Page 88 of The Valentine's Bet

My heart is pounding, my mind racing as Amy tends to my finger. I can’t help but be hyper-aware of her every move, her touch sending a jolt through me.

“I’ll peel the rest of the potatoes,” she says, looking up at me.

I catch her gaze and my heart starts to race.

Something about her simple act of care has ignited a spark deep within me. And now, everything in me wants to wrap her up in my arms and kiss her. My mind fills with images of laying her down and kissing her all over—or maybe just ... holding her.

And it’s the first time in my life that I’ve ever thought about anyone like that.

“I can still peel the potatoes.” I manage to break my romantic train of thought as she steps away, leaving me feeling disappointed.

“Well, let me at least get you a bandaid. I don’t know about you, but eating bloody mashed potatoes isn’t really my thing.”

I laugh, shaking my head at her as she digs through the first aid kit she grabs from the pantry. “We just gotta rinse them well before they cook.”

“Mmm, not sure that’s gonna get rid of the blood-born pathogens.”

“Right, so I’m a zombie?”

She bursts into a fit of giggles as she pulls a bandage out and heads toward me again. “No, but you might have cooties.”

“Then you must have them, too,” I blurt out as she grabs my hand.

Amy stops for a moment, looking up at me only long enough to show the emotion in her eyes. However, she shifts her attention back to my finger before I can decipher them. “Here.” Amy rolls my finger and places the bandaid over the cut. “All better, but I have a feeling it’s going to be sore.”

“It’ll be fine,” I say, feeling empty again as she steps away from me.

All the sirens are going off in my head.

I know what I’m feeling isnotokay—especially considering she’s seeing someone else.

Ireallyneed to get over this crush...

Or whatever it is.

“I’ll go on the date.”

Amy doesn’t look up from the sink. “Great.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Amy

“He’s been acting weird,” I say to Eliza on the phone. I’m sitting on the edge of the bed in what’s become my room at Parker’s place—and we’re supposed to be leaving in ten minutes for the double date with Dalton and Maeve, the vet he works with.

“Yeah, probably because helikesyou, Amy.” Eliza groans. “It’s so obvious. From the kiss on New Year’s to cooking dinner for you.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s just irritated that I set him up on a double date without asking,” I reason. “But anyway, I think Dalton and I will be official before Valentine’s Day. It’s less than a week away. Like, this isit. I can feel it. I’mfinallygonna have a boyfriend.”

Eliza lets out a sigh that causes me to pause.

“What?” I badger her, my voice growing slightly sharp. “Do you not like Dalton?”

“It’s not that. Dalton does seem great. But I just ... I don’t know. I’m not usually one to butt in on people’s love lives, but Amy ... I don’t feel like you’ve ever really dealt with the feelings that you have for Parker.”

“It was just a harmless crush.”

And a mind-blowing kiss that Dalton’s pale in comparison to...