“Always.”
21
Inotice Sienna and Dominic dancing with their arms wrapped around each other with big, love-drunk smiles on their faces, while Saint matches up the final couple. They were ecstatic to find each other and hit it off immediately. The moment the man saw the woman Saint intended to match him with, I swear little cartoon hearts formed in his eyes. Just like Dominic and Sienna, they’re dancing as well, and neither of them can stop smiling.
I never believed in love at first sight, but my opinion may be changing.
Maybe it’s the magic of this quaint little town or the confidence with which Saint makes matches. Maybe it’s me hoping love at first sight exists because it would explain the connection I feel to the baker who came into my life a year ago and left a mark on my heart.
There’s a live band on the dais in the corner playing love songs from every era, the bar lighting low and seductive. The lust in the air is so thick, I can practically taste it.
Or maybe I’m projecting my own desire. All I can think about is Saint taking me home and making good on his promise to ravish me.
We’re in the middle of the dance floor, the band is playing “Valentine” by Martina McBride, and I can feel everyone’s curious gaze on us as we sway gently. Saint has one hand resting on the small of my back while the other holds mine. My head lies on his chest, and I feel thethump thump thumpof his heartbeat. His heart rate increases as our bodies press closer together.
I look up at him, my breath hitching and heart leaping to my throat when I find him looking back at me. His eyes are full of an emotion I’m too scared to put a name to. An emotion that feels crazy when I barely know him but feel like I’ve known him my whole life.
Saint’s hand slides from the small of my back to cradle my neck as he leans in and kisses me tenderly. The rest of the room fades away until we’re in our own little bubble. Our lips move together slowly at first, full of silent promises and unspoken words. When I let out a soft moan as his tongue teases my lips, something in Saint snaps.
“Time to go, sweetheart. My job here is done, and I need to get you into my bed,” he rasps against my mouth. He interlaces our fingers and drags me towards the door.
We’re almost to the exit when a woman with gray hair and a pinched face stops us. “Where do you think you’re going, Mr. Valentine?”
“My Cupid duties are done for the night, Loralee. I’m going home.”
Loralee folds her arms across her chest and lifts her chin. “There are still people who need to be coupled up. Your duties are far from done.”
“No one else has a match. Not here, anyway. I can’t just pair people up willy-nilly. That’s not how this works, and you know it.”
“It looks bad for the town if you leave early and don’t do your job.”
“Respectfully, Loralee, you’re wrong. Everyone who’s been matched is happy, and everyone else knew it was only a possibility, not a guarantee.”
“Well, it looks undignified that you’re going off with… whoever this is instead of staying to show support for the town. The council would be disappointed.”
“Oh, comeon, Loralee,” Slater says, approaching with a beer in his hand. “If Saint’s duties are done, let him run off into the sunset with his girl.”
Loralee stiffens as Slater approaches. “Mr. Madison, this is none of your concern.”
“You’re being a wench to my friend, so I’m making it my concern. Let Saint leave. Come dance with me. I know you had some moves back in the day.”
Loralee’s lips purse in disgust before she spins on her heel and heads in the direction of the bar. Slater lifts his beer to her retreating form before mumbling something about meeting someone and heading out the front door.
Stella and Ruby appear next to me. “What the hell was that?”
“Loralee being Loralee. We’re heading out,” Saint says.
“Oh, well, rude, but fine. Stell and I are bringing breakfast over tomorrow to hang out with Mikey before she has to leave.”
The reminder I’m leaving Cupid’s Cove tomorrow is like a bucket of cold water.
I don’t want to leave.
Saint stiffens next to me, like he’s just been reminded, too. “Right. Sounds good. Not before nine, okay?”
Ruby and Stella nod in agreement before we say our goodbyes, and Saint and I head out the door. He opens the passenger door of my truck and helps me in before he rounds the car and gets in the driver’s seat.
“Slide over here, I need to touch you until we can get home.”
