Page 10 of True Soil-Mates

Claudia appears with our burgers and triple fry combo. “Yeah – no funny business back here, you two.” Her finger waves between the two of us before she sashays away.

The rest of the evening flies by as we chat about our reading habits, the weirdest movies we’ve ever seen, and what makes a workspace comfortable. By the time Claudia announces weneedto split the butterscotch fudge cheesecake, the truth is as plain as the adorable, slightly upturned nose on Jasmine’s beautiful face.

This is my girl. I’m sneaking onion breath kisses in the back of a diner with the woman I belong with.

I don’t want this date to ever end, but the sad truth is we both work tomorrow. When we pull up in front of Jasmine’s place, I ask, “Is it okay for me to walk you to the door?”

“Sure.”

The door to the upstairs apartment is off to the side of the shop, in a slight alcove. It’s not much privacy, but I pull Jasmine into my arms anyway. “And is it okay if I kiss you good night?”

She nods, smiling sweetly, her fingers spreading into the back of my hair. “I’ll risk a little sisterly teasing.”

Maybe it’s our endless sparkling conversation, or the way we’ve been staring at each other all evening, but this kiss feels different. Our bodies instantly shift, moving together until I’m pressing her against the wall, creating as much contact as possible. Feeling her breasts press against me causes a rush of lust – molten fire surging through my veins.

I want her.Want her naked against me somewhere we are totally alone. Want to hear every tiny noise she makes as I kiss every inch of her silky skin. Find every spot that makes her giggle or, better yet, moan.

Our kiss becomes hungrier, my hands slipping down to grasp her voluptuous hips, pulling our bodies together. She hums softly as the kiss deepens even more, allowing me a glimpse of her desire.

Finally, I feel a hand on my chest, and instantly back away an inch. “Too much?”

“No,” she gasps. “Just kind of public.”

“Sorry.”

She grips my tie, giving it a playful tug, eyes blazing. “Donotbe sorry. But I think we should…pause…for now.”

“Understood.” My lips brush against hers in one last featherlight kiss. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yes.” She pulls out her keys and unlocks the door, then turns back to me. “Hey – I’d love to see your home. What if we made dinner together there tomorrow night?”

“Done. Just text me when to pick you up.”

Jasmine’s brilliant smile ensures that I’ll be dreaming of her all night long.

7

JASMINE

“Taste this.” Alex holds out a spoon, slipping it into my mouth.

The four-cheese blend melts on my tongue. “Amazing.” My eyes fall closed for a split second, then snap open. “Wait. You put oregano in with the cheese?”

He smiles, returning to the huge marble island to continue grating and mixing. “One of my chemistry secrets. Untested in the lab, of course,” he says with a wink. “But I feel having a fragrant herb mixed right in with the cheese makes it… punchier.”

I laugh while stirring the sauce. “I don’t know ifpunchyis an approved cheese-related term, but I get what you mean.”

Cooking dinner together was a great idea. Even though Alex’s kitchen is huge, we have plenty of excuses to bump into each other, touch each other’s arms or get close.

Plus, the tour of the main floor of this house left me dazzled. So much space for one person! I like that his study looks lived in, with a worn blue corduroy armchair that apparently used to belong to his grandfather. Stacks of books and notepads. Two unwashed coffee cups.

The rest of the space is pristine. Not one speck of dust anywhere. Everything in alignment. Even the bowl of fruit looks so perfect I’m never going to touch it for fear of moving a grape by mistake. If Alex and I are going to have a chance, I need to know if there is any flexibility in his clean freak nature. Otherwise, I worry my career spent in dirt may push him away.

Over an incredible dinner, we loop through conversations about the perfect holiday souvenirs, weekday versus weekend coffee, and why it is that both gardening and scientific magazines just feel better on paper.

It’s not Earth-shattering conversation, but we’re both opening up. Letting our walls down. Testing whether this relationship could be real.

“I’ll clear the table,” Alex says. As he stands up, he slips a hand along the back of my neck, turning my lips up to his for a light, tender kiss that feels…different. Acknowledging the potential of what could happen tonight.

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