“That’s perfect. When will that be finished?”
Her face has turned pink. “I should have it finished by next week.”
“Next Friday? Can I pick it up then?”
“Of course. Sure. Great. Marvelous,” she mumbles nervously as she turns back to wrap up the necklace.
My sister will want one too, and since her birthday is next month, I’ll get her the same gift. A few minutes later, MacKenzie returns with a beautifully wrapped gift. She pulls out an iPad and presses a series of buttons. “Okay, your total for your necklace today will be $1,296.”
I pull out my black Mastercard and hand it to her. Blinking, she swipes the card and waits. “Would you like a copy of the receipt now, or would you like it emailed to you?”
“Email, please.” Sweet, this will give her my email address and my name. “It’s [email protected].”
“Oh, so you’re Sam Stone?”
“Yep. I’m Sam. What’s your name?” I give her one of my lady-killer smiles.
She turns a bright shade of pink but responds, “Mac, er, I mean MacKenzie. MacKenzie Parker.”
“Well, MacKenzie Parker, you make beautiful jewelry.” I raise my hand to shake hers. “It was very nice meeting you.”
She raises her hand, and when we touch, I feel a vibration run through my body. I know she feels something too because I watch as her eyes grow round and her beautiful rosebud lips open slightly in surprise. I don’t let go of her hand. I look her in the eye and ask, “Have we met before?”
She quickly pulls her hand back and begins busywork. “Um, no, I don’t think so. Thanks for shopping at One of a Kind. Have a nice day?”
Is that a question? I watch as she scampers into the back room again. I hear her moving things around. There’s quite a lot of banging and slamming of drawers. Is she angry? I’m not sure what to do, because she still has my gift in her hand. I need the gift. I’m having dinner with Mom tonight. I step around the case and make my way to the back room. MacKenzie is bent over a long wooden table, her head resting on the wooden surface.
I clear my throat. “Miss? Are you okay?”
She stands up so quickly she tilts off-balance. I lean forward and grab her around the waist before she can topple. She turns her body to face me; we’re inches apart.
“You, um, you can’t be back here,” she whispers.
I haven’t let go of her yet as I peer down at her beautiful face. “I know where I’ve seen you before.”
She blinks and says almost breathlessly, “Where?”
I give her a small smile. “You were the best New Year’s Eve kiss I’ve ever had.”
She blinks and says nervously, “You were mine, too. I like your shirt. It’s funny. Do you really like tacos?”
I look down at my tee and smile. “From my sister. It always makes me laugh, too. Yes. Ilovetacos.”
“Why don’t you marry them?” she whispers.
I’m shocked by her comment. A laugh jerks out of my mouth because I haven’t heard that since grade school. “I would if it was legal in Illinois.”
I watch as her eyes pinch shut, her head falls back, and her fantastic giggle escapes from her gorgeous mouth. I did it.Imade her laugh.
My hands itch with the need to touch more than her waist. I want to run my finger down her beautiful face and trace around those smiling lips. Her skin looks like it would be soft as silk. I’d like to let my lips touch a few of those adorable freckles on her cheek and nose. I’d love to run my tongue along the column of her neck, the pulse point below her ear that right this minute is beating like a drum. I bet she’d taste so sweet. Ah, Jesus, I’m getting a hard-on. Luckily, my hips aren’t touching her, or else she’d know. The desire to kiss her is strong. I think she feels it, too, because her face is slowly moving toward mine. I’ve got to check myself. It’s too soon.
I pull away, reaching out to grab my gift off the wooden table. “I’ll see you next week. Thanks, MacKenzie.”
Flustered and still pink with embarrassment, MacKenzie steps back as well. “Sure thing. Thanks. Um, I’ll have it ready for you.” She turns, pretending to clear the table of her gift-wrapping materials.
I step out of the back room and out the front of the store. “Shit,” I mutter to myself. “I almost went too far.”
CHAPTER NINE
