Page 34 of A Perfect Match
“Don’t act shy,” he chides.“A reaction like that is the highest compliment you can pay a chef.”
When he offers the fork again, I let him feed me.This time, I'm prepared for the flavor explosion, but it still makes me groan with pleasure.
He nods, his gaze drifting to the plate."I'm definitely going to win Best of Bayshore with this.”
And just like that, the spell is broken.
"In your dreams," I retort."My strawberry s'mores torte is going to blow your lobster out of the water.Besides, your lobster is missing something.”I struggle to come up with something that could possibly improve what he’s already done here.“It needs a marshmallow to win."
"Is that right?"He steps closer, and suddenly the air between us feels charged."Care to make a friendly wager on that?"
"What kind of wager?"I shouldn't be engaging.I should walk away.But I can't help myself around him.
"If I win, you admit on camera that I’m the best.”
"And if I win?"
His eyes glint with challenge."Name your terms, Maven."
"If I win, you have to…" I think for a moment."You have to let me redesign your restaurant's dessert menu.With marshmallows.Lots and lots of marshmallows.”
He laughs."You can’t be serious."
"Deal or no deal, Lobster Man?"
“Deal.”
I hold out my hand to shake on it.His grip is firm, and when I pull back, he doesn’t let go right away.The darkness disorients me, and I stumble forward.Somehow—I swear it's an accident—my face ends up inches from his.
And then, because my body is a traitor to my better judgment, my lips are on his.
The kiss is electric, sending sparks down my spine, pooling low in my belly.His mouth is warm and tastes faintly of butter and herbs, and when his tongue slides against mine, I make an embarrassing noise in the back of my throat.
His free hand comes up to cup my face, then slides into my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss.I've already got one hand fisted in his shirt, the other one clinging to the chain link fence like it’s somehow anchoring me to the world.
He breaks the kiss first, eyes dark with desire."You should come over.Cross the fence.It’s safe, I promise."
I'm still trying to catch my breath."That’s a bad idea."
“I promise you, it will beso good."His thumb swipes along my cheek, and his gaze is so intense I can barely keep eye contact.“Just like you remember, Maven.”
I’m shaking my head, hoping it will knock some common sense back into me."Nope.You've already roped me into a reality TV show.What's next, marriage?"I joke, but my heart is racing at the mere suggestion.
"One step at a time."The fact that he doesn’t balk at that word is somehow even hotter."First comes reality show, then backyard lobster tasting, and then…”
“You forgot kicking me out of my apartment as the first step,” I correct him.
“Mm.Right.”The intensity wavers.“Sorry.”
Something about his words reminds me of my family's reaction earlier, and I step back, the moment broken.
"What's wrong?"he asks.
"Nothing."I take another step back.For safety and clarity of mind."I should go."
"Piper."His use of my actual name stops me."Talk to me."
I hesitate, then sigh."My family thinks I'm an idiot for agreeing to be a part of the show."
