Page 34 of Tinder Embrace
She’d asked about my arm, not my heart. I’d miss her, but I had to make good on my promise to talk to Jo before I could claim her for real.
"This time I mean it, Bee."
Her eyes warmed at the nickname, and she took a step closer. I widened my stance, dropping my arms. She swayed toward me, and the temptation was too much.
I trailed my fingers over her hips, urging her nearer. Her bright green jeans were soft under my hands. The matching patterned top would be an eyesore on anyone else, but on Sophie, it worked. I leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss, unable to resist what was on offer.
I wanted nothing more than to keep taking. It wasn’t just her wit I was going to miss – it was her touch. The quick brush ended in a yelp as Sophie pinched my ass.
“What was that for?” I wondered if she’d been able to divine my thoughts and wanted to punish me for them.
"Happy St. Patrick's Day!" She grinned up at me.
"What are you, twelve?" I rubbed my left cheek.
The woman had fingers of steel, but the pinch made it easier for me to remember that I had to let her go. For now.
"You kissed me, so I figured we were celebrating. And you're not wearing green," she pointed out.
"Next, you're going to tell me you believe in leprechauns," I muttered.
She patted my cheek gently. "Come on, Davis. Life is better when you enjoy the little things."
She looked adorably mussed, standing barefoot in my kitchen, clad in head-to-toe green. She'd even painted her toenails a garish shade. It was fucking cute, the way she went all-in. Desire sent a surge of adrenaline through me.
"What if I said I had abigthing for you to enjoy?" I asked.
Sophie narrowed her eyes. I could almost see the wheels turning, as she debated glancing below my waist—where I was most definitely hard for her.
Two could play the teasing game.
She swallowed, appearing less certain. I kept my smile enigmatic, letting the silence draw out between us.
"How about I take you out for abigdinner after I talk to Jo?"
Sophie's laughter tinkled over me like wind chimes, and I grinned in return.
"I like this playful side of you," she said. "And I'd love a real big dinner date."
Satisfied, I dropped a quick kiss on her lips, sliding away before I could be tempted to take more. The hum of anticipation kept me going long after Sophie had left for work.
***
Jo pulled into our driveway as I got dinner started.
"Hey," she said, dragging her suitcase behind her through the back door.
I grunted my hello, keeping my focus on the beef I was browning for pasta sauce as my Wednesday Wish meal.
A few minutes later, Jo returned to the kitchen, dropping into a chair, lines of exhaustion on her face.
Jo wasn't exactly a girly-girl. She usually wore work pants and a t-shirt or Pinkney Brewing-branded stuff. For the flight home, she'd dressed up in jeans and a pink sweater. The color made me think of Sophie, and what I needed to ask Jo. Missing Sophie made it easier to initiate the conversation with my sister.
"How was your trip?" I asked, stalling for time. Jumping right in to ask if she had a problem with me dating Sophie seemed like a bad move. She’d know something was up simply because I spoke first.
Jo and I were used to each other, comfortable together in a way that only siblings could be. We'd agreed to co-run Pinkney and the farm once our dad announced his intentions to retire, and, for the most part, we got along well. We were more alike than we were different, so we made business decisions without much friction.
Our personal lives were another matter. Jo could be considered the outgoing one. Or the secret squirrel one, depending on your point of view. Regardless, she didn't bring men home, and I hadn’t really dated in ages. Injecting Sophie into our home life was something I needed to discuss with her.
