Page 98 of All I Ask
“Naked is the new dating,” Nina says.
“Really? Well, it’s a good thing Teagan and I are dating.”
“Nina’s insane.”
“She’s onto something,” he tosses back.
“She’s also about to be fired.”
Nina bursts out laughing. “Your mama likes me more than you, my friend. I think if she could, she’d make me manager just to torture you.”
Now, that I don’t doubt.
Nina walks over, kisses Derek on the cheek, and pats his chest. “You were always my favorite…after Romeo.”
“You were always mine too…after Teagan.”
Damn him for being so sweet.
“I’ll be in the back, organizing the new plates. Then I’ll call around to a few more stores to see if we can find those lost chairs. You know, give youtime, just in case.” She turns and winks at me.
There are no new plates, and I don’t know what she thinks Derek and I need time for while we’re in the store, but I appreciate her giving us a minute. He moves closer, hand resting on my hip, and smiles. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
I try to keep the grin off my face but the way he’s looking at me makes it impossible. He’s so damn cute and he’s here. On what was probably a busy day, because there are more animals than people in this town, and he came by…to see me.
“You look very pretty.”
Now he’s lying. “I definitely do not.” I’m in a pair of old jeans, my hair is up in a messy bun—that I can’t pull off—and my T-shirt with a plaid shirt over it doesn’t scream sexy. It’s more like, I look like I don’t have enough money for new clothes but I’m trying for country chic.
“You do.”
“You’re going blind in your old age.”
His hand tightens, eyes glance around the store, and then to my lips. He’s going to kiss me.
“Stop talking,” he demands and then his lips are on mine, hand sliding around my back, keeping me to his chest.
Kissing is definitely not overrated.
We don’t rush as we take each other in. It’s only been a few hours but I missed him. How crazy is that? I missed the way he smells, how his hand feels on my skin, and the way he says my name.
It’s stupid.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s magical.
“Now, don’t ever call me old again,” he warns and kisses my forehead.
I don’t care what any woman says, when a man kisses our foreheads, we melt. Just a little. If he ever learns how much I like it, I’m pretty sure he’ll win every argument.
“If you kiss me each time I do,” I say playfully,“I might call you old more.”
He laughs while shaking his head and then steps back. “Can I steal you away for a bit?”
“I have a lot of work to do…my mother is due back today too.”
