Page 61 of Five Alarm Love
He dropped her hand.“I need you to define what you mean, so we’re on the same page.”
Her mouth was dry.“Dates, but not in public venues.Lots of texting.Conversations together.I have to make sure this is right before putting a relationship out there.”
“Clandestine.Roger.”
“It sounds bad when you say it that way.”
His expression was obscured in shadow, but she felt the intensity of his focus.And his rakish grin.“Are you okay with a kiss or two?”
“When we’re not visible to others.”She rubbed her chin.“That sounds weird.”
“It’s not weird.It’s the boundary that you have set, and I’ll respect it.”
“Yes.”
“What about more than a kiss?”
Her lower abdomen tingled.“Um…” She paused.“I can’t right now.”Too much closeness.Too much risk.
“Whoa, Lou.”He raised a hand up.“I’m only getting a sense of parameters.I swear, even if you saidlet’s go for a no pants dance, I would still make sure it was okay every step along the way.”
She half-laughed, half-groaned, then gulped in a big lungful of air and let it out slowly.“Dad brought up a good point about future stability.”Wow, she needed to change the topic.
After studying her for a second, he said, “How so?”
“I need to take some time to work on my own career.Complete my paramedic certificate before getting too far into a relationship.”
“First of all, you’re smart, and you’re going to be a terrific paramedic.Second of all, I would never stand in your way of that goal.”
“Fair enough.”She stared at her feet for a moment.“So.Thanks for coming over.For what that was worth, getting the second degree from Dad.”
“Hey, it is what it is,” Tuli said.Looking up the gravel road, he nodded.“I should go check on Grandma.If I don’t stop in while I’m right here, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Lou couldn’t envision Auntie Ruth giving Tuli a tongue-lashing, but the image made her smile.“Sounds good.”
“Um, is it suitably dark enough for me to kiss you goodnight?”
Lou froze, heart pounding.Outside.Here.Where people could see.She looked around.It was dark out.The houses were spaced pretty far apart in the village.Taking a deep breath, she pushed back on the uneasiness.At some point, she had to grow up and be a normal adult, having a normal relationship and trusting the person she was with.Who better to trust than Tuli?“Yes.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”He gently gripped her upper arms and turned so her back was to the house.Then he cupped her face with warm, callused hands, the move hiding their mouths from prying eyes.He brushed his lips over hers as a zing of something new and exciting shot through her.“Mmm, blackberries.I love it,” he said.
She fought the urge to press against him and wrap her arms around him.Lou could only do so much in public, and this was a big step.
“Well, that was a productive dinner, at least,” she murmured before stepping back.
His arms dropped to his sides.“True.Can I call you?”
“Of course.Neenihaal’yaa.”See you later,she said.
“S’idzaay.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and strolled up the street, whistling as he walked away.
As she reentered the house, she paused, reaching for the translation of his word.
My heart.
Oh.
