The more time they spent together, the more she was starting to get used to him in her life.

Was that good?

He was the first boyfriend she’d had as an adult. Surely, she should date around before finding someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. And shedidwant a partner in life. She’d seen with Conrad and Dash how finding someone they loved and shared their life with had enhanced them. Made them seem more fulfilled.

She wanted that.

Was she just seeing in Kit what she wanted to see?

Her heartbeat sped up and a few doubts crept into the good endorphins that she always experienced when she was with him.

“What is it?” he asked, looking concerned. “You know, if you don’t want to be on camera you don’t have to do it.”

She smiled and that knot in the pit of her stomach started to relax. Kit always thought of her first. She knew that was important. Or at least it was to her. “I know. I’ll be okay. Thanks for coming over here with me.”

“Rory, if it’s possible, I’ll always be here for you.”

Oh!Why did he have to say things like that in the middle of a crowded room? She kissed him, long and deep, and then pulled back before it went too far. “Thank you.”

He flashed a grin that made everything feminine in her melt into a puddle of want and need. She didn’t know if she was going to be able to wait until the chili fest was over to be alone with him.

She flushed, thinking about making love in the back hallway of the civic center. She knew just the spot that would give them the privacy they needed.

“How much longer until you need me?” she asked the director.

“About ten minutes. You can go and I’ll text you when we’re ready.”

“Great,” she said before turning to Kit. “Come with me.”

Rory took his hand and led him out of the main hall of the civic center and up the back stairs to the small room that had been used as a projection room back in the day. She’d remodeled it into a private meeting space.

She closed and locked the door behind them after she’d led him inside.

“Uh, Ms. Gilbert...what are you doing?”

She winked. “I was thinking there’s one thing that I need.”

“And that’s...?”

Kit. She needed Kit. She was being flirty and playful with him but deep in her soul she knew she needed him.

It might not be wise to fall for the first man she dated but she knew she was. She was totally vibing on Kit. Everything about him was ticking boxes and pushing buttons and in every way that mattered, he was just what she wanted.

She didn’t know if she’d dreamed him up in her coma or how he’d dropped into her life...and she didn’t care. She was just glad he was here now.

She pushed him back against the locked door, leaning into him and wrapping one thigh around his hip.

And from the look on his face he wanted her just as badly.

His eyes glinting with desire, he put his hands on her butt and drew her up into his body as his mouth came down on hers.

Kit was aware that Rory only had ten minutes until she had to be back downstairs. Hot and horny, all he wanted to was turn and bang her against the wall but he wasn’t sure that would be satisfying for her. Though his mind was having a hard time staying in control.

Her mouth was on his neck, sucking at that one spot that seemed connected to his cock, which was only getting harder. She was rubbing herself against the ridge of his erection as her hands held his shoulders tightly.

“Rory...honey, we don’t have time for this,” he gritted out.

“I’m pretty sure we do. I mean last night you did it in five.”