Page 52 of Wrong Idea

“Anyhow, I should get going, I have a case to look over waiting for me at home.”

“You okay to drive?” he asked, and I giggled.

“Oni, really?”

“Hey, you know how pissed Mom would be if you got a DUI after leaving this place? Dad would have my ass!”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head, Oni-Bonnie.”

“Don’t call me that,” he hush-whispered, making my lips twitch.

“I’m walking home,” I shared.

“Walking—“

“I literally live a block away.”Now.I had moved out of the little place Jack and I made a home, or the place I’d thought we’d made a home. He had just been waiting around for someone better to show up. “I’ll text you when I get home. I’ll pick up my car in the morning.”

“You sure? If you wait an hour or so, I or one of the guys can take you home.” His offer was sweet and genuine, but it was high time I took care of myself.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I rolled my eyes before hopping off the high barstool and pulling the strap of my purse over my shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”

“Text!” My brother called out, and I waved at him. Walking through the brewery and grill my brother and his friends had opened up made me smile. It was good to see our little mountain town grow and flourish after the recession. It had taken a bit, but it was slowly coming back together.

I pushed the door open and almost, like fate had a terrible sense of humor, bumped into a familiar chest who smelled like home to me, or used to.

“Shit. Sorry, Cora.”

“It’s fine.” I shook my head. I glanced up and looked into the familiar green eyes. Eyes I thought my kids would have one day. I moved to take a step to the left, and he matched it. Then the other direction. We both stopped, and he looked at me. Something in his gaze was almost contrite. Apologetic.

“Umm…” He cleared his throat. “How have you been?” he asked, and I frowned. Small talk was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Fine. I should get—“ I moved, but his hand reached for me. His touch seared through me, but not in the same it once had. Not now that I knew his true colors.

“Don’t act like that. I miss you,” he said quietly, almost for my ears only.

“Are you serious right now?” I scoffed. I tried to step back but bumped into someone behind me. I turned and looked into the deep, dark brown eyes of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.

“Hey, beautiful. Miss me?” he asked. With his eyes locked on mine, I was almost positive he was talking to me, but I couldn’t process why he was saying that. I’d never spoken to the gorgeous man in my life. I’d only admired him from afar since Valentine’s Day. “I tried to get away early,” he continued to talk. Something about the tone in his voice and the warmth of his embrace had me melting into him. “But you know how my meetings go,” he said, as if I knew what the hell he was talking about.

“Meetings?” I repeated.

“Yeah, the ones I told you about last night?” His brow rose and his eyes softened. Just like that, my brain caught up with the rest of my body, which was leaning into his like I knew him well versus just having sorta met. He was giving me an out.

“Who the hell are you?” Jack asked, but I didn’t bother to look at him.

“Well, I guess you have to make it up to me.”

“I do, huh?” he asked, leaning in closer. His scent wafted into my nose and filled my lungs. He smelled good. Different. Masculine and spice.

“You were late.” My hand, open-palmed, rubbed the center of his chest, and I watched Tall, Dark, and Handsome’s eyes turn molten. Like the center of a gooey chocolate lava cake. “I think at the very least, I deserve a kiss.” I had no idea what came over me in that moment.

“Then that’s what you will get.” He leaned forward. In the back of my head, I could hear Jack talking shit, huffing and puffing about what the hell was going on, but I didn’t hear a word.

Not when the sexy stranger’s lips pressed against mine and the world disappeared right after. His lips danced over mine with a firm dominance. Soft and tender with a hint of familiarity. It was the most perfect first kiss. He didn’t try to shove his tongue down my throat, but he did nibble on my lower lip for a moment. I felt like I had kissed this man a million lifetimes.

When we pulled apart, my face was in his undoubtedly strong hands, his thumbs stroking the side of my face. “You can have more of those later,” he promised, and it sounded more enticing than any kind of ice cream I could ever ask for.

“Are you fucking kidding me with this shit right now, Cora? This has to be some kind of joke.”

---