Page 72 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

She met his.

His entire body started to tingle.

He let out a grunt and the valve moved, the dripping of water through the towels tapering until it died. “There. It’s off.”

Lily stood. “I should have known you’d come riding in like a hero, Top Gun.”

“I’m always happy to come when you call, Lil.” Then he stood too, and his hand brushed hers in the process.

She blinked at him for a long moment before moving away quickly. But as she stepped backward, her sandal hydroplaned across the floor, sending her upper body backward. She twisted, trying to catch herself.

Declan stepped forward to steady her, his arm catching around her waist. Too bad he also hit the slick spot.

She crashed down on top of him with ahmmph.

“Are you okay?” The cold water soaked through his jeans, through his T-shirt. But all he cared about was his arm around her, her body in his arms.

She blinked down at him.

His gaze went to her lips.Just kiss her.

“Sorry.” She clambered upright. Her wet clothes clung to her every curve.

Shutting his eyes, Declan lay there in the puddle, trying to set his hammering heart right.

Lily nudged him with her foot. “Come on.”

He opened his eyes and found her standing over him, hand held out. Declan took it. Stood, but then Lily’s feet slipped again. This time, he held her steady. “I’ve got you.”

“Thanks.”

And aw, man, he couldn’t help himself. His fingers looped through her hair, loosened a lock that clung to her check, and tucked it behind her ear. “Are you okay?”

“You already asked me that.”

“But you didn’t answer me.”

She looked back at him with those crazy blue eyes. Those eyes he’d fallen for at eighteen. And that same forbidden longing crested inside him. Turned his legs weak. Stole any common sense he might have left.

Just kiss her.

“Lil?” His voice rasped. “Areyou? Okay, I mean?”

She nodded. Swallowed, her gaze locked on to his.

A heartbeat and then, his head dipped toward hers, his arms enfolding her. The kiss felt a little wild, unfettered, and as he deepened it, a moan escaped her, a soft little sigh of surrender.

And it set him on fire. He moved her back against the counter so they’d be in no danger of slipping again, and then his fingers plunged through her hair, the skin of her cheeks soft when he drew his thumbs across.

It was even better—even sweeter—than he remembered.

Lil…

Suddenly, Lily stilled. Pulled her head back. She blinked, her eyes alight with the kind of delight that could captivate a man. Mesmerize him. “We shouldn’t—we can’t…”

“Why not?” The words were out there before he could stop them. And maybe he should regret it, but he just couldn’t. Not when it meant Lily was here again, in his arms.

Just where she was always meant to be.

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