Page 63 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
“You know she loves scary books, right?” Sable asked. “We used to tease her about becoming the sweet grandma who secretly wreaked terror on people’s lives in other towns.”
“You guys were mean to my girl.” Brett pulled her up to her feet and said, “Axsel, do you know the song ‘Last First Kiss’?”
“Heck, yeah.” Axsel began playing the song.
Brett drew Sophie into his arms, right there in front of everyone, and began singing the song word for word right along with Axsel.
“Dance with me!” Lindsay grabbed JJ’s hand, pulling him to his feet.
Sable picked up her guitar, playing along with Axsel. Trixie jumped up and began dancing around them.
As Brett sang about wanting to be Sophie’s last first kiss, her emotions soared, and she was thrown right back to when they’d danced on the sidewalk in the city, and before that, when they’d danced in the bar.
When he pressed his cheek to hers and changed the lyrics to—Baby let me be your last first everything—she knew in her heart they were meant to be together all along.
AFTER SOPHIE’S FRIENDS packed up and called it a night, Brett and Sophie went for a walk. Moonlight cut through the trees and tangled branches, glistening off the slow-running creek water. The smell of damp earth and lush greenery accompanied by sounds of crickets and other night creatures scurrying through the brush brought a peacefulness that the city didn’t offer. Between the close-knit community he’d met tonight and the serenity of Sophie’s parents’ property, Brett finally understood the draw of rural life. He’d always considered himself a city dweller, but with Sophie he could imagine sitting on a front porch overlooking acres of farmland, with a hint of family and livestock hanging in the air.
“You know about my first kiss and my homecoming nightmare,” Sophie said as they walked along the creek. “But all I know is that you haven’t had a long-term girlfriend until now. Tell me about your first kiss. Where was it?”
“It’s been a long time since I thought about it, but I was in seventh grade, and it was after art class. The prettiest girl in the whole school was Shelby Grand. She had long dark hair and big blue eyes, like you, only not nearly as beautiful.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Every guy in school wanted to go steady with her, but I didn’t. I just wanted to prove that I was better than all the other guys.”
“That’s awful.”
“Probably, but it’s the truth. I was so angry back then, Soph, I could barely keep my head on straight. After art class I saw her at her locker surrounded by all her friends. She was one of those girls who was friends with everyone, not fake or too good for the unpopular kids. I liked that about her. Anyway, my buddy Cooper Wild liked her.”
“Heath’s brother?” Heath was married to Amanda’s sister, Ally. Sophie knew all four of the Wilds and their families.
“Yeah. I saw him coming up the hall, and we were friends, but you know, as guys we were always competitive. Plus, back then I was a bit of a prick. Always ready for a fight, even with friends. I have no idea how anyone put up with me, but I’m thankful they did. I strode right through the circle of girls and kissed Shelby right on the lips.”
“That’s so you. Kind of like my midgame kiss, except my guy had already tried to kiss me once. What did Shelby do?”
“She smacked me, then Cooper punched me, and we ended up in the principal’s office. My mother made me apologize to Shelby, but I won the fight and I got the kiss.”
Sophie laughed. “Of course you did.”
He stopped beside a weeping willow that bowed out over the water and drew Sophie into his arms again. It struck him that he was always doing that, trying to get closer to her. “Speaking of kisses…”
She tipped her chin up, and when his lips touched hers she made one of her sensual sounds, and as always, it sailed through his body like warm liquor, soothing and stirring at the same time.
“Baby,” he whispered against her lips. “Your kisses destroy me. I never really enjoyed kissing until you, and with you, I never want to stop. When we first got together you said you didn’t want to rush our kisses, and that was so different from anything I’d ever known. You opened my eyes to how incredible kissing can be.”
