Page 472 of One More Kiss

Lowering my eyes, I shake my head. “I haven’t rented the cottage out since you left.”

“Oh.” Her voice sounds surprised, although she really shouldn’t be. I haven’t wanted anyone else in there. To me, it’ll always be hers.

Clearing my throat, I work up the courage to tell her why I’m really here. “I came for you, Vada.” I look into her big green eyes. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to finally see you.”

She bites on her lower lip before popping it back out. “How’d you know I’d be in town?”

“Aunt Millie saw it in the paper and told me,” I confirm. “She’s your biggest fan now.” I smile. “Once I found out, I thought about this moment over and over and decided that even if you were pissed to see me, I had to chance it.”

She pauses a moment before smiling with a nod. “Well, I’m glad you did,” she replies, her words taking me by surprise. “I’ve wondered what it’d be like to see you again.”

“Yeah, it’s…” I pause, unable to stop looking at her lips and thinking about the way she tastes. Screw formalities. “Fuck, Vada. I’m sorry.” I step toward her.

“You don’t have to—” she begins, but I’m quick to cut her off.

“That’s not what I’m apologizing for.” I’m quick to close the gap between us, wrap my hand around her neck, and pull her lips to mine. I kiss the fuck out of her and am relieved when she kisses me back.

A risk—to assume she’d want to kiss me—but one so worth it.

Her tongue dances with mine as her hands wrap around my waist and pull at the fabric of my shirt, desperate to deepen the kiss. My palms cup her cheeks and hold her closely. The world spins around us as if we’re the only two people here, and in this moment, it’s only Vada and me.

“I’ve missed you so fucking much,” I breathe against her lips, leaning back just enough to whisper the words. “Did you miss me?” I bravely ask, needing to hear her say it.

She swallows then nods. “Yes, but—”

“But it’s not enough,” I finish for her, predicting her thoughts.

“We live completely different lives,” she confirms.

“That’s not a good enough reason to be apart, Vada.”

“You stopped sending the flowers,” she whispers. “I thought you were done waiting for me and the thought nearly sent me back to desperate levels.” I furrow my brows in question. “Wine,” she clarifies.

Brushing my finger along her jawline, I tilt her chin to look back up at me. “I stopped sending them because I knew you’d be on tour. I sent them because I wanted to give you the space and time, knowing you needed it, but without smothering you. I wanted you to know that I was still thinking about you and that I’d wait for you as long as you needed me to—as long as I knew there was still a chance for us.”

“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” she says, chewing on her lip again. I can see how nervous she is to be around me. “Harmony’s words really stung and affected me, and it made me really scared at how fast I was falling for you. Then I started second-guessing everything.”

“I’m so sorry about her. Everything she told you was based on lies, and I’m sorry she put them in your head, but I can’t undo that part of my life. As much as I wish I could.” I groan, getting fired up just thinking about her and the shit she pulled.

“I know, and I wanted to believe you once I finally listened to your messages, but it felt like it was too late. I’d already left heartbroken, and I knew I wouldn’t survive another broken heart if I called you back or even returned. It felt inevitable that things would eventually end, so I knew it was for the best to stay away.”

“How could you make that decision without actually talking to me first?” I ask, more anger in my tone than I’d meant. “You weren’t the only one hurting and confused, Vada.”

She swallows, her body tensing. “I know, but I felt like I couldn’t trust you even if what she told me was a lie. I couldn’t trust those feelings anymore, and I couldn’t go through the pain all over again.”

“I never lied to you, Vada. You had no reason not to trust me,” I tell her.

“I don’t trust easily,” she reminds me. “I didn’t know if the feelings I had for you were real either because they formed so fast. I’d hoped once I was back home and writing, I would get over you.”

“And did you?” I ask, brushing strands of her hair behind her ear, feeling the goose bumps along her skin.

Her body stills as she thinks about her answer. “No,” she says just above a whisper. “Not even close.” I bring her mouth back to mine, feverishly kissing her.

“Thank fuck,” I murmur against her lips. “I’ve been dying to kiss you for twelve long months. I was going to die if I had to hold back.”

She laughs against my mouth and the sound sends tingles down my body. Her laugh is music to my soul, and it’s the first true smile I’ve had in months.

“How inappropriate would it be to ask you to have dinner with me tonight?”

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