Page 82 of Friends Don't Kiss

The opportunity to develop new techniques, explore new tastes, and discover new traditions that would enrich her already vast knowledge.

A career that would expose her talent to the world.

I’d taken offense at the time, not seeing her point, but Kiara was right. Emerald Creek couldn’t give her that.

And then there was what Annabel had said to me, when Kiara was in the bathroom.

“The Institut Culinaire is tough, but with her personality, I’m gonna take a wild bet and say that she’ll thrive. She’s satisfied at nothing but excellence. Doesn’t compromise. She gives it her all and doesn’tlie.” She’d emphasized the word, and I wasn’t sure what she meant. Being around Kiara so much, I’d heard expressions likehonest food, but a pastry chefnot lyingwas a new one.

“I’m not really making sense to you, am I?” Annabel had frowned kindly, looking at me like the lost man I felt. “In baking, as in cooking to a degree, the gesture is almost as important as the ingredients. It’s not enough to have a recipe. You can follow it to a T and still your end result will be disappointing. Your passion and your love for the art goes from your heart straight to your hands. The gesture is what makes the difference. Without passion or love, whatever you make will be forgettable. Edible, but forgettable.

“Kiara has that passion and respect for the art. She makes pastries for the sake of bringing something beautiful into the world.”

I’d seen that passion in Kiara. “You hit the nail right on the head as far as Kiara is concerned.”

“How does that make you feel, Colton?”

What did she mean? “I’m proud of her,” was my obvious response.

“You do realize that in Paris, at the Institut, she’ll be among peers. People who have that same passion and understanding.”

My heart clenched. What was she getting at?

“The question is, are you ready for her to leave you? Because that’s what’ll happen. When Paris, Dubai, Tokyo roll out the red carpet, you don’t say no. You go.”

I knew this all along, yet I was fighting it. “Isn’t that what you did?”

She nodded. “It is what I did.”

“But you’re here now,” I countered.

She raised her eyebrows. “Iamhere. Thirty years later.”

Shit.Maybe that was why Kiara was so reluctant to being mine. Because she couldn’t. Because there were bigger things than me awaiting her. As much as it hurt me, as much as I wanted to fight it, I wasn’t going to. Kiara deserved better.

Then Annabel added, “But then again, I didn’t have a Colton waiting for me in Emerald Creek.”

But as Kiara made her way back to us, my chest tightened. She was looking at me differently now, I could tell. My courting hadn’t been for nothing after all. She was dating me, and ready to be my girlfriend. But I had to accept that she’d probably never be more.

“I’m ready to lose her if that means she finds herself,” I told Annabel under my breath.

Now, in the car, with Kiara’s kiss burning my cheek all the way down to my heart, I don’t feel so assured. I know it’s the right thing to do. It doesn’t mean I like it.

Safely tucked back in her seat, she says, “That was an awesome date, Colton. I’m not even sure what to say. If there’s a next date, it needs to be all about you.”

I almost swerve the truck off its lane. “Why wouldn’t there be a next date? I thought I told you I’m serious about us.” Just saying the words makes my heart beat harder. Despite what Annabel hinted rather heavily at—that I’d have to watch Kiara go—I do want to have whatever I can with her. And who knows? Maybe we can make long-distance work. Why does Kiara suddenly think there shouldn’t be a next date? Did she overhear what Annabel said, and this is going to be yet another excuse to be just friends? Well—screw that.

At my words, I feel Kiara’s gaze on me. Glancing at her to confirm she’s looking at me, I’m struck by how soft her eyes are, how intense her gaze on me. I can’t help it—I reach over to give her hand a squeeze.

She twines our fingers together.

I nearly lose it again. The least I want to do is bring her hand to my mouth, but I don’t. Instead I let her small, talented fingers get lost in my larger, calloused paw, trying to make myself as soft and warm as I can. I rub my thumb on the inside of her wrist until she clears her throat and pulls softly away, tucking both hands under her thighs.

“Did you hear what I said?” she asks.

Nope. I have no fucking clue what happened before she linked our hands. The world didn’t exist before. My brain is wiped clear. I am born again in a world where Kiara has feelings for me beyond friendship and is finally beginning to express them. “What did you say?” I ask, my voice raw with emotion.It was just her fucking hand, Colton. You had your face between her legs not so long ago and that didn’t move you as much.Yeah, but that time, it was just sex. This right now was pure feelings, and I’d take feelings over sex any day with Kiara.

“The next date needs to be all about you,” Kiara says. I start to protest, but she interrupts me. “If we’re doing this, I need to know who I’m really dealing with.” A mischievous smile lifts the corner of her mouth.

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