Page 60 of Pierced Pages
Danielle’s breath caught in her chest for a few moments before she could exhale it in a slow, steady stream.
She was afraid to look beside her at Morgan. Afraid to see if that line resonated with her as well.
Because that’s exactly how the last few weeks had felt. Like a slow, quiet building of… something. Something that was threatening to turn Danielle’s whole life upside down.
If she let it.
She must have missed the rest of the speech because suddenly everyone on the lawn was clapping. Danielle clapped along with them, then glanced at her phone on the little table.
“I should get going,” she said. “I turn into a pumpkin at nine o’clock.”
Morgan laughed softly. “Surely your beautiful outfit won’t turn to rags if you stay a few minutes longer.”
“No, but I should get home and relieve Gerri of Lila duties.”
Danielle would rely on her friends too much already that weekend. She didn’t want to lean on them any more than she already was.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
Together, they crossed the side of the lawn to where all the cars were parked in a row out front. They walked mostly in silence except for the sound of their shoes over the grass. When they reached her car, Danielle unlocked it and turned to face Morgan, who was a little closer than she’d expected.
“Thank you for keeping me company. It was nice to have someone to hang out on the periphery with. It’s always awkward to do that alone, and everyone wants to come up and talk to me like I’m not alone intentionally.” Morgan looked down for a second, then back up at Danielle with an uncharacteristic shyness on her face. “It was nice to not feel alone. To be with you, I mean. I really enjoyed being here with you.”
Danielle’s breath was shallow as her heart raced in her chest. “It was nice to be here. The food, the drinks… it was all so lovely.” She cleared her throat as softly as she could. “It was nice to be here with you, too.”
Her back was now pressed against the car door as Morgan leaned forward, her face suddenly inches away. As Danielle looked up at her, she could smell the woodsy floral scent she had grown to recognize as Morgan’s, and her gaze became fixated on the deep brown eyes staring down at her.
Morgan’s body inched even closer, then she met Danielle’s mouth with her own. Her lips were warm and soft, and the slightest hint of thyme and olive oil flavored them. Danielle’s heart raced even more as the kiss deepened.
This time, she didn’t pull away.
At least not at first. First, she enjoyed the feel of Morgan’s mouth against hers. Enjoyed Morgan’s hand against her waist. Enjoyed Morgan’s other hand against the side of her face. She enjoyed it all and wasn’t sure she wanted that kiss to ever stop.
But it had to.
For now.
She pulled her head back ever so slightly and said, “I should really get back to Lila.”
“Right,” Morgan said, stepping back to allow Danielle room to open the car door. She looked disappointed but understanding. “I’ll see you tomorrow? I have pre-wedding stuff, but I promise I’ll make time to see you when you get there.”
“Don’t worry about me.” She winked. “I’ll just be waiting for more of that delicious food I was promised.”
Morgan laughed. “A promise is a promise.”
“Well, good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
As she got in her car and drove down the long driveway, she couldn’t help but feel like tomorrow was far too long away.
Chapter 27
Morgan
As if she could still feel Danielle there, Morgan absently touched her fingers to her lips. She struggled to focus on her breath, to calm herself from all the thoughts racing through her head.
She’d kissed Danielle.
