Page 37 of Small Town Sizzle

Maya

“Do you want to see something special?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I pull away from him.

What am I doing?

I hold my breath, waiting for his reply. I surprised myself by kissing him, but there was something so raw and vulnerable in his demeanor that I couldn’t fight the urge. I just want to be closer to him, and for this night not to end.

Garrett looks at me, his brow lifting slightly. “Special?”

I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. “Trust me. It’s worth it.”

There’s a pause, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes before he nods. “Lead the way.”

I gesture for him to follow me, and we walk out the back door of the center. We step off the paved path onto a narrow dirt trail that winds through the youth center’s property. There’s a soft rustle of leaves and the distant croak of frogs. The cool night airwraps around us, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming wildflowers.

Garrett admitted that he didn’t know this part of his mom’s legacy. I want to be the person to show him this, to share it with him. It feels right.

“This way,” I say, glancing over my shoulder to make sure he’s still with me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he chuckles lowly.

The words are innocent enough, but it still makes my heart flutter at the thought of him meaning he’s not leaving me.

The path opens up to the wetlands, a hidden treasure we took special care in designing and building. The sight takes my breath away every time—the wooden bridge that arches over the water, the fairy lights strung along its edges, their soft glow reflecting off the still surface. A gazebo stands nearby, its silhouette framed by the full moon hanging low in the sky.

He stops beside me, his gaze sweeping over the scene. “Wow,” he says quietly.

“Yeah,” I murmur, my voice almost lost in the stillness. “It’s my favorite place.”

We walk to the bridge in silence, our footsteps muffled by the wooden planks. The world feels smaller here, like it’s just the two of us and the quiet hum of nature. I stop in the middle of the bridge, resting my hands on the railing and looking out over the water. The moon casts a silver path across the surface, and the fairy lights glow like tiny stars.

Garrett stands beside me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of him. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t need to. The serenity of this place speaks louder than words.

“This was your mom’s idea,” I say softly, breaking the silence. “She wanted a space where people could just… be. Somewhere peaceful.”

“She nailed it,” he replies, his voice low. He leans on the railing beside me, his eyes on the water. “Now I know why Mason has been coming out here every morning.”

We just stand there for a while, letting the quiet wrap around us. I sneak a glance at him, and my breath catches. There’s something about the way the moonlight plays across his face, softening the hard edges and making him look almost vulnerable.

Heat pools between my legs, and I silently curse my body for betraying me with this man. I know with all my being that I shouldn’t be having these feelings for him, that this is scary, uncharted territory after everything I’ve been through, but I can’t stop thinking about his lips on mine. For now, that’s all I choose to focus on.

He catches me looking, and I quickly turn my gaze back to the water, my cheeks warming. But then he shifts, turning toward me fully, and I feel his presence like a magnetic pull.

“Maya,” he says, his voice rough and low.

I turn to face him, my heart thudding in my chest. His eyes lock on mine, and I can’t breathe. There’s something intense in his gaze, something that makes my pulse race and my knees feel unsteady.

He steps closer, closing the distance between us. His hand lifts, fingers brushing against my cheek, then trailing down to cup my jaw. My breath hitches, and I swear the world stops spinning.

“Garrett—” I start, but his name barely escapes my lips before he moves.

He tugs me into him, his hand slipping to the small of my back, and his mouth crashes against mine. The kiss is hot, demanding, stealing the air from my lungs. His other hand tangles in my hair, tilting my head back as he deepens the kiss.

I gasp against his lips, my hands finding their way to his chest, his shoulders. He feels solid and warm, and I press closer, losing myself in the intensity of him. The world fades away—the moonlight, the fairy lights, the sound of the frogs, and the rustling leaves.

When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard. His forehead rests against mine, and his eyes are dark, full of something I don’t dare name.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever not wanted to stop kissing someone.”

---