Page 46 of Unforgettable

Amanda raised her eyebrows at me in surprise. “So, you’re telling me Grady didn’t go all…Gradyon him?”

I chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. Grady, in his wise old age—his words, not mine—enjoyed spreading the knowledge he’d obtained in his nearly seventy years on earth. Especially to young barbacks and bar patrons that unsuspectingly found themselves in his path. He was the king of unsolicited advice, which usually turned out to be useful even if it didn’t seem that way at the moment.

“I’m sure he probably did, but your brother didn’t say much about it. It was also only his first day, so there are plenty of other opportunities for Grady toGradyhim.”

Amanda’s laughter tinkled through the cab of the truck, settling in my chest. “We’ve now turned his name into a verb? I’m not sure Grady would appreciate that.”

“No, I think he would love it. Means that his influence has exceeded the confines of the English language.”

“Well, when you put it like that… I want my name to be a verb, too. What do you think it would be?” For a moment, I contemplated what kind of verb Amanda would convey. Sifting through all of the emotions she made me feel and the things we did together, nothing seemed to fit. Everything was too mundane.

“Josh?” she asked, squeezing my hand. “What do you think?”

“Sorry, I was thinking. Um…”

“Did it hurt?” she said, straight-faced, and for a second, I didn’t catch her joke.

“Ha ha.” I feigned a dry laugh. “Now I’m not going to tell you.”

“No.” She laughed, tugging on my arm. “I’m kidding. Please tell me?”

If we hadn’t been pulling into the driveway of our date location, I would have probably conceded.

“We’re here,” I said, excited that she was too busy begging me to realize where we were, and I was rewarded with watching the surprise cross her face.

“Where is—” Her words cut off as the two large screens came into view behind the low-lying trees. Slowly, her head turned in my direction as her eyes grew wide and a smile split her face. “No fucking way.”

“Yes way, babe,” I said with an equally wide smile.

I paid for the movie tickets as Amanda sat in excited shock.

“Wait,” she said, suddenly gripping my forearm. I drove toward the back screen and parked as close to the center as I could a few rows back. We were several feet from the cars on either side of us, meaning we’d have a decent amount of privacy and no one would have to walk too close. “What’s playing?”

I waited until I put the truck in park to tell her because I wanted to watch her face as I did.

Her hands were clasped against her chest, and her eyebrows were raised in excitement. The heat permeating the cab of the truck had warmed her enough to give her a light blush on each of her cheeks. That was good, too, because we were about to be sitting outside in the cold for hours.

“The first movie isGhostand thenPretty Woman,” I said with a smile.

Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes danced with pure excitement. “Patrick SwayzeandJulia Roberts?!”

Her attention moved from me to the screen behind us and then back to me like she couldn’t believe I’d found a drive-in with two of her favorite movies of all time. She made a surprised noise and threw her hands up in the air. I had surprised the woman who always had something to say beyond words. The smug smile I knew I was wearing said it all—I was genuinely impressed with myself.

“Josh, this is umm… perfect,” Amanda said with a suddenly serious tone, scooting closer to the center console. Instinctually, I leaned in as well, my elbow propped on the leather between us as her eyes darted back and forth between my lips and my eyes.

The woman was always overwhelming and dominated my attention in every situation, no matter how many people were around, but in the smaller front seat of my truck, she was all-consuming. Her warm, clean smell wrapped around me as I watched her contemplate kissing me. We both knew what it felt like to press our lips together. Each time hers were plump yet yielding against my own, and just thinking about the brush of her tongue against mine and the electricity that would follow was enough to propel me forward.

My palm landed against her cheek at the same moment her small fingers curled around my open jacket. The second we touched, all hesitation was gone, and utter relief washed over me at having her mouth against mine once again. She must have also experienced it because I heard and felt her sigh against my lips. I took the opportunity to guide my tongue between her lips and deepen our connection.

My fingers twisted in the hair at the base of her neck as she pulled me closer by my jacket. What I wouldn’t have given to lift her from her side of the car and settle her on top of me in the driver’s seat. The position would give me free rein to touch her and cherish her.

And when my thoughts continued to wander further from the drive-in and to the way one of her pebbled pink nipples would feel and taste on my tongue, which was ravaging her mouth, I reluctantly pulled back.

When I pried my eyes open, utterly amazed at my self-control, it almost all went out the door. Amanda’s lips were parted and wet with the evidence of our kiss. Against my lips, I could feel her quick breaths, which did nothing to help my cause.

“So,” I began in a thick voice. “I did good?”

Her smile began in her eyes. “With the kiss or the date?”

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