Page 32 of Two Tickets to Paradise

"I know what you're saying about the couch," his words were soft, but she could hear him clearly, "but don't you think your brother is more likely to tear me to pieces if he thinks we're sleeping together?"

She couldn't help the giggle that burst from her lips. "Make no mistake about it," she lifted a hand to her cheek and felt it burning against her palm, "my brother already thinks we're sleeping together."

A groan reached her from inside Vince's chest. "And I'm still alive?" He chuckled. "That's awesome."

Sighing, she bobbed her head. "Yeah. Cam said he'd put some condoms in the night table drawers in my room."

"C-condoms?"

She found herself laughing out loud. "Yes, condoms. He gave me this look that reminded me of my sophomore year Health Teacher Missus Andrews when she asked Taylor Humphress if he knew how to put on a condom for safe sex."

Vince chuckled a little and she couldn't help but love the sound, and even better, the feeling of it against her. "What kind of look was that? Judgement? Inappropriate curiosity?"

"Ewww... No!" She gave him a soft pinch along his side. "It was a look that said 'You're going to need this. Don't screw it up."

"Ahh."

She nodded. "Yeah, he thinks we're already... intimate with each other."

Cora had tensed up unsure of what Vince's reaction might be.

"Again, he thinks that and didn't gut me with a dull kitchen knife."

She heard the self-effacing tone of his voice.

"I think I might survive this trip after all."

"Now you have me worried!" Cora pulled way to get a better look at him. To see his face. She put her hands over her belly and pressed in to keep her stomach from turning over and over. "I'm okay if you want to sleep in the room, Vince."

He opened his mouth to answer her and worried, she jumped in hoping to stave off the denial.

"Really, it'll make it easier for me. If you were on the couch, I don't think that I could sleep soundly. I'd have to go in and check on you during the night to make sure my brother didn't smother you in your sleep and-"

"Cora, stop." He closed the distance between them and covered her lips in a kiss.

She felt like she was about to melt from just that touch alone, but she also felt like she was likely to float if he wasn't holding onto her hands, keeping her there beside him.

When he pulled back, it took her a moment or two before she could open her eyes and when she did, she saw that Vince was also slowly opening his eyes.

It made her feel powerful and fragile at the same time.

"Was that..." His lips pressed into a thin line as he swallowed. "Was that okay?"

It did something to her to hear the uncertainty in his voice and the warm and searching look in his eyes. "Yeah." She nodded, but she knew it wasn't as smooth a movement as she wanted. It’s not like she’d had a lot of experience with kissing, but with Vince she was ready for more. "That was more than okay." She licked at her lips before she could stop herself and saw his gaze follow the movement. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Except she wasn't worried about falling.

For the first time in her life, her very careful life, she wanted to take the bull by the horns and step off that cliff without thebenefit of a net or bungee cords. She wanted to fall even though she wasn't sure if Vince was going to fall with her.

It wasn't about that.

This was all about her.

She'd spent most of her time after she moved to Chicago waiting for something to happen. Waiting for someone to pique her interest.

She'd even made an effort to get out in the world and meet people, but it came down to finishing a long day at work before boarding a plane to Hawaii.

She never, ever would have thought she'd meet someone at work due to a storm front and snow!

"Can I..."

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