Page 86 of Blood and Buttercups

Tonight, that man’s lips are going to be mine.

Dinner is torture,and the movie is excruciating.

We’re only halfway through a lighthearted action rom-com, and I’m ready to drag Noah out of the theater and into a dark alley.

His hand rests on his knee, so close tomyknee, but it hasn’t strayed. Neither of us wanted popcorn after dinner, so we don’t even have an excuse to accidentally touch.

I tense as he leans close and says, “Do you not like the movie?”

“It’s fine,” I say as the audience laughs.

“You want to get out of here?”

I swallow. “You spent a small fortune on the tickets.”

“I just wanted to sit next to you in the dark,” he whispers. “We can do that anywhere.”

My stomach clenches, and I slowly turn to meet his eyes. His face is lit by the glow of the movie. Something explodes on the screen. There’s exaggerated screaming, and the audience laughs again.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Noah’s eyes flicker with an eagerness that mirrors my own, and we rise, hurrying past people so we won’t block their view for long.

I draw in a lungful of mountain air when we step outside, acutely aware of the man at my side as we walk to his SUV. Noah parked at the far corner of the lot, and the vehicle is tucked into the shadows by trees and bushes in the landscape.

“Piper,” he says from behind me when I reach for my door handle.

I turn, drawing in a breath when I realize he’s only a few steps away.

He swallows, half his face shadowed and the other lit in the parking lot lights. His hand flirts with my waist, the touch a tease and a promise. “How do you feel about kissing a man on the first date?”

I hold my breath, wanting this so darn much. “That depends on how many friend-dates precede it.”

He laughs a little, bringing his hand to cup the side of my neck. “Far too many.”

I reach for him, drawing him close as he pulls me against his firm torso. He pauses an inch from my lips, holding himself back. His hand kneads my neck, and his breath smells like sweet mint.

“Are you letting me out of the friend zone?” he teases, his voice dark and gritty.

“I never actually closed the gate.”

He laughs and moves in, pausing when I expect the crush of his mouth. My gaze flicks up to his, questioning.

“Close your eyes,” he whispers, his tone suddenly gentle and maybe even…

Is big, capable Noahnervous?

My heart dances, and just like that, I’m filled with sweet, butterfly-fluttering anticipation.

I do as he asks, waiting for the press of his lips.

But our mouths don’t meet. His lips brush my jaw, the kiss as soft as a feather. He kisses the crease of my mouth and then the other side.

I slide my hand past his jacket, finding the fabric of his T-shirt and running my palm up to his shoulder. His muscles tense under my exploratory touch.

When he pulls back, my lips still unkissed, I smile. “You’re a tease.”

“Are you in a hurry? We only get one first kiss.”

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