Page 63 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

She gathered the hair up off the nape of her neck, skin feverishly hot. “Shut up.”

“Not even going to deny it?” he asked, brows rising, unmistakable surprise splashed across his face.

“What would be the point?” She was a terrible liar; he’d see right through any lie she told, and it would just become one more item added to the list of things she knew he knew that they weren’t talking about.

All of this pretending was exhausting.

His mouth opened, but nothing came out except for a stuttered exhale. He scrubbed a hand over the lower half of his face, fingers rasping against his stubble, his narrowed eyes sweeping her face, a fiery flush following in their wake. “What exactly are you saying?”

“I’m saying—” Screw it. “I’m saying I like flowers, okay?”

He blinked rapidly. “You—you like flowers. Okay.”

“Don’t be obtuse, McCrory.” She crossed her arms. “I’m telling you I like flowers. I like flowers, and I’ll go help you pick out your stupid bookshelf from Swedish hell if you promise to buy me meatballs and—and I don’t know what the fuck curling even is. And if I’m going to work up a sweat with you, it’s sure as hell not going to be doing yoga, hot or otherwise. That’s what I’m saying.”

His forehead smoothed, his eyes darkening, his lips parting, and she wanted to kiss him, wanted it more than she’d ever wanted to kiss anyone. She wanted to draw that plump bottom lip between hers and bite down. Hear what noise he’d make when she did. “Are you saying—”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “I’m saying I want to—”

“Holy shit.” Caitlin appeared, weaving her way through the crowd. She set a fresh pint in front of Colin and a new cocktail in front of Truly. “That line was insane.”

Colin gathered his wits before she could. “I don’t see a drink in your hand?”

“Well spotted.” She grinned. “This is Rochelle.” She jerked her chin toward the stunning dark-skinned Black woman standing behind her. “There’s a 24-hour donut shop across the street from her place. We’re gonna check it out. Think you can make it home on your own?”

“Sure,” Colin said. “Be safe.”

“Always am.” Caitlin blew a kiss at them, already backing away. “Have fun, you two! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That sure limits things. Not,” he said, stealing the thought right out of her head.

Truly sipped her drink and tried to ignore the ferocious fluttering inside her stomach, like the butterflies inside her had gone feral.

“I should probably be getting home,” she said. “Long day tomorrow and all that.”

Colin stood, leaving his beer untouched. “I’ll head out with you.”

Truly stepped out onto the sidewalk and into a wall of rare humidity. The weather was unseasonably warm for this time of year and the earlier rain shower had left the air heavy and her skin sticky damp. Good thing she lived right around the corner.

“Where’d you park?” Colin asked, stepping out of the bar after her with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his dark jeans, snug fabric drawn obscenely around his slim hips, thighs filling out the denim like the pants were made specifically for him.

Truly jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I actually live a couple blocks that way on Bell.”

After Caitlin had named the bar, Truly had decided that hunting for parking on Saturday sounded like an unnecessary hassle. She’d saved herself the headache and parked at her place, walking over instead.

He frowned. “Bell and what?”

“Bell and Elliott.”

At that, his frown deepened. “I think you and I have a different definition of a couple of blocks.”

“It’s only four.”

Colin looked up at the sky, too much ambient lighting from streetlights and stoplights and buildings for there to be any stars. But the moles on his face and neck could easily be traced into constellations. “Not that I don’t think you can take care of yourself, but can I walk with you?” He lifted his head, and she was too slow, her reflexes far from finely honed enough to look away before his eyes met hers, his gaze trapping her, making it impossible for her to look anywhere but at him. “I’d sleep better knowing you made it home safely.”

Maybe it was a line, but she didn’t care.

“Sure.” Her heart raced. “I’d like that.”

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