Page 212 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1

He grins—broad, cocky, unapologetic.

“Technically, we’re in an espresso bar. Not a house. And technically… I never follow the rules.”

And then he proves it.

Before she can stop him, his hands are on her—one sliding around her waist, the other tilting her chin up.

And then—he kisses her.

Not a peck.

Not a tease.

A full-body, toe-curling, breath-stealing kiss that dares the world to interrupt.

The café erupts. Laughter. Cheers. Someone actually claps.

Mia gasps in mock outrage. “Jenna! What happened to ‘no PDA in the workplace?’”

“Yeah, Jenna!” Rebel calls, grinning like a heathen.

Jenna finally shoves him back—barely.

Her face is flushed, but her tone is pure fire. “You’re impossible.”

He winks. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Malia groans. “And she was just lecturing us about sex-starved men making women late for work.”

Sophia smirks. “Pretty sure she’s the only one getting swept off her feet on company time.”

Jenna shoots us all a death glare, which only makes the laughter worse.

Carter, meanwhile, pockets a sugar packet like a trophy and strolls off like he didn’t just wreck her whole damn composure.

Jenna exhales hard and smooths her apron like it might erase the kiss from history.

“Not a single one of you say a word,” Jenna warns, breathless and flushed.

We all grin.

And then—we all say words.

“Dayum,” Malia breathes, fanning herself with a to-go lid. “That kiss came with a scorch warning.”

“I think the espresso machine just went into cardiac arrest,” Sophia says. “You need to take that outside before the health department gets involved.”

“Or the pantry,” Mia offers sweetly. “We’ve got things covered here. Go finish the rest of it off.”

Rebel grins, practically vibrating with glee. “Seriously. We’ll man the fort.”

Carter starts to stand, all too willing to play along.

“Absolutely not. Not here. Not now.” Jenna’s arm flies out, palm braced against his chest like she’s warding off a demon.

Carter just grabs her hand, lacing their fingers together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

His smile turns lethal.

---