Page 38 of Next Time We'll Fall

“That’s all the time I need,” he says softly.

“Fine. I’m coming.”

“Good.”

He hangs up, and I quickly hurry over to the mirror to check my reflection.

I want to reapply my mascara, add some blush, touch up my lipstick, but I decide not to. I don’t want him to think I made myself pretty just for him.

I fluff my hair and hurry out of the room.

“That was fast,” Sage says, looking up from the fridge. She’s got a bunch of grapes in her hands. “Everything okay?”

“It’s fine. Rafe is actually in the parking lot. I’m just going to go and chat with him, if you guys don’t mind.”

“We don’t mind,” she says, winking at me, and I ignore her as I hurry out of the apartment.

As soon as I step outside, I see the headlights from Rafe’s car, and I hurry over, open the passenger door, and slide inside.

“What do you want?”

“It’s good to see you as well,” he says softly.

“Don’t you have animals to save?”

“Don’t you have books to sell?”

“ What are you doing here?” I glare at him. I do not need him reminding me that I should be working my real job.

“I’m trying to convince you not to make a mistake.”

“What mistake?”

“I’m trying to convince you not to go on a reality dating TV show because I don’t think it’s the best idea.”

“And why not?”

“Because all those men want is one thing.”

“Excuse me? Are you saying a man would only want to be with me to get sex?”

“No, I’m saying that …” His blue eyes look tired, and he lets out a long, deep sigh.

I sit back in surprise. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him sound and look like this.

“Is everything okay with you?”

“I’m annoyed, okay? I’m frustrated. We had a moment the other night, and you’re just sweeping it under the rug, and …”

“There’s nothing to sweep under the rug. I?—”

He leans forward and grabs my face. “I’m going to kiss you. And if you feel nothing, I won’t say anything.”

“I don’t know that I agree with this. I?—”

But before I can finish speaking, he leans forward and presses his lips against mine. They’re warm and soft, and I can feel myself melting as I kiss him back. My hands reach up and run through his silky hair, and I feel his hands at the sides of my face. His tongue slips into my mouth, and a whimper escapes beneath my breath.

He runs his fingers down the side of my body, and I shift slightly so that I can kiss him a little deeper and a little harder.