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He lowered his head toward mine while he held my gaze. “I was thinking I could kiss you senseless and then neither of us would have to figure it out.”

“I like your plan,” I sighed, waiting for his lips to finish their journey to mine.

His lips were cold on contact, but within seconds we were both toasty warm. His hands held my face, the buttery smooth leather of his gloves rubbing against my skin as he angled my head to the right. On one especially traitorous moan, he took advantage and dipped his tongue in to taste me. It was his turn to moan when our tongues connected in a shock of electrically charged synapses we weren’t expecting. He pushed me up against the railing, his thumbs rubbing a path along my jaw when he took possession of the kiss. I was along for the ride, and I wasn’t complaining. Complaints definitely weren’t the sounds coming from my lips. Those were sounds of total and complete satisfaction with his plan. I was all about his plan until he ripped his lips away to breathe heavily, his hands still holding my face in suspended animation.

His forehead lowered to mine and he kissed my lips again quickly. “That didn’t help.”

“Help what?” I asked, my own breathing ragged.

“Help me decide what to do about it.”

I laughed and the sound was husky from the kiss. “From where I stand, you absolutely decided what to do about it.”

“You’re saying kissing you is the answer?” He straightened and let his hands fall to my shoulders, but his gaze never left mine.

“I’m saying that kiss told me the answer is simple, we keep seeing each other. As much as that freaks me out, Ellis, I like you too much to stop spending time together.”

He nodded, his forehead back on mine. “Just promise to tell me if I come on too strong or you want to back things up. There’s something about you, Addie. Something alluring, sweet, sexy as hell and yet innocent, that holds me hostage.”

“I must be a real contradiction in your eyes.”

His eyes hooded and they focused on my lips again. “I love a good contradiction.”

“You’re a bit of a contradiction yourself, do you know that?” I asked, hating that my voice was soft and my breathing was unsteady.

“I didn’t.”

His voice was equally sexy and I gulped, but I’d gone this far. “You’re shy but you’re bold. You’re polite but you’re commanding. You’re thin but you’re strong.”

“Mmmm,” he said, his eyes nearly closed and his lips inches from mine. “I guess we were made for each other.”

Then his lips were on mine again and I flipped the switch back to alluring and sexy as hell. That was definitely how I was feeling standing in the shadows of the gazebo, snow falling around us, and his lips on mine.

I breezed through the door of the bridal store at the last second, still wearing my work clothes. “Sorry,” I said, running into the warm building and pulling my coat and gloves off. “My last client was late.”

Ivy hugged me and patted my back. “No worries. We haven’t started without you. We were drinking our virgin mimosas and making an action plan.”

I leaned into her ear. “Did you tell her yet?

She snorted and almost choked on her own spit. “Do I look stupid? No, I’m not doing it without any backup. This was your idea. You’re going to suffer the wrath equally as much as I am.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Melissa called from the circle of couches and chairs in the middle of the bridal store.

“Let’s wait until she’s wearing a gown and can’t chase us,” I suggested, grinning and taking her hand to join Mel on the couch.

“Hi, Mel,” I said, hugging her before taking the mimosa she held out.

“Hey, Addie. Hope you like orange juice and sparkling cider.”

I held it up and sipped it regally. “Love it. Besides, I’m driving, so I’m good.” I sat and took another sip of the drink. “Do you have some gowns picked out?”

Mel sighed and leaned back on the couch. “I think I’ve said this about a thousand times, but I don’t need a gown. It’s just the courthouse. I can wear a simple dress. He’s only wearing a suit and tie.”

I glanced around. “Where’s Holly?”

“Home with her daddy. She said dresses are stupid.”

I reared up and stared at her openmouthed. “Um, what? Miss Holly did not say that,” I said, my own sass escaping. “I know she did not say that.”