She frowned and her bottom lip poked out a smidge. It was the thousandth time I wondered what that bottom lip might taste like.
“Did you even want to be a police officer?”
I thought for a few seconds. “I don’t really know. I’m glad I am one, but I can’t say my reasons were only for the greater good.”
She let that soak in.
A beat of awkward silence fell between us. I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m oversharing. Sorry.”
“There’s no such thing here. Always overshare with me.”
Her round brown eyes were misty. No one in my entire life had invited me to speak openly and responded well when I did.
It sent my heart into a free fall. Fast and hard. No brakes to slow the descent. No pads to soften the blow. My heart was hers. I was all in from that moment on.
She squeezed my hand.
When I glanced back at the field, the buck was gone.
“Miranda, I’m sorry. I ruined your hunt.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“You probably regret bringing me.”
She laughed then. Full on. Not trying to stay quiet.
She leaned in, a sultry look in her eyes.
“Theonlything I regret is telling you I don’t kiss on first dates.”
I swallowed hard. “You regret that, huh?”
“Most definitely.”
She slid her hand up and over the ridge of my shoulder. My breathing quickened. I whispered, “We can fix it.”
“I hope so.” Her gaze was on my lips like mine was on hers.
Sweet, pink, full. Framed by porcelain cheeks and dimples.
The breathlessness in my voice surprised me. It’s not like Miranda was my first kiss ever. “Do you—kiss on second dates?”
She nodded, wetting her lips.
Her chest heaved. My hands slipped around her neck, thumbs caressing her face. When her lips meshed against mine, we got lost.
She owned me. Heart, mind, body, and soul.
When we left the tree stand, the sun had warmed the November morning and the cold dew was long gone.
TWENTY-TWO
Jack
Iplunged a corkscrew into the wine bottle, twisting it deep. Soft voices wafted from upstairs and the bath water was running. Kacey whined occasionally. Miranda agreed to come back down after she got him tucked in. Hence the wine. My body practically hummed with anticipation.
I should've been tired. That phone call with Jules kept me up all night.
