Page 6 of Christmas in Paradise

I take a step back, but Sebastian grabs my hand and pulls me closer. “How about again tomorrow?”

His hand slips around my waist, and our lips lock, not for the first time that day. One kiss in the hot spring is all it took for us to figure out we are very compatible when it comes to kissing.Very.

So good that Sebastian didn’t even mind when I told him my boundaries. Not that he tried anything more than kissing, even before I set limits. I mostly had to say them out loud to keep myself from pushing them.

Not only has it been a minute since I’ve been kissed, but I also don’t remember ever being kissed with the level of desire and gentleness Sebastian seems to have perfected. Our five hours together passed in the blink of an eye. His friends came and went while I not only got lost in his kisses, but also his teasing and flirting.

And I’m about to get lost in his lips again when I hear Evie calling Sebastian’s name.

“You’re late, Sparks!”

We break apart, and I wipe my hand across my lips like that might erase the evidence of the kiss Evie’s already seen.

“Sorry, Ms. Barton!” He answers without taking his eyes off me, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “We were just at the library studying.”

“Don’t sass me.” Evie stays on her front step, looking torn between not wanting to act like a mom and wanting to ground me.

This is a surprise. I didn’t expect to get mommed when I left my parents’ house and moved in with her for the summer.

“I think we’re in trouble,” I mumble to Sebastian.

“I’ll pick you up again tomorrow. Eight o’clock.” He turns toward my sister and waves. “Bye, Evie!”

I give him a peck, then walk quickly to the front porch where Evie waits in a circle of white light, arms crossed.

“You’ve got beard burn.” Her eyes bore into me, and I draw my hand across my chin and cheeks. They had quite a bit of contact with Sebastian’s stubble today.

Evie follows me inside, shutting the door behind us. “He cultivates his scruffy look for the summer. He thinks it attracts more women.”

“He’s not wrong.” I float up the stairs to her condo, carried by the endorphins from a really good make-out.

“Hope,” she pauses, and I turn. “I love Seb. He’s a great guy. But he’s a heart-breaker. He’ll be honest with you about not wanting anything serious, but you’ll fall for him anyway. I saw it happen a dozen times last summer.”

We walk inside her place, and I turn toward my room. “I need a shower.”

Evie follows me. “I’m serious, Hope. You’re not going to be the only girl he takes for a ride this summer.” She air-quotes “a ride,” and I can’t help but smile.

“Good. I hope so. I don’t want anything serious either. All I want is to be kissed like that a few more times.” I laugh, then grab Evie’s hand and paraphrase Rhett Butler. “Because I need to be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how.”

Evie squirms away from me, trying not to crack up, but she’s laughing before she escapes. “You’re hopeless, Hopeful.”

“Blech.” I stick out my tongue and groan. “Don’t call me that. You sound like my mom.”

Evie’s smile disappears. “Look, I’m not your mom, and I’m not going to act like one…” She stops when my eyebrows bolt up. “Anymore,” she continues. “But I want you to know what you’re getting into with Seb, so you’re not blindsided. I want this summer to be great for you.”

“Thanks, Evie.” I wrap her in a hug. We haven’t done enough of this in our lives—laughing, teasing, hugging. But, despite her slip today, Evie is always good about treating me like an adult.

I pull back and look her dead in the eye. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. We’re going to see each other again, but we both know I’m leaving in two months.”

“Are you going to tell him about Charly?” she asks carefully.

I shake my head, then amend my answer with a shrug. “If for some reason things start to get serious, then I will. But I can’t right now.” I swallow back the lump threatening to crawl up my throat and force a smile. “I’m twenty-two. I want to feel like it. I want tobea Taylor Swift song.”

I grab her hands again and break out into dancing, singing at the top of my lungs.

Her eyes threaten to roll, but she stops them and smiles instead. A smile that holds little faith in my ability to resist Sebastian.

And she’s right.

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