Page 4 of Dirty Whispers

"You're not sick of the dorms yet? I've heard they're usually awful."

Harper smiles. "I've been living in a tiny apartment that is barely the size of a shoebox. But I think I have an amazing place almost lined up for the fall."

"Have you seen much of town here? Do you have any favorite spots yet?" I ask.

"Well, Corina's Coffee is amazing. And the food at Fran's Diner is incredible."

"Do you like pizza?"

Her beautiful, full lips pull into a smile. "Who doesn't?"

"Well, you obviously don't know this yet, since you're new in town. But there's a law that on Monday nights, women aren't allowed into the pizza shop unless they're escorted by a local man."

Her lips press firmly together in a mild scowl. "Really. That sounds like an odd rule."

"Well, it's an odd town." I turn off the road onto the long driveway toward the house. "So, may I take you to dinner tomorrow night?"

It's nearly dark now, but I catch the flash in her eyes by the dim porch light. "Because it's the law, and you need me to try your wild mountain pizza?"

"Partly that, yes. Maybe I'm also the one-man welcoming committee around here." I park, then turn to face her as we slip our seatbelts off, my fingers slowly gliding through hers. She doesn't pull away from me, instead leaning closer, and squeezing my hand back.

"And maybe I've never seen a girl as pretty as you before, and I need to find some way to make you like me fast before some manure-covered farmer or splinter-filled lumberjack wins your heart."

Her mouth falls open as her eyes grow wide. Leaning in, my lips brush the shell of her ear as I whisper, "I'm just teasing. All the guys around here are pretty decent. Which means I'm going to have to make you fall for me before you meet any of them."

It's killing me not to kiss her, but I resist. Instead, I race around to her side and help her out, then walk her to the door. "I'll need your number, please." She watches as I enter it into my phone as Harper Lovely&Sweet. "Thanks. I'll text you tomorrow once we know what's up with your car."

"Oh. Yeah. About that." She bites her lip and I can't stand that she looks uncomfortable for even one second.

"What is it?"

"If it's going to be something expensive, can you please tell me first? I don't have a lot of money. So, um, I'd have to see if we can scrape something together."

I'm already shaking my head. "Not to worry. I'm sure it's something small." Whatever it is, I'll take care of it.

Her smile is tentative, and the faraway look in her eyes makes me melt. Standing in front of an incredible girl who simply appeared out of nowhere, I wonder if there's any truth to all that manifestation stuff. Did I wish so hard for her to appear that she actually did? I wouldn't have thought that a dude who was infatuated with cars had that kind of power.

My step forward is barely a shuffle. "Should I let you go inside, or can you stay another minute so I can tell you something really important?"

Her delicate porcelain cheeks almost dimple as she smiles. "Well, I'm still learning about this town, so I guess you're going to have to tell me everything."

My hand presses to her lower back, bringing us slowly together. "Out here in the forest, sometimes when we need to do uncivilized things we blame it on all of this wilderness and nature."

Harper leans closer, her hand resting on my arm. "Uncivilized in what way?"

"Oh, you know. Things like kissing the most beautiful woman I've ever seen when I don't even know her last name."

"Johnson."

"Is that your way of giving me permission?"

Her lips tip up, then her eyes drift to the east. Following her gaze, we both inhale sharply in awe at the radiant, almost full moon clearing the trees. When I turn back to her, Harper has stepped forward, her lips barely an inch from mine.

"Blame it on the moonlight?" I whisper hopefully.

"Good idea."

Our lips meet softly, in a tentative, sweet kiss. Then we relax, our bodies pressing together, mouths opening as the moment overtakes us. My entire body feels energized as I hold this delicate woman in my arms.

---