Page 60 of All Dressed Up

She blinked up at him. “I made it for you.”

For him?“You did?”

“I invited you over, didn’t I?”

“About that...” He let that sentence trail. What was he supposed to say? Admitting that he’d seen her in Marc arms wasn’t going to happen. Not after he’d gotten the big warning from her moments ago that, starting on Monday, Marc would be hanging around the flower shop. Instead he simply said, “I’m sorry. I should have called.”

“It’s okay.” She handed him a clean plate to dry. “Did something come up?”

“No... Uh... Yes,” he stammered. “Sort of. I was working on a car with my brother and lost track of time. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Interrupt?”

He focused on drying the plate, but after a few seconds, he set his dish towel down. It was time to be a grown-up and address the elephant in the room. “You and Marc. I didn’t want to interrupt you two.”

“He wasn’t there. He spent the evening with Donovan and Zoe.” She turned the faucet off, turning to him with her head cocked to the side. “I arranged for us to be alone.”

An electric jolt shot through him.Alone?!?!

As in just the two of them? What was she saying? “You wanted us to be alone?” he asked, wanting to make sure there was absolutely no confusion on his end.

“Yes.” She ran her fingers through her long hair and then lifted her chin. “I mean, I know we’re working on the whole friend thing, so if you want this evening to be platonic, that’s fine too.”

“Right...” It was time to do something about the intense desire running through him. He cupped her face. “I don’t,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers. Her hands ran up his hair as she widened their kiss, accepting everything he offered.

Need for her took over any other thought. He scooped her up and led her to his bedroom. Laying her gently down on his bed, she moved her hands inside his T-shirt, pulling it up, over his shoulders, and off.

He took a deep breath and smiled down at the beauty under him, taking in this moment.

“What is it?” she asked, trailing a finger across his jaw.

“Nothing.” He traced her bottom lip with his thumb. This was the happiest he’d been since the last time they were together. “I love your smile.”

Her grin turned mischievous while she ran her foot along his leg. “I hope that’s not all you love about me.”

No, it definitely wasn’t. He lowered his mouth to hers, sliding off her sweater that might just make its way back into his closet.

Best night ever.

---