Page 26 of Shamrock Kisses

“Dude, go have fun.” He waves me off.

I glance at the stove where chicken breasts sizzle in a skillet. “Were you cooking for us?”

“Someone might be coming by.” He shrugs, not looking directly at me.

I squint. “Who?”

“You know who.”

“You two.” Brandon and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kate. They’re confusing everyone, including themselves. In the year I’ve known Brandon, their relationship has been a rollercoaster. “I guess we both have a thing for older women.”

Brandon raises his eyebrows, looking surprised to learn this fact about Rachel. “Well, it looks like my older woman wanted to get out of the city too. She’s at her dad’s place.”

“Right. That’s how you two met, summering up here.”

“Enough about me. Get out of here already.”

“Don’t sleep with her,” I whisper, knowing how that always restarts the “on” part of their relationship.

“I’ll do my best.” He winks. “Wear protection,” he teases quietly so Rachel can’t hear.

“Wear protection.” I nudge him. Although I hope they don’t get back together. He’s so solid in his sobriety. She is not.

Brandon chuckles, pulling me in for a hug. Patting me on the back, he says, “Seriously, I’m excited for you. I have a good feeling about you two.”

22

We step outside, hand in hand, and I can’t get this smile off my face. We keep smiling at each other, nudging into one another, and are generally being too fucking cute. After we slide into my SUV, I toss him my phone.

Buckling my seatbelt, I suggest, “Play me something you think I would like but have never heard before.”

He strokes his beard, thoughtful. “You like emo and alternative music. Let me think.”

I pull onto the road and feel at peace. I look back over at Patrick, and he winks at me. A song I’ve never heard begins to play. The beat is gentle at first, but when the vocals come in, I instantly love this song. Smiling, I bob my head to the beat.

“This is great!”

“I thought you would like it.” He reaches for my hand, interlacing our fingers. “It’s ‘Wicked Ones’ by Dorothy. She’s badass … like you.”

“Badass?”

“Yeah. You’re badass.”

Blushing, I glance at him before refocusing on the road. The song continues in the background, but my mind is thinkingabout the way he makes me feel. Safe, special, sexy, and most of all, comfortable.

“You’re emotionally available, right?” I ask, breaking the silence, although everything about him so far screams yes.

“Yes,” he says, though there’s a slight curiosity in his tone, like he’s wondering why I asked.

“I want to be with someone who’s ready for something serious.”

“I want something serious.”

Our eyes lock in a shared understanding. It’s like we’re dancing around the possibilities, but both of us are clear that this, whatever this is, is going somewhere.

We quickly enter downtown Lake Geneva and pass by High Five. Oh, how things can change in a few hours.

“We’re only a couple of minutes from my place,” I share.

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