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As we walk up to the door of Meg’s building, my mind runs through what I should say. I don’t want to come with the classic “I had a really great time tonight.” I’m better than that.
Think, man.
What’s a good thing to say? We’re almost there. Time’s running out. I’m about to say “I had a really great time tonight.” I can feel it coming.
Meg stops at the front door of the building and turns around. “You got yourself here, now what are you going to do with me?”
I smile.
That, folks, is Meg Johnson flirting withme.
My nerves melt away, and I slip my hand into hers. I nod toward a large bush that’s out of Krew’s eyesight and gently tug her behind it, pulling her body to me. I feel her soft curves and her racing heart against mine.
The upside to being single again is that I get to have moments like this. Moments where my heart rate is climbing, my stomach is swirling, and my throat is going dry.
I get to fall in love all over again.
I tuck a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear, letting my fingertips skim down the side of her face. “Meg, I want to kiss you again.”
Her pretty smile widens. “You won pinball fair and square. This is your doorstep scene. You can do what you want with it.”
I press my mouth to hers, and it’s complete bliss. It’s been more than a week since we last kissed. I’m a man that’s been trapped in a desert, and Meg’s the water I crave.
I’d love to keep this going, but I can’t. I slow the kiss and pull back…reluctantly.
“I’d better go,” I say. “I’ll call you later?”
“I hope so.”
And then I walk away, like the gentleman Kristen taught me to be.
I hop back into the truck and turn to Krew. “All right, let’s go home.”
“Why were you and Mrs. Johnson in the bush?”
“Uh…” I have to think quickly. “Miss Johnson fell in the bush, and I had to help her get out.”
Krew puckers his brow. “It looked like you pushed her in and held her there.”
“Is that what it looked like?”
“Yeah.”
I let out a small laugh. “Well, that’s silly.”
I pull out of the parking lot. Next time, I’ve got to find something more private than a bush.
CHAPTER33
MEG
It’s like I’m living in a dream world. I’m in Tyler’s kitchen, eating pancakes for the second time in a little over a week. I probably shouldn’t be here, but when Tyler’s text came in at 7:56 this morning, inviting me over for breakfast, I had to come.
I’m completely defenseless when it comes to him.
We make up an elaborate story for Krew about how I left something at their house and just came by to pick it up, and then Tyler invited me to stay and eat breakfast with them.
I know it’s bad—all the lying—but if I want to be with Tyler and keep my job, I don’t have a choice.
