Page 64 of Digging Up Love
Alisha nodded. “Yep. But I love to experiment ...” Her eyes widened.
Okay, so this was catching. It didn’tmeananything, right?
“Ienjoyexperimenting,” she emphasized, “so the menu will constantly change, although I’ll have signature cookies available year round. But I want to leave room for new flavors and new techniques.”
“For someone who lives with their grandparents, you sure are big on new.” If he was honest, that scared him.
“That’s an odd thing to say.” Alisha went back to sucking the ice, eyes narrowed.
Quentin puffed out his cheeks and slouched down, hand on his chin. “Sorry, just trying to get a full picture.”
“I’ve lived in the same one-stoplight town for over half my life.” She screwed her mouth to the side. “All these years, I’ve been dying for the freedom to go my own way, follow my passions, pursue my own dreams. But I love my family, and I’d do anything for them. I’m trying to reconcile those two things.”
She raised her chin, daring him to speak. He kept his mouth shut, and she went on, more hesitant. “But I know something’s gotta change. I just have to share my plans in the right way.” She smiled. “Also, I need a name.”
He leaned forward again. “Wait, you haven’t come up with a name for your bakery?”
“I’ve tried! It’s not easy, though. Have you ever named a dinosaur?”
“No, but I have a million ideas for when I do. And also, it’s dependent on the fossils.” He took a sip of tart lemonade. “For instance, does the skeleton resemble a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? Then obviously Michaelangeloasaurus.”
Alisha laughed. “Okay, if you’re so good at this, gimme a name for my bakery.”
“Cookies Galore,” he said.
She covered her ears. “Eww.”
“Cookies ’n’ More.”
“There is no ‘more.’ And is this a bakery or a twenty-four-hour convenience store?”
Quentin grinned. He loved winding her up. “How about ‘Cookies, Cookies, Cookies’?”
“Wow, Quentin, you nailed it! That’s perfect.” She batted her eyelashes, then stuck out her tongue.
“Thanks. It’s kind of my superpower, naming things.” He brushed off one shoulder. “Does this mean I’m a business partner?”
“Um, no, but you can be my dance partner.” She jumped up and held out a hand. He let her pull him up and over toward the makeshift dance floor in the center of the tables, smiling like a slap-happy teen.
Alisha wasn’t one of his calculated relationships. He responded to her on another level. Physically, emotionally. She slid her hands up onto his shoulders, and his heart chased the sensation, getting wedged in his throat. He threaded his arms around her waist and willed his hammering pulse to slow so it wouldn’t drown out the band. When he dared, he stole a glance down at her, and she met his eyes.
“Hey, you,” he said. Goose bumps tingled their way up his arms, despite the radiant heat.
“Hey.” She smiled slow, red lips curving.
Everything else around them faded. There was only Alisha, her sweet orange blossom scent, the sway of her body under his hands ...
“I’ve been dying to kiss you again.”
“That makes two of us,” she said.
He couldn’t resist. “You want to kiss you too?” But a smile wasn’t what he craved. He wanted,needed, her lips on his. Now. To tame her grin, he tightened his hands around her waist. Pressed his fingers around and down to the small of her back.
Her breath quickened, sharp and fast. He bent his head, capturing her mouth in a hungry kiss. She tightened her grip on his shoulder. Aching, he pulled her closer, slanting their mouths. Her lips were pliant and warm, tongue cool from the ice. He couldn’t contain a soft moan and deepened the kiss. Tasting her, savoring her, drinking her in.
Dizzy and breathless, he pulled away, chest heaving like he’d just finished a sprint. He tipped his forehead to hers.
Alisha trailed her soft fingertips down his arm. “You good?”
