Page 70 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

He pulls back with a rough breath, and I blink my eyes open.

“What was that for?” he rasps.

“I just wanted to. Is that okay?”

Monty’s eyes fall shut beneath his glasses, which are slightly fogged over, and touches his forehead to mine.

“Yeah, Xuxuzinho, it’s okay. You can kiss me whenever you want.”

That fizzy feeling inside my stomach pops and spreads through my limbs until I feel so light I think I might float away. I lean in and kiss him again, allowing myself to get lost in the taste of him, in the delectable sounds he makes, humming against my lips as if I’m positively delicious.

“Oh no, not you, too!” I hear a little voice say.

Monty chuckles against my lips, pulling back as we both turn in time to spot Quinn covering his eyes as he walks up to the bakery with Billie.

“Why do adults keep kissing everywhere I go?”

Billie laughs. “Sorry, guys! I’ll take this one inside.”

Monty tugs me forward and threads our fingers together. “That’s okay, we’re heading inside, too. Sorry about that, Quinn.”

The little boy rolls his eyes dramatically. “It’s fine, but if Uncle Jesse kisses my girlfriend tonight I’m going to scream.”

“Tally is Uncle Jesse’s girlfriend, bud.” Billie huffs out a laugh. “We’ve been over this.”

I pull Monty close and whisper in his ear, “Quinn developed a little crush on Tally last spring and he’s apparently still holding a flame for her.”

“It’s carrying a torch, Xuxuzinho.” He presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Just like I am for you.”

My stomach flips once more; fuck, he’s good at this fake dating thing.

“You coming?” he asks, tugging on my hand.

“Yeah,” I reply breathlessly.

We step inside and are greeted with a lot fewer people than before I rushed out. I guide Monty back toward the kitchen where I’ve set out the apples we picked earlier, noticing that Tally has already arranged different stations for every group to work on.

“What are we making?” he asks.

“Hmm, it’s not about how it tastes. It’s about how it looks. Remember, Rayna is judging us on the pictures.”

“Does that mean we get to eat it later?” Monty asks, brows raised.

“Maybe,” I sing-song.

“Then let’s go with an apple pumpkin crisp.”

My mouth waters. “Oh my God.”

“Figured that would make my sweet pumpkin happy.”

I suck my lips into my mouth. Is there such a thing as being too happy? Because, right now, that’s exactly how I feel. Hell, every time I’m with Monty that’s how I feel. This man makes me damn jubilant.

“Oh, look who’s here!” Billie says loudly, and I turn to see Fletcher walking into the kitchen with Henry by his side. The mayor’s son always wears a baseball cap; I think it’s because of his cochlear implants, though I’ve never asked. He’s a shy child, but when he spots Quinn, he gives a small smile.

“Didn’t know you were coming,” Rosie says from across the room, and I can almost hear everyone collectively holding their breath.

Fletcher meets her gaze and I swear I can feel the moment their eyes catch.