Page 40 of V is for Valentine
“Yes. That’s exactly how I remember it.”
She pushed her hands into her pockets and gave a sigh. “I’m tired, Danny.”
“Yeah,” he said in a softer voice. “It’s been a night. I’ll take you home.”
“Thank you for the rescue. And thank you for showing me this. I am impressed.”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell your family just yet.”
“I can keep a secret. It was Trevor, not me, who blabbed about your liking an older woman.”
“She was thirteen.”
“You were eleven.”
“It’s rotten when someone knows your entire life history.”
“Except for the lost years, birth to four.” She stepped through the door into the crisp night, but instead of heading to the car while he locked up, she walked toward the river.
He came to stand beside her on the edge of the concrete slab, the remnants of an old loading dock, where he felt her pull in a breath.
“Do you know what I would do if I’d just met you?” she asked without looking at him. She leaned closer, so that their arms touched.
“The same thing I would do?”
“It can’t happen, Danny.” There wasn’t much conviction in her voice.
“Because it would mess with your perfect life?”
“Yes. That.” She gave a rueful laugh and turned toward him, studying his face in the dim light as if seeking the answer to a question that had been eating at her. “My life isn’t perfect, but it’s good, and I don’t want to change.”
“Are you going to kiss me anyway?” He slid his hands along her waist, felt her taut muscles give beneath her winter jacket.
“Thinking about it.” She tilted her chin upward.
“Despite the fact that it can’t happen?”
She made a little shoulder movement as an indecisive sound escaped her lips.
“What if it changes things?” He wanted it to change things.
“I won’t let it.” Her breath was warm on his lips and his hold tightened.
“You think you have that power?”
“I do. I is for Iron Will.”
“You skipped letters again.” He touched his mouth to hers, felt her lips part.
Felicity slid her hands around his neck, under his coat, her fingers soft against the skin on the back of his neck as he deepened the kiss. And while she might have an iron will, it didn’t stop her from melting into him.
When he finally lifted his head, she dropped her chin and leaned back, as if needing to collect her thoughts before meeting his gaze. He loosened his hold, and her arms slid from around his neck.
“That was good,” she said.
“I agree.”
She raised her chin and for the first time since the furnace room, he read a hint of indecision in her eyes. “This may have an effect on our rivalry.”
