It doesn’t bring enough of a respite from the heat, though.
“Thank you,” Amanda says quietly while she fiddles with the engagement ring that she hasn’t removed once, not even when we’ve been here alone.
“For what?”
“For doing this with me. You’ve been—you’ve been the absolute best. The instant I told my grandma and mom that I was engaged to you, I had so many regrets. I thought you’d be furious. I thought Lorelei would be stuck in the middle, and obviously, she’d pick you, and then I’d be the next reason the mayor had to break up fights between our families. But instead, I feel like I’ve made another best friend.”
“I’m not really theget angrytype.”
“You’re the best type.”
“It’s a phase. It’ll pass.”
Her eyes soften and her lips tip up as she looks at me. “I don’t think so.”
“Heat’s gone to your brain.”
The heat’s gone tomybrain.
When she looks at me like that, I think she wants to kiss me.
I know I want to kiss her. It’s why I’ve avoided her as much as possible since the night she caught me in the shower.
I’m tired of avoiding her.
I’m tired of resisting her.
I’m not tired of wanting her.
“I really am glad I’ve gotten to know you.” She lifts the plate of fruitcake with a smile, then sets it on the porch beside her. “And not for this. You—this you—you’re the highlight of this trip home.”
Ah, fuck.
She means it.
And she’s leaning closer. Tipping her chin up. Eyes dropping to my lips.
Bad idea.
But so was pretending to be engaged to get our families to knock it the fuck off. We still don’t have a plan to get her out of inheriting her family’s bakery.
I mean, I have ideas.
But none that I think she’ll like.Inherit it and hire whoever the hell you want to stand in there with your mom.
It’s not something I feel like I can say yet.
But what I can do?
I can quit resisting her.
Giving in to kissing her is the easiest thing I’ve done all week. Angling in to brush my nose against hers, then against her cheek. Our breaths mingling. Her fingers settling on my face. My grip around her tightening.
Until our lips meet.
Soft and hesitant, but only for a moment before we’re both all in.
This kiss—it’s not because anyone’s watching. It’s not for show. It’s not pretend.
