Page 463 of Small Town Firsts
Sullivan met my gaze with a smile as he helped Danny cut up his meatball.
Not this man.
Itcouldn’tbe this easy, could it?
NINE
SULLIVAN
HavingNora at the table with my family was not what I’d envisioned for the end of my day.
Neither had the kiss.
Kisses, plural.
I could still taste her on my tongue, even over my mom’s intensely garlic-heavy sauce and garlic bread. And I wanted to do it again, maybe after I brushed my teeth.
Maybe after my kid went to bed.
I only needed to get through another two hours.
Thankfully, Danny still needed that twelve hours down. And I really needed to check on my job listings, but all I could think about was her soft skin and getting my hands on her. The gauzy material of her dress didn’t hide a single curve.
She was talking to my mother at the sink, while they packed up To Go containers for us. Anna Murdock never let anyone leave her house hungry.
Stuffed to the eyeballs, more like it.
“Want to run off some of this pasta?” I asked Danny.
“Can I go get Trouble?”
“Sure can.”
Before the words were out of my mouth, he was taking his plate to the sink and detouring out the door.
Nora appeared in front of me, holding two containers. “He’s a really sweet boy.”
“Finally coming out of his shell.”
“Especially when it comes to the dog.”
“You got him pegged.” I stood up and crowded into her. “Want to go outside and play?” I dropped my voice so my mother couldn’t hear.
“I could be persuaded.”
I glanced down at her pink lips, then up to her hazel eyes. “And I would definitely like to persuade.”
“Get out of my kitchen.” My mom’s voice had us breaking apart.
“We can help clean up.” Nora turned toward my mom.
“Nope. First dinner is on me. Next time, you can get into the clean-up rotation.”
Nora laughed. “Okay, deal.”
“Go on outside. It’s too nice to be inside. I’ll send Danny out back with you guys.”
“Thanks, Ma.” I led Nora through the back door to the backyard.
