I took it from him and inspected the wrapper. “Not the sexIhave.”
His expression darkened, and he took the bar from me, tossing it aside. “And just like that,” he said, getting closer, “I’m hungry for a different kind ofdessert.”
Instinctively, I lay back, and he followed, propping his elbow on the blanket and his head in his hand. He made no move to kiss me, just stared. I’d never observed him up close this long. Maybe it was his thick black lashes that’d once distracted me into thinking his eyes were green when they actually had hints of blue. Perhaps it was his unfairly sharp jawline more than anything that’d gotten me so riled up that first morning at the coffee shop. “We’re missing the movie,” I saidfinally.
“I don’t miss it atall.”
My cheeks practically ached from a day of smiling and laughing. Several hours on, and I wasn’t ready for our dog date to end. I wantedmore. To learn not only his fears, but to understand them inside out so I could soothe him. To be there on the next anniversary of his mom’s death—equipped with Dunkin’ Donuts and a shoulder to cry on instead of harsh words over spilledcoffee.
I could picture it clearly, and if that was the future I saw for myself, I could kiss it goodbye if I took his job. He’d never forgive me. I wouldn’t do that to him anyway, now that he’d let me in and showed me what’d driven him to work as hard as hehad.
Vance had offered me something more, but today, Sebastian had painted me our potential future. Was I willing to lose that over a job? The answer wasobvious.
Sebastian was the more Iwanted.
There was only one way to wave the white flag. Perhaps because I’d fought my attraction to him for so long, it now overwhelmed me. I tilted my chin with as subtle a pout as I could manage. I could’ve begged for a kiss just then, but pillowy lips said more than words evercould.
Sebastian cupped one side of my face. “You want me to get anoodle?”
I would’ve laughed, but cozied up in the blanket, with him pressed up against my side, I was oddly calm—and content just to lean into his palm. He trailed his hand down my side, resting it on my waist, then lowered his mouth. I closed my eyes as his rough tongue landed on mycheek.
Wait.
I squealed as slobber covered the right half of my face. Bruno nosed his way between us, pushing us apart. He rested his head on my chest and stared atSebastian.
Sebastian flopped onto his back, scoff-laughing. “You’vegotto be fucking kidding me,” he said, his eyes on the sky. “Bruno’s even nosier thanJustin.”
“At least Justinwantsus to kiss. Bruno, on the other hand . . .” I put my hand on my dog’s soft head. “I think this might be his way of saying he likes you as a friend but nothingmore.”
Sebastian turned his head, locked eyes with Bruno, and sighed. “I’ve never had to work this hard for a kiss, but if Bruno doesn’t approve, then I’ll just have to keep at it.” He moved a strand of hair from my cheek, then thumbed the bridge of my nose, over my freckles. “You know what theysay.”
“There’s a thin line between love and hate?” Iasked.
He smiled, punctuating one cheek with his semi-colon dimple. “The best buns are worth waitingfor.”
19
Georgina
On the doorstepof my apartment building, Bruno ensured Sebastian and I stood one Great Dane’s length apart. After the movie, we’d returned Opal, and Sebastian had insisted on walking mehome.
He leaned against the doorframe, admirably collected under Bruno’s side-eyeing. “So, how’d I score today?” heasked.
“By my calculation . . . you haven’tyet.”
“Yet?” Sebastian raised both eyebrows. “Was that an invitationupstairs?”
I resisted an enthusiasticyes!Sebastian was first and foremost my colleague. Wasn’t he? After what he’d planned for me today and what we’d each shared, our relationship had shifted. No, he was definitely more than acolleague.
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” I asked. “We still have to worktogether.”
“I’ll quit,” he murmured, moving closer, undaunted by Bruno’s growl, “if it means I can comeup.”
My heart skipped and my insides tightened, excited by his persistence. “We haven’t evenkissed.”
He leaned in, wine and mint on his breath. “That’s because I’ve been waiting for a moment when I wasn’t at risk of getting my junk bitten off,but. . .”
I laughed nervously and pulled Bruno back by his collar, taking the next few seconds to collectmyself.
