Page 29 of Fall at Once

“Hey,” I huffed, all keyed up and full of adrenaline as I skidded to a stop in front of her.

Was it because of the fundraiser emergency or because I had an excuse to spend time with her?

It was her.I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I liked her way more than I should, and I’d already flirted with her way past the boundaries of friendship. I had to knock it off.

“Hi! You’re fast.”

“Yeah, I ran all the way here.” I took a deep breath and let it out with a low laugh. “I’m not sure why.”

“Gigi got you all pumped up. She’s good at that. I heard her side of the conversation,” she added as an aside.

I could tell she was excited, too, from the sparkle in her and the flush spreading across her cheeks. I couldn’t help butnotice that while she was wearing makeup now, I could still see her freckles, and it did things to my heart that I was not ready to admit to. Her dress was amazing, and it was all I could do not to do a full scan of her gorgeous body. Was she in heels? I didn’t dare let my eyes wander to her feet to check.

“She is good, isn’t she?” I turned my smile up a notch, relieved she didn’t think I was a weirdo for running over here like I did.

“Look at my situation; I’m on a leave of absence, living in the cutest apartment ever and working in a carb lovers’ paradise while I care for my adorable grandmother and her dubiously sprained ankle. I’m also about to plan the Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser pro bono. The woman has skills. No one says no to Gigi.”

“It’s not pro bono. We have a budget. I’d never ask you to work for free.”

“Even better. But I must insist on a bachelor auction. I’ve always wanted to plan one, and everyone always says no.”

“I’ll think about it. I do not relish the idea of being sold to the highest bidder.” Unless I could somehow get her to bid on me, I would be entirely on board for that.

“Yay! We’re working so well together already. Now go buy me tacos while I snag one of those picnic tables over there.” Her satisfied laugh was infectious. It was impossible to be in a bad mood around her.

“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed through my smile. “Something to drink?”

“Surprise me.”

“You got it.”

I stepped into the line and watched her walk to the picnic area, the smile never leaving my face as I looked forward to the rest of my day—something I hadn’t done in months. She was indeed wearing heels; her legs were amazing, and that ass was something out of a dirty dream. I wanted to take a bite out of it.

I brought our food to the table and slid across from her, trying to control my attraction, but it was almost impossible. That yellow dress was doing things to me that would be inappropriate for her to know about at this point in our relationship.Relationship?I caught myself, frustrated that I couldn’t get control of my feelings for her.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Starved. That smells delicious. And you?”

I want you, and I shouldn’t

You’re gorgeous, hilarious, smart, and funny. My kids adore you, and I hate that I want you so bad.

I cleared my throat and popped open my Coke. “They make the best tacos in town. Let’s dig in while it’s hot.”

We each finished a taco before she broached the bachelor auction topic again.

“I don’t think any of the guys would go for it.”

“I get that. But it would be simple and fun. We will make it totally innocent. We could hold a dinner the next night in the same place for the date. It could be a planned event that everyone in town could attend—and it could be ticketed.”

“So that means it would raise even more money.”

“Exactly. Double the money. Who wouldn’t want to show up to see how the dates turn out?”

“Okay, let’s add that to the list. How bad could it be?”

“It will be totally innocent, I promise. And no one would have to be alone with their date at any time. That would be icky.”

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