me had finally been found.

When we pulled away from each other, she ran her thumb along the bottom of my lip, wiping off the small amount of lip gloss that had rubbed off on my chin. She giggled and pressed her other hand to the side of my face.

“It’s a good thing I don’t mind ‘em shy.” She smiled at me and turned away to unlock her front door. My heart sank knowing that my time with her was coming to an end. It felt too soon and I wasn’t ready for it to be over yet.

“Hey, blondie?”

“Yeah, soldier?” She turned around before opening her door and faced me again. With her back facing the door, I summoned up enough courage to reach my hand around her neck and pull her in for another kiss. I needed to taste her lips on mine one more time before the night was over. I needed another taste to tie me over until the next time I got to do this.

If there would be a next time.

When I pulled away from her, her face was frozen in stunned silence. While she seemed surprised by my sudden act of courage, she also didn’t seem upset that I’d kissed her. She almost looked….intrigued.

“I’d really like to take you out again if you’ll let me.” My hand was still holding her face close to mine, our breath mixing together between our faces.

“I would very much enjoy it if you did.” Her lips pulled back into her signature smile that always made my heart skip a beat. I was quickly starting to get an endorphin hit every time she blessed me with one of them.

“I’ll call you.” I swiped my thumb across her cheek before taking a step away from her.

“Will I see you at the gym tomorrow?” she asked, opening up her front door at last.

“Bright and early, just like always.” I waved and watched her close the door, waiting to hear the click of the lock before walking towards the elevator.

As it took me down to the lobby, I replayed the kiss in my head over and over again on a loop.

Not only had I taken her out to dinner, on my bike, and kissed her, but I’d also gotten her to say yes to another date with me.

When I reached my bike, I pulled the leather jacket out of the saddlebag and slipped it on. Not that I needed it over my other jacket, but because I wanted to feel close to her. As I zipped it up, I didn’t miss the familiar scent that I was starting to long for.

Vanilla and honey. Sweet and soft.

Just like the girl I knew I was falling for, hard and fast.

12

HANK

Hey soldier

Bailey’s text came in right before I was about to head to lunch. It was Tuesday already and I’ve wanted to text her several times since our date on Saturday. There were multiple times over the last two days that I had picked up my phone, opened a new message, typed something, then deleted it. We’d seen each other at the gym the last few mornings and I waved to her when I caught her looking at me, but beyond that, we hadn’t really spoken.

Why are you being such a dicklicker about this?I’d thought to myself several times. I wasn’t normally like this with women but something about this one was throwing me off my game. My brain struggled to string together any logical thought when it came to her. I smiled at my phone, grateful she had taken the initiative. Again. Just like she did with our kiss on Saturday. The kiss that I had been replaying in my head ever since it happened.

I focused on my phone again, pulling my brain away from the thoughts of her plump, pink lips on mine, and texted her back.

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