Page 79 of Clean Out of Luck

Apparently not. We’re three for three on kisses that send me to the moon.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Wade

I standoutside Scarlett’s side exit and knock twice, then wait. I don’t want to come across as obnoxiously impatient. Even though I want nothing more than to pound on the door and do a happy dance.

I didn’t want to waste the time trying to get in through the front door of The Serendipity. I’m simply too excited to see Scarlett. When I think about the fact that she’s agreed to go out with me, I get butterflies in my stomach.

It still doesn’t feel real. And while I’m so happy she’s going to be with me…I can’t believe she’s agreed to be with me. I’m scared that one of these days she’ll wake up and realize she could do way better than me. That she deserves better than me…and I wish I could be a big enough man to let her go and find that ‘better.’ But I’m not. So I’m just going to have to strive to be the best for her.

“Just a minute!” Scarlett calls.

My phone chimes and I pull it from my pocket to see that Phoenix has texted.

PHOENIX

Whatever you do, don’t tell her that I’m happy about you.

Before I have a chance to text him back, Scarlett swings open the door.

She’s wearing a pair of bright yellow shorts, a floral shirt with short sleeves, and a matching set of floral tennis shoes.

She looks like an ad for summertime, and she smells like warm vanilla.

Scarlett smiles up at me and her earrings spin around, catching the light on the gold ovals.

“You look…” I pause because I’m not sure what the correct word is. Delectable? Gorgeous?

Scarlett scrunches her nose as she looks at me. “You know, it’s not really a good sign if you can’t finish that sentence. Do I look too much like a bumblebee?”

She turns around slowly and I can’t help but laugh. “You look beautiful. And while bumblebees are kind of cute, you don’t really look like one.”

She stops her spin when she’s facing me again. “Oh really? I’m wearing yellow and black.” She points to the shirt and how it’s base color is black.

“Well, you’re just not as fuzzy as a bumblebee, for one thing.”

Her eyebrows shoot up at that. “How do you know? Maybe I didn’t shave my legs.”

I match her expression and step forward. I reach an arm around her waist and her hands come to rest against my chest.

Reaching down with my free hand I rest it against her bare thigh. “Hmm, feels pretty smooth to me. Not a bumblebee.”

Her lips part as she tips her head back. “I hope you’re not going to wait until the end of our date to kiss me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She grins and reaches up to pull me toward her, her slender fingers lacing together behind my neck. “You smell good.”

Thank goodness I remembered cologne, because hearing her say that makes my chest feel like it’s going to explode.

I kiss her on her lips, grasping her thigh and pulling her closer. I drop the hand from her waist and grasp her other leg, lifting her into my arms. She obliges me by shifting her hands to my shoulders, holding tight as she deepens the kiss.

I could stay like this forever. I never want to put her down.

Finally, Scarlett pulls back and smiles softly at me. “I think you smudged my lipstick.”

Grinning at her, I set her back on her feet—reluctantly. Not how I meant to start the date…but I’m happy to see her smiling at me…and I’m not about to complain about getting to kiss her.

---