That kiss that made the rest of the world dissolve into a blur of noise and lights andus.
The kind that changes the air after it’s over.
I’m halfway through folding towels when I hear tires crunching on my gravel drive.Before I can even move, Kenzie’s voice bellows through the screen door like sunshine with a caffeine problem.
“Do not even try to pretend you’re not home, Tess.I brought coffee and carbs.”
I laugh, setting the basket aside, and make my way to the door.
Kenzie holds up a tray of coffee and a box from Clara’s like an offering.“You can't avoid me, my sister, from another mister.Now spill.What’s going on with you and my brother?”
My stomach flips.“Brother?”
She doesn’t even wait for me to answer, dropping onto my couch, her phone already out.“You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
She grins like a cat who has just found the cream.“Oh, Tess.You went viral.”
I blink.“What?”
Kenzie flips her phone around, and there it is, the whole damn thing: a carousel of photos, clips, and posts.
Us dancing.
The dip.
That kiss.
A side-by-side of Nate winking on the Jumbotron while I’m mid-laugh, smiling like I’ve forgotten the whole arena is watching.
Jamie’s caption:Kodiaks hit the rodeo, but the Cowgirl stole the show....and maybe our Captain's heart.
“Oh my god.”
“Yup.”Kenzie sips her iced coffee.“Half the comments are asking who you are, the other half are about how no one knew Captain Carson could smile like that.”
I bury my face in my hands.“OH MY GOD.Tell me this dies down.”
She pats my knee.“Eventually.Around the same time, hockey stops being a religion.”
I groan, and she laughs harder.
“Kenz, I’m not built for this kind of attention.I like my quiet life.I like my animals.I like not having to think about what I look like when I leave my house.”
“I know,” she says softly, and for once, she sounds serious.“But I also know my brother, and I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you.”
I don’t know what to say to that.
Instead, I deflect.“You going to the Palmers' anniversary dinner?”
“Obviously.Everyone’s going.Family-style dinner, long tables, too much food, everyone pretending not to notice that Mom already told the entire town you and Nate kissed.”
I groaned.
She laughed."I bet Mom is going to get t-shirts made with that kiss printed on them.Maybe even on your wedding invitations."
“No.”
