Page 14 of Bargain Match

The front door swings open, and a group of locals loudly pour inside. From the looks of it, they’ve been having a fine evening before stopping by for a nightcap in the inn’s tavern.

“Malcolm. Glynis. We have a mighty thirst.”

“Oh, quiet down, all of ye. Ye’ll startle our guests.”

“Ye have new guests, do ye?” One of the men stumbles toward us. “Ye must be the couple staying in the newlywed suite.”

“Did ye say newlyweds?” One of the women asks. “Oh, how lovely.”

“I’m surprised ye made it down tonight.” Another man drops into a chair at the table next to ours. “If I had a bonny lass like that, I don’t know as I’d ever leave the suite.”

I choke on a laugh even as Burke flushes again.

Until this whole adventure, I seriously had no idea Burke had it in him to blush so much. It’s kind of adorable to see such a big, burly hulk of a man like him fluster.

“Ye should kiss her, ye know.”

“Aye, kiss her.”

“Kiss her! Kiss yer bride.”

The locals shout over each other, all of them encouraging us to kiss. I glance at Glynis, waiting for her to step in, but she just watches on with a twinkle in her eye.

“Oh, quiet, all of ye,” Malcolm finally shouts, lowering his newspaper.

Thank goodness someone is on our side.

He turns to Malcolm. “Ye should go on and kiss her. That’ll quiet them up.”

I guess not.

The chanting resumes. “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.”

I swear, it’s like we’re back in high school at someone’s party playing Spin the Bottle. If it’s anything like that, then they really won’t let us go until we’ve done as they command.

With a sigh, I meet Burke’s stare from across the table. Like me, he looks more resigned than panicked like he did a few minutes ago.

I lift a shoulder. He shrugs back. Then he pushes away from the table, stands, and leans toward me. Slowly. Resting his palms flat on the table on either side of my plate, he moves closer until we’re nearly touching.

My heart thunders in my ears, beating in sync with the pounding on the tables and floors from the locals clambering for us to kiss.

Burke’s warm breath brushes over my lips. A shiver of anticipation runs down my spine.

“Okay?” he asks softly.

I nod and swallow. Unable to form words. He nods back. Then he narrows the distance between us. And his lips touch mine.

SEVEN

BURKE

Our lips touch and my heart is off to the races.

I can’t believe it. I’m kissing Hadley. She’s kissing me. After so many years of playing the part of the long-suffering best friend, I am finally kissing the woman I love.

And it’s…

Well, there aren’t words for how good Hadley’s soft, full lips feel pressed against mine.

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