Page 91 of Hometown Halftime

When things finally settle down, the waitress has brought more drinks, and we talk about the game. Then we all listen as Evie runs through her list of Halloween costume ideas.

It feels good.

Kinsey pushes Brynn so that she can leave the booth. “Bathroom break. Try not to talk about me too much while I’m gone.”

“No promises,” Brynn says.

Kinsey flips her off over her shoulder while heading down the hallway toward the restrooms.

I last approximately thirty seconds before following her. My brain has started to make terrible decisions around her now.

The hallway near the bathrooms is quieter than the rest of the bar, music and conversation muffled while light spills across the wood-paneled walls. I lean back and wait.

When the door opens, she sees me, a slow smile spreads across her lips.

“Well,” she says softly. “This feels suspicious.”

I look down the hall to make sure we’re alone, then hook a finger into the waist of her joggers, pulling her to me. A giggle slips from her lips as her body collides into mine.

Her eyes flick down briefly before lifting back to mine again as her plush lips form a smile. The brim of my hat is keeping her too far from me, so I reach up, slipping off my hat. I drag my fingers through my hair before flipping it backward.

"Oh, fuck," she says with wide eyes.

My pulse spikes instantly. "What?"

Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink as she says, “Nothing.”

“That was definitely something.”

Then she shakes her head like she’s annoyed with herself.

“It’s the backwards hat,” she mutters.

I blink once, then grin slowly. “Seriously?”

“Don’t get cocky.”

“Kinsey Malone,” I run my nose against hers, “are you telling me the hat’s working for you?”

She points a finger at my chest. “I need you to understand that I’m actively trying not to be attracted to you right now. The whole town is out there!”

“That sounds exhausting.”

She rolls her eyes. “You have no idea.”

I laugh, but the sound dies quickly when her hand slips under the hem of my T-shirt. Her eyes stay on mine like she’s testing me.

The noise from the bar fades farther into the background as I look into her blue eyes. Kinsey’s breathing changes, then mine does the same.

I lower my head and swallow her gasp as I claim her lips. Her hands slide against my shirt while my palms settle on her waist, pulling her closer until my back presses against the hallway wall. The kiss turns heated fast, all of our leftover adrenaline and nerves from the day crashing together at once.

God, she tastes good. Like her mint gum and something completely addictive underneath it all.

Kinsey kisses me back just as hard, fingers tracing over my pecs while my cap nearly falls off from the way she pushes her body into me, like she can’t get close enough. A soft sound escapes her when I take the kiss deeper, and every muscle in my body goes taunt.

Jesus Christ, I’m obsessed with this woman.

My hand slides higher along her waist before footsteps suddenly echo down the hallway. Then a familiar voice cuts through the moment.