Page 48 of Waiting for Tuesday

“They’re named from song titles, book titles… Aren’t they?”

I nodded, wondering how he’d figured that out so quickly.

His brow furrowed and he picked another bottle off the shelf. “Blister in the Sun. That’s what you wear.”

My throat constricted and I nodded. I wasn’t sure why it mattered so much that he knew what scent I wore, but nevertheless… it did.

He moved closer, stopping at the counter to lift the lid on the donuts but didn’t take one. “You okay?”

It was such a simple question, one that if asked by any other person would have meant nothing, but coming from him…

I closed my eyes and nodded. I knew exactly what he meant. He wanted to know if I regretted last night, if I wanted to take it back. But what was crazy, even though things had become awkward between us, even though I was worried my heart would break at the end of all this, I wouldn’t take it back for the world. Not one second of it. I smiled a little. “I’m fine.”

His lips lifted at one corner, but it was just enough—I knew he didn’t regret it either. His eyes met mine again, and he took a donut out of the box. “Well, I better get to work.”

I nodded, my throat tightening from the seductive way he looked at me. “Me too.”

He opened the door to the back room and looked over his shoulder one last time before he pulled it closed again behind him. I placed my hand at my throat, drew in a deep breath, then took a glazed donut from the box. I bit into it, savoring the sweet, buttery texture, begrudgingly realizing he’d ruined me for life.

* * *

It wasquarter to three when my last interview left for the day. Though it was as much an interview of me as it was for the vendors. I was the person they were entrusting with their products. The face to represent them, and my shoulders had been tense all day. It was a big decision, who I chose to consign at the shop. The decision could make or break me. Yet, I couldn’t think clearly enough to focus on business…

I looked to the door leading to the back room, knowing John was only a hundred feet away, through a piece of wood that couldn’t have been more than three inches thick. And somehow, even though I knew it wasn’t possible, I could feel his energy surrounding me, wrapping around my body, and pulling me in his direction by the hips.

I picked up a locket off the counter, a sample that one of the local vendors had left for me, and began playing with it between my fingers. Flipping it open then clicking it closed. Over and over.

Becky was supposed to come in today, but she’d picked up a last minute freelance job with a comic convention. I’d be lying if I told myself I wasn’t relieved, because even though I was able to convince myself I could handle this, Becky would be harder to convince.

I was the girl who didn’t just have a crush on Bobby Peterson in fourth grade like everybody else; I loved him. I loved his blond hair, his blue eyes, and the scar on his left knee. I was ruled by my emotions, and she knew it. Which was why she’d know, without me saying a word, that things had moved in a direction with John that would only lead to trouble. But I couldn’t stop it… I didn’t even want to. I was caught in the tide, and I didn’t even want to fight my way out.

I clicked the locket closed and left it on the counter.I’d been avoiding the back room all day, but I couldn’t let this craziness between us interfere with my shop. I may be willing to lose my heart in all this, but my shop was something that was far too precious to me.

His eyes locked with mine the second I walked through the door. He was working with a power saw, sweat glistening on his forehead and down his nose. His arm flexed as he held the heavy machinery, and we both paused as if years had passed since we’d last seen each other, instead of just hours.

I took a deep breath, recovering myself enough to move across the room and open the supply closet door. I needed shipping supplies, and I also needed distance fromhim. All he did was stand there and I was already breathless.You’ll give yourself away if you don’t get this under control.

I began gathering my supplies, cursing myself under my breath, and taking far longer than necessary—because I needed my heart to slow. I needed my breath even, so I could go out there again. I spotted a large box of padded envelopes on a high shelf, and I stood up on my tiptoes trying to reach them. I only touched them with my finger before the light shifted behind me; fading out, and then in again. I swallowed and lowered to my heels. I knew it was him even before I turned around.

He didn’t say a word as he stood there, leaning against the door with his arms draped on the frame above him. I could have stared at him all day. Not just because he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my life, but also because he looked at me like I was the most beautiful woman he’d seen in his.

He stepped toward me, slowly, without a care in the world, then both of his hands gripped the straps of my overalls, pulling me slowly but firmly toward him, until our bodies were pressed together. He lifted my chin with one finger and kissed me. But it wasn’t just a kiss; our lips molded together and his tongue forced into my mouth. It was a kiss that made me feel needed, possibly more needed than I’d ever been in my entire life. My whole body melted, and his arm wrapped around my back, holding me tighter. He kissed me as if I were oxygen and he needed air, like he needed me for his own survival.

We both stumbled backward until I was pressed against the wall. He lifted me up, suspending me with the weight of his body as his kiss deepened. I couldn’t stop it, nor did I want to. I didn’t care that the crew was just outside the door. I didn’t care if the whole world saw us, or if I ever breathed again because all I wanted was John. All I wanted was his mouth on mine, to feel his touch, to just be.

He pulled away a minute later, forcing space between us and lowering my feet to the ground. His head fell back to his shoulders and he groaned. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since you walked in that door this morning.”

I swallowed, pulling in shallow, ragged breaths. His admission made my heart constrict. “Then why didn’t you? This morning.”

He looked at me and placed one finger on the tip of my nose, then trailed it down to my lips until he gripped my chin gently between thumb and forefinger. “Because I was trying to resist you. It’s not working.”

I smiled a little, and he dipped his head down one last time to kiss my lips, though this time was softer, and I closed my eyes so I could feel it better.

Too soon he pulled away. He shook his head slightly then backed toward the door. His lips curved in a slight smile as he walked out of the closet.

“Get back to work!” I heard him yell a moment later.

I pressed my back against the wall, licked my lips, and played the scene over and over in my mind. Because this was a kiss I wanted to hold onto forever and ever.

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