Page 137 of Wild Catch
“What?” I nearly upturn the bucket with my surprise.
Freeing myself from the gentle hold on my chin, I swivel my face side to side like a fan until I spot the camera trained right on us, and our faces perfectly squared on the gigantic screen next to the scores.
“Logan Kim.” I turn back to him. “Did you do this?”
“I did not,” he assures me calmly. “However, I did mention to Lucky in passing that this is where we were gonna have our date. So I suspect that this is his latest prank.”
“Lucky?” I raise my eyebrows.
“What can I say, they’re starting to grow on me.” He shrugs a little. “Are you gonna kiss me, woman?”
“What terrible hardship you inflict upon me,” I say dramatically before leading him toward my lips, my hand on his jaw.
The cheering booms all around us again. Logan shifts so that he’s facing me better and does the same trick as last week, hiding our connected mouths with his hand. But it must be pretty clear that this isn’t a simple peck in the lips going by how he works his jaw to devour my mouth.
He’s capable of soft and tender kisses—especially on my nose, he seems to like it a lot—but it’s like he’s trying to mark his territory in front of fifty thousand people, plus everyone else on TV. I hope my mom’s not watching the game right now or she’d be a little alarmed at how frantically I’m trying to do the same.
I need everyone to know that this thing between Logan and I is the real deal, and not just because there have been rumors going around on social media that it isn’t—thanks, Lewis—but because I don’t plan to give him up for anything or anyone in this world.
Something like a moan echoes in his chest when he finally pulls away, and I’m glad it’s too loud for anyone outside of our cocoon to hear it, or for them to catch the way our lips smack once they separate.
“Rose. Rose.” He squeezes his eyes tight and repeats my name one more time. “You drive me wild.”
Dazed from that kiss, I mumble, “Does it help if I tell you that you do the same to me?”
“It does not.” His eyes darken. “I want to treat you right, like a gentleman. But I’m not having very chivalrous thoughts right now.”
“You’re injured.” I swallow hard, knowing exactly what he means.
“A damn bummer, at that.”
“And are you okay with me calling that shot?” I ask, leaning back on his shoulder.
“Always.” He drops a pretty chaste kiss on my lips that still manages to give me goosebumps.
Still staring at his swollen lips, I say, “Even if I’m not ready for it any time soon?”
“Rose.” He reaches for my legs, sliding his hand behind my knees and lifting them until my legs swing over his powerful thigh, and I sit facing him. “I want you—all of you—as you decide to reveal yourself to me. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I turn the bucket of popcorn in my hands over my lap, worrying my lips. “And if what I want is marriage?”
I know it’s too soon to even bring up the M word, but if the past year has taught me something, it’s that I’m sick and tired of lying and of hiding what I really want.
Going for broke, I say, “Because it might not seem like it, but what I really want is that old school house with a white picket fence and a dog, and dancing in the kitchen until our kids get embarrassed by us.”
Logan studies my face for what feels like the longest time, enough that I start to sweat.
But then he says, “You know, I’m actually not against that.”
“Really?” I startle. “Even though your upbringing was… well…”
“Shitty?” Logan nods. “Yeah, that’s why. I also want a family—a real one.”
“Okay.” I bite my lip but a smile is still poking through. “Good to know we’re on the same page.”
“What size is your ring finger?”
I bark a laugh. “Too soon, man!”
