Page 90 of The Offer

She chuckled as he leaned in and kissed her, smiled, then kissed her again before letting go and returning to the bike he was fixing.

Blake sputtered, unable to form a full sentence.

The bell at the door jingled again. Rory chased Honey into the shop as Calvin held the door open for Melanie.

Blake jumped, pointing a finger at them with a stupid grin on his face. “I know something you don’t know!” he singsonged.

Rory froze. “Hot gossip?”

“Steaming hot.”

“Blake…” Jess warned.

She watched Calvin as he turned to Kevin. A knowing look passed between them, then Calvin smirked and fist-bumped his friend.

“Mmkay I’m not doing this,” Jess snipped. She slid the glass display case closed and beelined for the kitchen door.

“Jessica, come here!” Kevin pleaded, jogging in her direction.

“Nope.”

She was halfway through the door when he caught her wrist. He pulled her back and right into his arms, then rubbed his nose against hers. “They were going to find out eventually.”

She growled, which only made him laugh. He cupped her face and kissed her, and everything melted away again.

Squeals came from the other side of the shop. Jess opened her eyes and saw Melanie and Rory clinging to one another as they jumped up and down, ecstatic.

She coughed and stepped around Kevin. He caught her waist before she could get too far and stepped right behind her, wrapping an arm around her stomach.

“So you guys boned, right?” Rory asked.

Jess shook her head. “I’m not answering that, you’re a child.”

“Hello I am eighteen and dating a hot football player, do you really think I—”

She cut her off. “Please, for the love of god, do not finish that sentence.”

Rory smirked. “But in all honesty…your one-night stand? Was it…”

Kevin tucked a flyaway behind her ear, his eyes burning into her. “She couldn’t help but come back for more.”

“Oh my god,” Jess groaned, slapping his hand.

The rest of them howled with laughter. Jess felt her face go hot as she attempted to squirm out of his reach, but with no luck. He steered her right back in and gave her another mind-melting kiss that practically had her forgetting her own name.

“Wow, okay, yeah, you definitely boned,” Rory teased.

“I am such a big fan of this,” Melanie swooned.

“And I knew before you did!” Blake cheered.

Jess gave them a shy smile and gave in to the moment. She leaned the back of her head against Kevin’s chest. “Why are you all here? I didn’t know it took four of you to walk a dog.”

“Tyler’s coming home this weekend,” Rory said. “I forced Mel into planning a bonfire with me so we could all hang tomorrow.”

Melanie handed Jess the leash. “Do you guys want to come? We’ll be at Sandy Cover after Scoops closes.”

She flicked her eyes to the small cork board hanging on the back wall and surveyed the sage green invitation tacked to the center.