Page 30 of Make You Mine

“Ooh, good choice. Those are great. But whatever you do, don’t try a vanilla bean scone or you’ll add another habit to the list. It’s my favorite.”

We ordered, then continued talking about our favorite foods and little quirks between bites of chicken pot pie and sips of the delicious wine she’d chosen. Our connection was effortless, natural, and filled with laughter. I’d never felt like this before, and I didn’t want this night with her to end. It felt like a beginning and not a pretense.

I paid the check, and she took my arm as we walked out of the restaurant with no remark or regard for anyone who may be watching. In fact, the subject of being seen together hadn’t come up once, even after meeting her grandmother.

The street was quiet, the night enveloping us in cool mountain mist as we strolled along as if we were lost in our own little world.

Turning the corner, we reached Loganberry Lane. Her porchlight beckoned, signaling that our evening together was almost over.

I didn’t want to let her go.

I took her hand as we approached the steps leading up to the porch. The air was crisp, and the stars were faintly twinkling through the clouds. Her heels clicked softly across the wooden planks until we reached the door.

“Thank you for tonight,” she whispered, looking up at me. “But we didn’t really practice anything. And I don’t know if anyone noticed us or not. I was having too much fun with you to care, I’m sorry.”

“Never apologize for having a good time. I loved every minute we spent together.”

“I did too. You’re a good dinner date, Ren.” She turned to face me fully; she was nearly my height in her heels.

“So are you.”

Our faces were mere inches apart, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss her goodnight. The world seemed to pause in this moment as I tried to decide what was appropriate.

We stood still a heartbeat longer, and then her hand tightened in mine. She tilted her head back with a sigh, and I wondered if I could trust myself not to take things too far, beyond the realm of practice or pretense or whatever we were doing. I didn’t want to go somewhere I couldn’t come back from.

“I haven’t even known you a month yet,” she murmured. “But it feels like way longer.” Her pretty face was all I could see. Big eyes, full, pink lips, and all that golden hair spilling over her shoulders. I had it bad for her, and I didn’t think she had any idea what she was doing to me.

“We’ve been meeting off and on for the last couple of years, Piper. At Violet’s holiday parties, the wedding, and the reception, don’t forget about that backyard barbeque Jake attempted to throw last summer. So, it’s been way more than a month.”

“You’re right.” Her hand drifted up my chest, fingers curling into my tie to pull me closer. “Maybe you should kiss me goodnight then.”

“For practice?” I whispered, trying to get some clarity, but finding clarity seemed impossible with my hands skating around her waist and her luscious lips so close to mine.

Her eyes shifted from mine briefly before she answered. “Sure, why not, right?”

“Yeah…” I felt the warmth of her breath against my skin and got lost in an overwhelming surge of emotion. Trying not to overthink it, I gently cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing lightly against her cheeks. She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning into my touch.

This was my cue. Slowly, I lowered my mouth to hers, the anticipation almost tangible. When our lips met, it was like a spark ignited between us. She was soft, so soft.

I deepened the kiss, losing myself in her taste and the way she fit perfectly against me.

When we finally broke apart, our foreheads resting against each other, I opened my eyes to find her gazing back at me with a look that mirrored my own.

Chapter9

Piper

“What are we doing?” This had been the best date of my life, and it wasn’t real. My heart broke a little bit at the thought of not having another night like this.

He looked at me with a tenderness that made my heart ache, yet I couldn’t ignore the flashing neon sign in the back of my mind reminding me that none of this was real.

His arm tightened around my waist. “I’m kissing you goodnight,” was his soft reply.

“Do it again.” I couldn’t resist him. I needed more.

He yanked me close and pressed his lips to mine. His lips were insistent and soft, even though he kissed me hard. The heat between us blazed into something undeniable, leaving us suspended in a moment that felt both fleeting and eternal at the same time. It was confusing.

“Like this?” he groaned against my mouth.

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