Page 67 of While We Waited

“If anyone can, it’s you.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, Sunshine. Give me a chance. I’ll make it worth your while.”

I know he will. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s offering me the one thing I want. A family. A real family.

But my heart is lodged in my throat and my stomach is filled with dread. What if he dies? I can’t handle it if another person in my life who I love dies. I won’t survive.

“I don’t know.”

He frames my face with his hands. “Give me a chance, Nova. I know I’ve been an ass in the past. Because I was trying to resist you. But you’re irresistible. No one can withstand the lure of your sunshine. I certainly couldn’t.”

He’s making it awful hard to say no. Don’t say no, my heart whispers.

The temptation is too much to resist. “No promises, but why don’t we go out on a date? See how it goes. Maybe you’ll change your mind when you realize I can’t eat without spilling food down my bra.”

He chuckles. “I already know you can’t eat without spilling food.”

I scowl at him. “You’re not supposed to mention it.”

He presses his lips to mine but pulls back before I have a chance to wrap my arms around him and enjoy the feel of him touching me.

“Thank you, Sunshine. You won’t regret this.”

I hope he’s right. I hope I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life. I hope this doesn’t end in heartbreak. Or, worse yet, tragedy.

Chapter 23

Fumble – when Hudson loses control of the date

Hudson

Ioffer Nova my arm. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready. I just don’t know why I had to wear a swimsuit underneath my dress. It’s not warm enough to swim in the ocean.” She shivers.

“You don’t enjoy swimming in the ocean.”

Her nose wrinkles. “There are creepy crawlers and things with sharp teeth in the water.”

I chuckle as I open the door for her and usher her outside. She heads toward my truck but I steer her in the other direction.

“Is this the part where you lure me into the woods to drink my blood?”

I cough to hide my amusement. “Drink your blood?”

“Maya is on a vampire romance kick.”

“Vampires aren’t real.”

“I know but don’t tell Maya. She would be majorly disappointed.”

“I promise not to tell Maya vampires don’t exist even though they don’t.”

“If we’re not going into the woods for you to suck my blood, where are we going? And is it far? I wore these sandals for our date but I hadn’t expected to do much walking.”

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