Page 62 of The Best Friend Power Play

All this thinking about kissing gives me an idea. "Hey."

Hannah stops walking and fixes her eyes on me. "Hey." She studies me for a moment. "What is it?"

"I'd like to kiss you."

"Really? Here?"

So far, we've only ever kissed in the privacy of Hannah's living room.

And kitchen.

And hallway.

Oh, and a few times in the backyard when we sat out there for dinner.

"Unless you're ashamed of me and want to keep me as your dirty secret?"

"You are kind of an ogre."

"I'm the worst," I agree earnestly.

She giggles and lifts on her toes, her hands smoothing over the top of my chest and landing on my shoulders.

Her light-blue eyes swing to mine. "I'd like that."

I secure my hands around her waist and lower my head, bringing my lips to hers. And man, the second I do, it's like a volcano erupts inside of me.

Heat surges through my body, and I do everything I can to contain the simmering heat. I had no idea I had a primal caveman lurking inside me, but something about kissing Hannah unleashes a new side of me.

But I never let the caveman win. I make sure Gentleman Culver does, and I kiss Hannah the way every woman deserves to be kissed—with what I'm hoping is the right mix of tenderness and strength.

And just the right amount of tongue.

I think she likes it, judging by the sweet moans escaping out the side of her mouth.

Since we are in public, I keep things PG and end the kiss way sooner than I'd like to.

"Was that okay?" I check.

She smiles up at me. "Very okay."

We walk the entire path hand in hand, and when we get back to the start, I ask, "Feel like grabbing some lunch?"

"Sure." She smiles. "That sounds great."

Half an hour later, we're sitting by a massive window overlooking the ocean at a nearby restaurant.

"Oh, I forgot to show you." Hannah rests her knife and fork on her plate and pulls out her phone. "Here. Look at this."

I take the phone from her and smile at the image of Chester and his friends striking poses and making goofy faces in front of the Acropolis in Athens. "He looks like he's having a great time."

"He is. And Katie texted last night saying they saw a herd of bison."

"That's amazing." I look across the table and take in the incredible woman I'm blessed to call my bestie. "They're so great. You've done a terrific job with them." I lift my fork in the air. "And before you say it was a team effort, for the past seven years, it hasn't been. It's been you. All you. Take the compliment. Please."

She dips her head and smiles. "Okay. I'll take the compliment. Thank you. Actually…" She looks back up. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Yeah?"

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