“I didn’t mean to. Just dropping coffee off for the most gorgeous woman.” He hands me my coffee and slides his hand onto my forearm. He really is the type of guy every woman dreams about.
“You’re earning brownie points with the coffee and compliments today.”
“Oh—brownie points? Can I cash them in this weekend?”
I decide to play along. “Yes, you can.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
He takes the coffee back out of my hands and sets both coffees on my station and draws me into him. My breath hitches. The way he holds me, there are flashes of last night when he carried me to bed.
The words tumble out, my voice a little shaky. “Why didn’t you stay last night?”
Brushing his thumb over my bottom lip, he says, “You were exhausted. If I stayed, held you, and snuggled up to your body, you’d have a steel rod poking into your back. You needed sleep, not me tossing and turning because I have a hard-on.”
I tuck my head into his chest and start laughing. Through the laughs, I manage to say, “That’s a good enough reason. I was exhausted, as much as I’d have liked to have you in my bed.” I glance up at him. “That was probably the right decision.”
I’m feeling rested today, which is a major improvement from the last few days. Holding my head with his hand, he drags his lips over mine.
THIRTY-SIX
Dane
Our lips meet, soft and warm. I can’t keep my hands to myself. My fingers lightly touch Kendall’s cheeks and then slide up to tangle them in her hair, as my tongue brushes against hers, tasting her sweet coffee. Slipping my hand to cradle her head, and with just enough pressure to draw her closer, I feel her moan against my mouth as our kiss deepens.
We are interrupted by someone clearing their throat, cutting through our moment like a knife. I respond by tightening my grip around her waist, fingers pressing into her hips, silently refusing to let this intrusion end what we've started. She breaks away with reluctance, and I can feel the lingering pressure of her lips; then, she plants a quick, warm peck on my cheek.
“Hi, Sally,” she says, her voice shifting from intimate to casual in an instant, though her hand remains hidden against my back.
I wave, never letting her go. With a gentle touch, I tilt her chin until our eyes meet. “I'll make time for you this week, I promise.”
She lifts my hand to her lips and presses a kiss against my palm. A current races from my fingertips to my shoulder, spreading through my chest until even my toes tingle withawareness. In that moment, I know with absolute certainty that nothing about my life will ever feel complete without her in it.
With the salon about to open and my office waiting, I pull her close against me one more time, breathing in her watermelon scent before reluctantly letting go. “I'll text you,” I promise, already missing her warmth.
“I can't wait,” she says, her eyes twinkling, bringing a smile to my face.
Looking at her is never enough. My hands itch to trace the curve of her cheek, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.
Her smile fades slightly. “Have you heard anything about Jake's case?”
I have to tell her. “I'm familiar with the judge handling Jake's case. Given the extensive list of charges and his status as a repeat offender, he's facing a lengthy jail term. I'm making sure that he doesn't end up in a cushy cell.”
She presses her hand against my chest, right over my thundering heart, and I cover it with mine, our fingers interlocking like they were made to fit together. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you." Her eyes lock onto mine, pupils dilated, filled with such raw vulnerability and trust that something inside me shatters completely, leaving me breathless and out of my element.
“If anyone can handle this situation, it's you. Reminds me of how my Gram faced challenges—head-on, no hesitation." I pull her close one last time, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. “Text me when you're free. I'll be thinking about you.”
The minute I walk into the office, my phone chimes in my pocket with that distinctive tone I've set for Kendall, breaking me out of thoughts still lingering on the softness of her lips. My heart quickens at the sight of her name on the screen.
Kendall:
I wanted to thank you for my coffee. It’s delicious…just like you.
Dane:
You can’t talk to me like that while at work…I’ll have to go sit in my office for a while.
Kendall:
Imagining that makes me laugh. My next client just walked in the door.
