Page 14 of One Night Valentine

I slide out of the booth and then help Tara out. “Well, we really must go. I paid Kathy for dinner. Thanks for joining us. I look forward to getting to know you better at the wedding.”

With that, I put a hand at Tara’s waist and lead her through the restaurant. We’re halfway to the shop, walking hand in hand, when Tara speaks up. “Thank you for that back there.”

I squeeze her hand. “You’re welcome.”

When we get to the shop, she stops before going inside. “Thank you for dinner and well, everything.”

I smile and put my hand on the door. “Come on, we have some arrangements to make.”

Her mouth drops. “You were serious about that?”

“Honey, you’re going to figure out that I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

I open the door, and as she walks by me, she looks at me curiously, and I can see exactly what she’s thinking. She’s remembering when I said kissing her made the earth move. It’s the truth, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll believe it.

Her sister has done a number on her, and hopefully I can fix that because Tara is a special woman, and I’m the lucky man that gets to work side by side with her this evening. I take a deep breath, willing my dick to calm down because being this close to her is a temptation I wasn’t ready for.

9

TARA

When Cruz comes by to pick me up in the morning, I hide a yawn. I feel like I went on an all-night bender, and he looks completely put together… and handsome. I try to hide my thoughts since Lexi is standing beside me.

“Hey, big brother!”

He hands her a coffee from the tray he’s carrying, and she moans. “Oh thank you, just what I needed.”

He hands me the next cup. “Here you go. Lexi told me what you liked. Iced coffee, right?”

I moan the same way Lexi did. “Oh, I could just kiss you.” His eyes go straight to my mouth, and I start to stutter. “I mean, you know what I mean.” I grab the cup and try to change the subject. “Do you feel like you just left here?”

He’s watching me closely and nods his head. “I’ve been up since four.”

My mouth drops open. “Four? You left here at eleven last night.”

He doesn’t act like it’s a big deal at all. “Four is a habit. I’m sure it will change soon, but I’m used to getting up and working out.”

The open look he had before is gone, and now he appears guarded and somewhat worried, and I’m sure it’s about his announcement for tomorrow.

I want to reach for him, but I grip my drink tighter to refrain from doing just that. Lexi is already watching us with wide, curious eyes. The last thing I need is for her to think this is real. This is fake and doesn’t mean a thing.

“You ready to go?”

He nods. “Yeah. I got here early in case I could help you do anything before we go.”

I gesture around the store. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe how much work we got done last night. You are a pro.” I hug Lexi. “Thanks for coming in to help. We won’t be gone long.”

She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Take as much time as you need.”

I laugh. “You know you’re talking about your brother, right?”

She grimaces. “Ewwww. Yuck, you’re right. Go, get out of here.”

Cruz and I laugh as we walk out of the shop. Always the gentleman, he helps me into his SUV that is parked right outside, and soon we’re driving across town to the elementary school. “So your sister is a teacher,” he says.

I nod. “Yep. My dad says it’s a respectable profession.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, it is. But you’re a business owner. That’s pretty respectable too.”

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