Page 40 of Unforgettable

Stepping out of the car, Oz is quick to meet me. He slips his hand in mine, and it feels perfect. “This okay?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I choke out, familiar, yet complicated, emotions making it difficult for me to say anything else.

Hand in hand, with my heart rattling against my rib cage, we walk to the front door. The house is a two-story, double brick, with a wraparound porch that looks like the perfect place to sit and read a book.

When we reach the door, Oz casually turns the door handle and leads us inside. We step into the foyer, which is still secluded from the rest of the house, and my legs feel like lead.

Unable to move forward, I tug on his hand and he stops walking. “You, okay?”

“Kiss me.”

He straightens, shock on his face, his mouth falling open, but doesn’t let go of my hand. “What?”

“Like the first night we met,” I rush out. “To make me feel less nervous.”

“But. Friends,” he fumbles with his explanation. “We said we wouldn’t.”

“Fake boyfriends,” I remind him in a whisper, acknowledging my non-existent willpower. “Right now, we’re fake boyfriends.”

The smile that stretches across his face makes him look even more striking than usual. He doesn’t ask if I’m sure or try to convince me otherwise. If he’s feeling anything like I am, he wants it too. And he doesn’t want me to change my mind or the new rules.

Releasing my hand, he raises both to my face and presses his soft, silken lips to mine.

Unlike the night we met, there is no worry or trepidation. His mouth is more of a soothing balm as his touch regulates the heavy beating of my heart. Every part of me sighs in relief.

There’s no denying, even after only one night together, I missed this.

Missedhim.

I push away all the logic and the remaining scraps of sanity I have left and deepen the kiss. If we’re doing this fake thing, I’m going to immerse myself in the moment and I’m not going to think about regrets, heartache, or any of the other reasons why I know I shouldn’t be doing this.

“Mom,” a child, that I’m assuming to be Oz’s niece or nephew, shrieks, stopping the kiss and scaring the absolute shit out of me. “Uncle Oz is kissing someone.”

My face wastes no time turning my least favorite shade, and I have to bury my head in Oz’s shoulder to try and contain my embarrassment.

He puts his hands on my waist, and I feel his body vibrate in laughter. “Nice to see you too, Tommy.”

“Who’s that?” the kid asks.

“That’s Uncle Oz’s new boyfriend,” a female voice answers, and I slowly raise my head, coming face-to-face with one of his sisters.

“Dixie,” Oz greets. “This is Reeve.”

She holds out her slender hand and I take it. “I’d like to say we’ve heard so much about you, but Oz really sprung this on us.”

Despite her words, her voice is filled with nothing but good-natured humor. “Thank you, Dixie, for making it awkward,” Oz says, moving his hand to the small of my back. “Reeve, this is my sister who’s getting married in a few weeks. She’s also a surgeon and a complete pain in my ass.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her.

Sidling up beside me, she links her arm with mine while Oz stands on the other side. “Let me take you to the firing squad,” she says a little too excitedly.

“Dixie,” Oz warns.

“I’m kidding.” She looks up at me. “Mostly. My mom sometimes seems like a firing squad.”

“Okay,” I breathe out. “I’m ready.”

Oz’s family is congregated in the kitchen. His parents are cooking, and his other two sisters are seated at the island.

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