Page 26 of Hard to Resist

Cullen is hot, but how can I trust that he won’t flake on me as well? He is another real estate guy, who is probably always on the grind chasing his next big deal. I need a breather to make sure he isn’t just love-bombing me with sweet words and flowers only to stop texting me once he leaves the state.

Ugh, another reason why I shouldn’t kiss him. He isn’t even living here and I am way too naive for a long-distance relationship. Knowing my luck, I’d end up on one of those dating documentaries about women who got totally fleeced in a virtual relationship.

I swallow thickly, taking a short step back and putting some much-needed space between our lips.

“Nope. You’ll just have to wait till the fourth date.” I try to sound confident, try to give off an assured air, but I’m really not good at faking it.

“So that means you’ve already agreed to another two dates? Okay, fine by me, angel.”

My lips part as I try to comprehend how I walked myself right into that trap. Cullen gives me a wolfish grin as though he knows he’s the lion who has just cornered the gazelle. He is a smooth-talker, and I constantly find myself slipping under his spell.

Cullen doesn’t wait for my response. He just readjusts my hold on his elbow and stands back at my side, continuing our walk down the street.

I will my heartbeat to slow down—I can feel it pounding against my chest with the remnants of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I am barely surviving our second date; how the hell am I going to get through two more of these?

Cullen is like a tornado, whirling into my life and turning it upside down, but hell if I’m not a storm chaser, addicted to the rush.

Loud chatter draws my attention, and I glance around until I land on a storefront with a decent line of people waiting to get inside. I nudge Cullen to the edge of the sidewalk so I can crane my neck to get a better look.

Something about the logo on the awning looks familiar, and it takes a couple of seconds before it clicks.

“Oh! I’ve heard of this place before.” I point to the store. “They make these crème brûlée donuts that are all over social media.”

I remember Hannah sending me videos of them recently. The store had just gone viral a month or so back, and everyone said they were worth the hype. She’d tried to get in line to grab a few for us but said that the store had sold out after she’d been in line for almost an hour. She was in a mood for the rest of the day.

“Do you want to try them?”

“I don’t know. The line’s pretty nuts.” I don’t want to drag him along and make him wait for what could be forever. I highly doubt he would want those other two dates if I bore him with that.

He checks his watch. “What if we don’t have to wait?”

“I’d say there are about thirty people who would disagree with that.”

“Come on, trust me.”

He pulls me along, and my curiosity heightens as he skirts around all the queuing customers and slips us into the store. I try to ignore everyone’s stares and absorb some of Cullen’s nonchalant confidence. Some people grumble as he squeezes us inside, but it doesn’t seem to bother him at all.

The store has a rich vanilla scent to it that mingles with various undertones of all the different flavored donuts that sit ina giant display case. Two workers buzz behind the case, pulling out various donuts and placing them in boxes or paper bags. My mouth waters as I take it in.

Cullen bypasses it all and heads straight to the end of the counter, where a petite, older woman with graying hair is checking people out at the register.

“Doris, how are we?”

Her wrinkly gaze shifts briefly to stare at Cullen, and recognition melts her stern features.

“Cullen, what’re you doing here?”

“Stealing some donuts.”

She lets out a disapproving cluck. “You know she hates it when you do that.”

“She loves me. Can you call her over?”

I’m not sure whosheis, but I really hope it’s his mother or aunt and not some female friend who turns out to be a long-lost crush. Although, I’m not sure I could handle meeting Cullen’s mother right now. That’s not exactly second-date material.

Doris finishes handing a box of donuts to the family she was checking out before opening a set of swinging double doors and shouting for someone named Chloe. She shuffles back to the register and gives Cullen a nod.

“Stand to the side while you wait, boy. I’ve got paying customers to serve.”

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