Page 53 of Forever After All

Yeah, the more she thought about it, the more she liked Linc’s idea to go back and teach the guy some manners.

She shook her head and put the mug down on the end table. “But what do I know? That could be the norm on dates these days.” Her mood was declining again, all because of that stupid guy. She was so mad she couldn’t even remember his name. “Why am I mad?”

Her first instinct was to burn with anger. Always. Shouldn’t she be sad or disappointed? The guy didn’t give two thoughts about her.

Maybe she didn’t know how to truly be sad when anger had always been her best friend.

“Because he didn’t respect you. At all. And that’s never fun.” Linc sat up, moving the bowl to the end table. “You know what would be fun? Watching my fist meet his face. Let’s go now, and you can film it to watch again later. We could have more popcorn. I bet Everly could make it into a gif. He could be internet famous by tomorrow morning.”

Linc’s idea was half appealing, half funny. The humor won out, and Jess pinched her lips together to hold in a laugh.

“You think I’m joking.” He stood and reached a hand out. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Jess set the laugh free and swatted his hand away. “Thanks for the offer, but you don’t have to duel for my honor or anything. My first kiss has yet to be claimed.”

Linc’s brows rose, as he lowered back to his seat. He sat closer to her than he’d been before, and the heat of his stare burned her neck.

She shouldn’t have said that.

“What?” Linc asked, slowly and clearly.

Oh, the control in that tone said there were dozens of words waiting behind the one he’d chosen, and Jess squirmed in her seat.

She finally let it slip that she’d never been kissed before, and now Linc was going to look at her differently.

Just as she’d feared.

Chapter15

Linc

Linc stared at Jess as she lowered her chin. Did she say her first kiss, or did she mean her first kiss with that jerk?

Jess was in her early twenties. How had she gotten this far in life without kissing anyone?

And why did that revelation both excite and terrify him?

Keeping her head down, she whispered, “You’re being weird.”

“No, I’m not.”

Hewasbeing weird, but his brain hadn’t caught up yet.

“Are too.”

Linc cleared his throat and reached for the popcorn bowl.Don’t be weird. Don’t be weird.“Speaking of weird, my snack seems to have disappeared.”

Nice save, idiot.

Jess grabbed for the bowl. “I’ll get you some more.” Half a second later, she was dashing out of the room.

Linc sat forward, propping his elbows on his knees and resting his head in his hands. Jess was going to be the death of him. Write it in stone. He had massive feelings for her, and he had no idea what to do with them.

There was no way he could tell her that now. Not only was she sweet, caring, and strong in a way he respected and admired, she was completely innocent.

Linc was not.

Kissing had never been one of those sweet, romantic things for him. In fact, he’d done a fantastic job of avoiding it during his meaningless hookups.

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