“Kiss me.”
I lower my chin to my chest and stare at him with wide eyes. Have I heard him correctly? He licks his lips. They’re full and a perfect shade of cherry-red. “That’s not a good idea.” I shake my head. “You’re with Isabel. I can’t be the reason you two break up again.”
Fernando inhales sharply. “You think I’m getting back together with Isabel?”
I blink a few more times, now fully awake. “Aren’t you?”
“No,” he says emphatically.
“Oh.” A chorus of gospel singers starts singing at the top of their lungs inside my head. Fernando is still single! “Back at the restaurant, you mentioned lunch with Isabel and clearing your schedule. I just assumed...” My voice trails off.
“We were an item?”
I nod.
“I can see where you might get that idea.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “At breakfast today, Isabel and I decided to be friends again, but that’s it. I made it clear that any romance between us has fizzled out.” He sighs. “Anyway, the reason I wanted to clear my schedule to meet her for lunch is to discuss a skating show she wants my help putting together.”
“A skating show,” I say slowly. I hang my head. “I feel so dumb right now.”
“No, Ava, you’re not dumb. Before we were interrupted, I wanted to tell you that we weren’t together.”
He takes my hand in his. “Since the day you helped me out in the clinic, I’ve been attracted to you. The more time I’ve spent with you, the deeper that infatuation has grown. I thought I’d be able to stick to my rules and avoid ever falling for someone. But I’ve failed—miserably, I might add. Because since we landed in Lisbon, all I’ve wanted to do is kiss you senseless and make you myrealgirlfriend.”
My breathing increases. My stomach begins to perform somersaults. That’s what I’ve wanted all along too. “But what about yesterday in the car when you freaked out on me?”
“That was one of the dumbest moves I’ve ever made.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “It was a last-ditch effort to convince myself I shouldn’t risk another relationship. I didn’t want to get hurt again. But all I managed to do is make myself more miserable. I’m tired of being alone. I want to be happy again and spend my timewith a woman I’ve grown to care deeply for.” He cups my cheeks with his hands. “I realized today that I can’t run the risk of losing you to another man. I want you for me. I want to spoil you rotten, teach you to skate, and learn all about animals from you.”
His words cause my brain to go fuzzy. I don’t need to hear anything else from him. And I don’t want to wait any longer. Leaning forward, I greedily plant my lips on his and kiss him. Deeply. His arms wrap themselves around my back, while mine loop around his neck, and he pulls me into his body. Despite only having a light long-sleeve shirt on, he serves as my personal heater.
I’ve waited so long for this second kiss. Unlike our first time, we’re not putting on a show. There’s nothing fake about this. It’s like my body has been dropped in a glass of expensive champagne. Everything within me feels like it’s sparkling, and I’m filled with bubbles of delight. His lips are so silky soft. His cologne is fresh, a muted lemon scent.
As we break apart, I giggle. “How is it you’re always so warm?”
“That’s just how I am.”
We nuzzle our noses and kiss again at a much slower pace. I allow my brain to completely shut off, my emotions to run wild, and my body to do as it pleases.
We only leave the sanctuary when some of the keepers come through and tell us they’ve been closed for over an hour. Oops. When you’ve been enjoying yourself so much, there’s not much else that matters in the world.
With my fingers laced through Fernando’s, we slowly meander to the exit and back to the car. “Well, at least we don’t have to pretend anymore in front of your family.”
“I was under the impression you weren’t pretending even when everything was fake.”
My face flushes. “Okay, I wasn’t.”
“Well, if we’re admitting the truth, neither was I.” He licks his lips. “I was looking for every possible excuse to play the boyfriend card with you.”
I elbow him lightly in the ribs. “You should’ve told me sooner.”
“I know. I could’ve saved us a lot of time and trouble.” He sighs. “It won’t happen again.”
“It had better not because I’m not letting you go anywhere.” I giggle. “You’remyboyfriend. Nobody else’s.”
“I could say the same for you.” He swoops his arms under my legs and lifts me up as I laugh wildly, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I have no intentions of letting you go anywhere either. You’ve captured my heart. I hope you like being spoiled rotten because that’s exactly what I intend to do with you. I’m a man who’s been starved for love for too long.”
He gives me a peck on the cheek and puts me down at the car. We return home, both smiling widely and feeling as if we’re floating along on a magic carpet ride.
Chapter Twenty-Five
