Page 70 of A Shore Fling
There’s a pause, long enough for me to consider what she’s asking, but I shake my head.
“Not tonight,” I say.
Surprise flickers across her face, or maybe it’s doubt. “Okay.”
“I want to do this right.”
She visibly relaxes. “Okay.”
I take a small step forward, my hand still in hers, and lean down. This time, I don’t overthink it. Lowering my lips to hers, I kiss her slowly, exploring every inch of her mouth, as if we have all the time in the world. Her hand rises to rest lightly against my chest, and she kisses me back with quiet certainty, making everything else disappear. When we part, we don’t move right away. My forehead rests against hers, both of us breathing a little unevenly.
“Goodnight, Nina.”
“Goodnight, Travis.”
CHAPTER 19
NINA
Pushing open the door, I enter Laugh A Latte. Ginger is busy preparing a drink for a customer, so it takes a minute for her to notice me. When she does, she beams.
“Hey!”
“Hey yourself,” I say.
She finishes up with the customer and points at me. “The usual?”
I nod. “You know it.” I stop in here almost every morning during my walk, and I always get the same thing.
“To go?” she asks.
“I think I’ll eat here.”
“Great. We can catch up.”
There’s a teenage girl behind the counter with Ginger who I’ve never seen before. She must be a new employee. Ginger talks her through the measurements, carefully watching as she makes my iced coffee.
My phone vibrates with a text. Tugging it from my pocket, I glance at the screen. It’s a number I don’t recognize.
Last night I meant to ask you on a date for Friday night, but then all the blood left my brain when we kissed.
I quietly giggle as I type.
Me: Is this Travis or the other man I kissed last night?
Travis: Hey! Who is he so I can beat his ass for kissing my girl?
My heart beats faster.
Me: Your girl?
Travis: That’s how I think of you. I hope that’s okay, and if not, it’s too late. You’re mine for the rest of the summer.
His message is so sweet it fills my chest with warmth. Instead of sending back a joking reply, I decide to lead with my heart.
Me: Promise?
Travis: One hundred percent. Now, how about that date?
