Page 76 of Always Almost You
She pursed her lips and gave him a sideways glance, as if considering it. “Okay, Ferris Bueller,” she said. “You’re on. Let’s both play hooky tomorrow and actually get to know each other. You’ve occupied my thoughts for weeks. It’ll be nice to learn about the real you.”
Mike turned her gently toward him and slipped his other arm around her, holding her loosely. “There’s one more thing before we go back inside,” he said.
She arched an eyebrow.
“It’s Valentine’s Day. We’re standing under this movie-set-worthy arch, and all I can think about is kissing you.” He paused, looking down at her, giving her the choice.
Lauren closed the space between them.
The kiss was soft and tentative at first, then deepened as longing gave way to certainty. They were just beginning to pull apart when a balloon popped overhead.
Mike burst out laughing. “I think that sums up how I’m feeling.” He took Lauren’s hand in his, and, together, with Buddy and Pumpkin, they walked back into the café.
CHAPTER 50
Lauren pulled back from Mike and gave him a playful cuff on the shoulder. “Now look what you’ve done. I’ll have to fix my lipstick before we leave.” She slipped out of his embrace and turned toward the mirror above the table in her entryway.
Mike came up behind her, circling her waist with his arms. “I’ve got a suggestion. Whenever I pick you up for a date, I’ll want to kiss you, so why don’t you stop wearing lipstick? You don’t need it, anyway. You’re stunning without makeup.”
Lauren reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue and a tube of lipstick. She reapplied a soft pink shade that enhanced her full lips without looking overdone, then blotted carefully. “I’m not going out without my lipstick,” she said.
“Does this mean I can’t kiss you when I arrive?”
Lauren caught his eye in the mirror and smiled. “Of course not. It just means I’ll wait to apply it until after I’ve greeted you.”
Mike pulled her against him and brushed a series of light kisses along her neck.
“We’d better not start this,” she said, laughing, “or we’ll be late for dinner at Eric and Mandy’s.”
Mike dropped his hands and grinned. “I can’t wait until they realize we’ve already met.”
“It’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Lauren asked. “Kathy and Mandy have been trying to introduce us for months.”
“And we’ve been almost running into each other for weeks.”
“I still can’t believe we missed each other at the New Year’s Eve party.”
“We could have ended up on a Zoom call together for a collaborative project,” Mike stated, “and recognized each other that way.”
“I’m glad it happened the way it did. It’s so much more romantic. Kathy and Mandy are going to swoon when I tell them how you stepped up to the microphone and sang to me.”
“And Eric,” Mike replied, “is going to tease me about that for the rest of my life.” He smiled. “But I agree. That night was magical.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. “It was always meant to be you.”
Lauren swayed back on her heels. “You’re doing it again,” she said. “Making me weak in the knees.”
“Then I’ll save that for later,” he said. “We’ve got to get going.” He turned toward the sofa, where Buddy and Pumpkin were curled together, watching them. “Be a good boy,” Mike said, pointing at Buddy. “No tearing up Lauren’s place like you did mine on New Year’s Eve. This is a test. If you pass, you get more time with Pumpkin.”
“Look at how sweet they are together,” Lauren said. “I think they’re going to be just fine.” She checked the mirror one last time, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Mike escorted her to his SUV. They held hands on the drive to Eric and Mandy’s house, arriving at six on the dot.
“That’s Jake’s car,” Lauren said as they pulled into the driveway. “He and Kathy are already here. They’re never early for anything. It must be because she’s so eager to introduce us.”
Mike turned in his seat to look at her. “This is going to be fun.”
“I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they realize we’re a couple. Kathy and Mandy will be overjoyed.”
“We’re going to hear a lot of ‘I told you so’s.’”
