Page 35 of Holiday Hopefuls
“What?”
“You wouldn’t be opposed,” he mimics. Raising deep honey brows, he smirks.
Planting my fists on my hips, I send a playful glare his way. “I just don’t think it’d be the worst sacrifice I’d have to make in the name of getting my family to respect me. Really, I’d say it’s a notch or two above petting a leper or hugging a cactus or something.”
“Or something,” he grumbles. Nodding, Oliver stands and tosses his coat over his waiting arm. He hesitates for just a moment before looking back up at me.
Frowning, I narrow suspicious eyes. “What are you thinking over there, Rhodes?”
Oliver sighs before striding across the room, not stopping until he’s standing immediately in front of me.
Even being on the taller end of the spectrum, I have to crane my neck to meet his gaze. The mouthwatering scent of a woodsy body wash and cookies sends any kind of coherent thought downthe drain, almost making me miss the warmth of his fingertips brushing along my cheek. Heat sings under his touch, so light it may as well be a butterfly tap dancing where our skin meets. “Callie,” he whispers, “is this okay?”
I nod rapidly, fully aware that my voice has left the building. Fire races across both of my cheeks, and amused sky blue eyes trace its path as it’s forged.
Oliver gives me a soft smile. “I need to hear you say it.”
Clearing my throat, I try again. “Yes, it’s okay.” I’ve never heard my voice sound so breathy. It’s honestly embarrassing.
“Good,” he nods, “especially since we’ll need to be comfortable casually touching one another, should the situation warrant it.”
“If this is your idea of casual, what do you consider intimate?” I blurt, immediately regretting my words as a wolfish grin takes over his face. “Never mind. Forget I asked.” Is this what a stroke feels like?
“I’m going to kiss you now,” Oliver breathes, watching for any sign I’m out.
“For practice?”
He nods. “For practice.” The large hand ghosting over my cheekbone slides behind my ear, making its way down to the back of my neck, where he holds me in place.
Steadying me.
Dipping his chin, Oliver reverently closes the last remaining distance between us. Thoughtful and deliberate. If everyone’s first kiss was like this, heartbreak wouldn’t exist. Happily ever afters would grow like flowers in the spring.
No one would ever kiss anyone else.
A soft press of pillowy lips molding perfectly against mine. That’s all—just one incomparable moment.
And then it’s over.
Oliver pulls away, the warmth of his hand going with him.
Holding his gaze, I internally chide my racing heart. “See you soon, Callie.” Then he turns and walks out of my classroom, taking every bit of air in the room with him.
“There can never be toomuch blue,” Ian says, handing me another piece of supreme pizza across the coffee table. Tossing a pile of napkins by the pizza box, he rounds the corner and plops down onto the couch next me.
Aaron snorts from the floor. The first Wednesday pizza night at Ian’s new place may not have been the best idea, since most of his furniture still isn’t put together. “Dude, the walls. Your couch. The barstools. Your bedding. Any girl you bring here is going to think you’re weird.”
“Because your place is so curated,” I grin down at him. “Your apartment—the one with enough colors everywhere to be a room in Willy Wonka’s factory. Ever heard of a color palette?”
Laughing, Ian leans back into the couch. “Blue is calming, man. Aren’t you some kind of songwriter? You should know that.” I look over just in time to watch as a pepperoni falls onto his white T-shirt.
“So, Ian, sell any houses today?” I ask, picking up the offending slice of meat and dropping it on a nearby plate.
Ian rolls his eyes. “I sell mortgages, not houses. Mortgage lenders assess?—”
Snickering, I poke him in the ribs right as he leans forward for a drink of soda. “I know, I know. Just like to annoy you, is all.”
“Hey,” Aaron says around the chewed up pizza rolling in his mouth.
