Wendy laughed again. “I suppose that makes sense.”
“Would you tell me if we were dating? Like,reallydating?” He leaned in even closer. He could smell a hint of mint on her breath.
“Maybe,” she whispered.
Tripp slanted his head. “I guess the only way to start down that path would be for me to ask you out.”
Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Oh my gosh. I can’t believe—” She started to pull away but he’d managed to hold her firmly, one arm around her waist. She pressed both hands against his chest. “I was supposed to be on a date with?—”
“Me.”
Wendy’s whole body went slack and she gaped at him. “What? No?—”
He grinned at her and as the reality of the situation settled on her, she gasped again. “You didn’t.”
Tripp stared at her blankly, waiting for her to say exactly what was on her mind. When she failed to find the words, he snickered. “Get Jacob to set me up with you instead of some random guy? Of course I did. I told you, sweetness, I’m not going to let you go.”
Her jaw dropped but he couldn’t miss the relief and… maybe excitement in her eyes. “Of course you did,” she said finally.
He chuckled, placing his palm against her cheek once more. “Of course I did,” he repeated. “So, what do you say? Go on a date with me?”
She pretended to think about it, tilting her head to the side as her hands came up to lace behind his neck. “I suppose I could consider scheduling you in.”
Tripp shook his head with a mock groan. “You’re killing me.”
Her eyes twinkled.
“We could get out of here,” he murmured, leaning in so his nose brushed near her ear. “A picnic. A horse ride. Something… romantic?”
She pulled back and frowned. “What?”
For a brief moment, he panicked. Where had he gone wrong? She loved the rides they’d taken.
Then she made a gesture with her hand. “We’re at the rodeo. I’m owed a giant stuffed bear from the games and a pink cotton candy.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment then threw back his head with a laugh. “It’s a deal.”
She grinned at him. This moment right here couldn’t be more perfect.
Actually, that was wrong. There was one thing that would make this even better.
Before he had a chance to pull in for a kiss, she beat him to it.
Wendy stood on her toes and kissed him with abandon. She gave herself over fully as she tugged him to her and clung to him like he was her personal lifeline. There was no more holding back. No more hiding from what they both wanted. They were made for each other, and they’d been foolish not to see it from the start.
Their kiss was broken only due to the fact that he was smiling. Wendy pulled back and gave him a funny look.
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Tripp…”
Once again, he shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. Come on. You need a giant teddy bear.” He tugged her out into the open and toward the exit. How many times had he flippantly told her that one day she’d fall in love with him? It didn’t matter. He didn’t have to tell her that he’d been right. Something told him now was not the time. She wasn’t ready to hear it and maybe she wasn’t prepared to hear his confession either. Not until she was prepared to tell him herself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
How coulda whole month pass and at the same time feel like no time had passed at all? Wendy was head over heels in love with Tripp. She could feel it in her soul. And yet, she hadn’t managed to get the words out.
