Page 32 of Small Town Swoo
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
And then some force of nature, some gravitational pull,was acting on the muscles in my body, and I found myself leaning toward him slightly. He lifted his chin, tilted his head. Our mouths were so close I felt his breath on my lips. Bells began to chime.
Wait, bells?
Startled, Dash and I jumped apart, and I realized it was the alarm on my phone, reminding me to take my birth control pill. Jumping down off the counter, I located my purse on a kitchen chair, dug around in it for my cell, and turned it off. “Sorry about that.”
“No problem. Guess I’ll take off,” he said, grabbing his keys and the leftover containers.
“I’ll walk you out.” I put a hand over my fluttering stomach and followed him to the front door on wobbly legs.
He stepped onto the porch, immediately looking down at his feet. “Soft spot here. You should maybe replace some of these boards.”
“Your dad said the same thing,” I told him with a sigh. “It’s on the list, along with repairing the railing. But first I have to finish painting the guest room. I got it all taped off and primed last week—I even bought the paint—and then I cut myself, so I can’t manage the roller.”
“I could help you paint,” he offered.
I laughed. “Are youthatworried about your karma? You already accompanied me to the hospital, worked a shift at the diner, and took my car to have it fixed. How did you even get here tonight?” I squinted at the vehicle parked on the curb.
“Borrowed my dad’s car. Don’t forget agreeing to Show and Tell in Mrs. Fletcher’s second grade classroom at Paddington Elementary.”
I grinned. “When is that?”
“Next week. But I’m not offering to do this stuff for good karma, Ari. I’m offering because I genuinely want to help you.”
“I appreciate it. I just don’t want to monopolize the time you’re supposed to be spending with family.”
“You are family,” he said with a smile that melted my insides. “Anyway, thanks again for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.” Those were the words that came out of my mouth. In my head were others.Don’t go. Kiss me. Stay the night.
He glanced at my lips and I tasted victory. But a second later, he met my eyes again. “Night, Sugar.”
“Night.” I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face.
He headed down the front walk, got behind the wheel of his dad’s car and drove off. When his taillights had disappeared down the block, I shut the door and wandered into the kitchen. As I finished cleaning up, I tried to calm my racing heart.
“Stop it,” I said aloud. “Nothing is going to happen. It’s obvious. We’re just going to be friends. He wants to come for dinner again because he likes my cooking. He offered to help me paint because he’s a nice guy. He said I was family because of my friendship with Mabel. Don’t get carried away.”
But as I lay awake in bed that night, I desperately hoped I was wrong and Veronica was right. I just wanted to know what it was like tobewith him. To feel desired by him. To get thisthingI had for him out of my system once and for all.
Just once. That was all I needed.
Just once.
SIX
dash
Jesus Christ,I thought as I drove home.I’d almost kissed her.
I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t touch her tonight. I’d kept my distance all during that endless, waterlogged movie. I’d even caught her staring at my crotch, and Istillstayed on my end of the couch.
There should be a reward for that kind of restraint.
She was so fucking pretty, with that curly hair and those curvy hips and that sweater that looked so soft it would be like hugging a cloud if you put your arms around her. And that mouth. Jesus. The number of times I looked at her lips and thought about them on my dick was fucking obscene.
But it wasn’t just physical. She was so different from the women I knew in L.A. So normal and real and down-to-earth. When she laughed at something you said, you knew she really thought it was funny. When you made a ridiculous remark, she called you out on it. When you had a conversation with her, she didn’t just talk—she listened.
