Page 65 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“A succulent?”
“Yes!” Lauren exclaimed. “One of those.”
Mia smiled as she bit into her dumpling, picturing Lauren in her new room with a little succulent on the table by her bed. Maybe she’d give her one as a housewarming gift. She’d seen them in the flower shop around the corner where she’d bought Lauren’s bouquet earlier.
They polished off their food and ordered a few more small plates to share while they chatted about everything from Lauren’s book to the new foster cat who’d be arriving at the café tomorrow. Mia loved the constant influx of new cats, watching them blossom and find their forever homes, and Lauren seemed to feel the same way.
Not everyone was cut out for fostering. It required a certain level of detachment from the animals, or at least it did for Mia. She never thought of them as hers or allowed herself to bond with them on more than a superficial level. Nothing like her bond with Lola. But Lauren seemed to get attached, especially to Gilbert, and yet she was always overjoyed when one of the cats went home with their new family.
Mia was endlessly impressed with her, and not just at the café. Lauren had worked hard to get her life back on track, and she was succeeding. She was thriving, and Mia loved watching it happen. They made their way through shrimp dumplings and sticky rice balls, and then Mia insisted on paying the check since she’d been the one to invite Lauren to dinner.
As they walked outside, she turned to Lauren with a coy smile. “Forgive me if this is too forward for a first date, but…would you like to come back to my place for a drink?”
Lauren gave her an incredulous look, and then she burst out laughing. “I don’t know, Mia, I’d havesucha long walk home afterward.”
* * *
Lauren walkedbeside Mia as they headed back to her apartment. The night had grown unexpectedly cold while they were inside the restaurant, and she shivered, stuffing her hands into her pockets. The street glowed with lights from surrounding businesses. Here and there, people had strung orange lights to celebrate the season, and pumpkins adorned their doorways.
Mia hooked her arm through Lauren’s as they walked. “I had a really nice time tonight.”
“Me too.” Lauren stepped to the side, bumping her shoulder against Mia’s.
“Best date I’ve had all month.”
“Same,” Lauren told her with a cheeky smile.
Mia raised her eyebrows. “It’s theonlydate you’ve been on this month.”
“Doesn’t matter. Even if I’d been on as many dates as you have, this would still be my favorite.”
Mia leaned in, brushing her lips against Lauren’s. “You know just what to say to make a lady swoon.”
“Still pretty giddy about being able to kiss you like this,” Lauren murmured against her lips. They stumbled to a stop on the sidewalk, stepping out of the way as they kissed. Mia’s hands framed her face, a habit of hers that Lauren was starting to notice, and she loved that she’d kissed her enough times now to know these things.
“You can kiss me any time you like,” Mia said, “because I can’t seem to get enough.”
“That’s lucky since I feel the same way.”
Mia groaned as her tongue delved into Lauren’s mouth. She was a passionate kisser, a woman who kissed like she enjoyed the act of kissing itself and not just as a precursor to sex. Lauren wasn’t sure she’d ever experienced that before.
They kissed for long minutes, until Lauren had forgotten the chill of the October air, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she remembered anything but the magic of Mia’s mouth. How did she do that? How did she make every kiss the best kiss Lauren had ever experienced? Or was this what it felt like to kiss someone you really cared about?
Mia lifted her head, giving Lauren a dazed smile as the breeze whipped wayward blonde strands across her face. “Come on, let’s go home.”
“Yes,” Lauren agreed, and although she was glad “home” meant Mia’s apartment for both of them tonight, she was also glad she was moving into her own place soon. It would put them on more equal footing as they took this step in their relationship.
Mia slipped a hand in hers, and they started to walk. “I’m still thinking about that book cover of yours. Quinn is really talented.”
“She is. I’m so lucky to know her.”
“And I think she feels the same way about you. It’s great to see you all sharing your creative talents with each other. I for one can’t wait to have a copy ofMeet Me at Midnighton my bookshelf.”
Lauren’s head was spinning from a combination of their kisses and the thought of releasing her first book. Last year this time, she’d been hiding in Rhode Island with Craig as her life fell apart. Now, Craig was gone, but in so many other ways, Lauren’s life was finally coming together. It was so unfair that he hadn’t gotten the same chance.
Tears blurred her vision, and the breath whooshed from her lungs as grief wrapped itself tightly around her chest.
“Hey, what just happened?” Mia stopped walking, again tugging her to the edge of the sidewalk.
