Page 176 of Never Not Friends

She walks directly to me and presses her body against mine, kissing me. Thoroughly.

I’m so shocked I stumble back, hitting the door against the wall, but I don’t even care. My hands find her waist as hers slide around my neck.

There’s nothing slow about the kiss.

And based on how she immediately threw herself at me, she’s screwed too.

I hear kids playing in the distance. I might not be a gentleman, but I have enough sense to be a good neighbor. I walk her backward into the house and kick the door shut behind me.

We’re a frenzy of desperate kissing, so it’s no surprise when we accidentally bump into the console table, and a frame crashes to the ground. The sound pulls us apart.

“What was that?” she asks, looking around.

“A picture frame.” I chase after her lips, wanting another round.

“Wait.” She pushes against my chest.

“Right.” I step back with my palms up. “Sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. That was all me.” She holds her hand out for me to shake. “I’ll be on my best behavior from now on. I swear.”

I smile. “I don’t want that⁠—”

“No. It’s necessary. We’re adults. We can control ourselves.” She moves her hand like she really wants me to shake it.

Instead, I grab her fingers and place a kiss to the back of her hand.

My lips tip into a smile as I straighten. “Fine. Best behavior.”

“Great.” She glances behind her shoulder. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Pancakes with buttermilk syrup and strawberries.”

Her eyes brighten. “That’s my⁠—”

“Favorite. I know.” I grab her hand, pulling her toward the kitchen. “Come on. Everything’s ready besides the pancakes. You can help me flip them.”

“Flip them?”

“Yeah.” I shoot her a smile. “We need to keep you busy so that you don’t spontaneously kiss me again.”

“I guess I deserve that,” she laughs.

I hand her a bowl with pancake mix already inside. “Just add water.”

“A secret recipe?”

“No. Krusteaz.”

For the next five minutes, we keep ourselves busy and apart.

Mostly.

There are a lot of heated looks.

Emma catches me staring at her lips twice. I catch her three times.

I give up and resort to standing behind her with my arms around her body.