Lance chuckled and placed it in her hand. “Either way, I’ll make sure to see you tomorrow.”
And that was that.
UnValentine’s Day date set with a man she was really starting to enjoy being around.
She smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded again and he pulled her hand to the inner crook of his elbow. The affection released the butterflies that had been held hostage all this time in her middle.
Slowly, testing, she laid her cheek against his muscular arm, and Lance allowed it.
He reached over and touched underneath her chin so gently, and she looked up at him. His eyes were bright green inthe muted light of the shuttle. Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her lips.
Birdie was stunned into stillness as warmth enveloped her body. His fingertips touched her cheek as he kissed her, and just as gently as it had begun, he eased out of it with this soft smile on his lips.
“It’s been a long damn time,” he murmured.
“Oh yeah? Like six weeks?” she teased.
He laughed and draped his arm around her shoulders and dragged her against the warmth of his ribs, then rested his chin on top of her head as he looked out the window. “Like one week.” His voice danced with teasing.
She smacked him playfully. “Well then don’t kiss me anymore, man-ho. I’m holding out for the one.”
His chuckle reverberated through him and he hugged her closer. “I’m going to kiss you again, Birdie. That was just the beginning.”
His tone dripped with confidence, and Birdie couldn’t stop smiling.
She touched her lips and looked out at the snowy woods that were blurring by as her heart raced.
His kiss had been short and gentle but that had been, hands-down, her favorite kiss ever.
Birdie hadn’t felt this normal or this happy in a very long time.
Chapter Four
He had kissed her.
Lance had really kissed her.
Her. The weirdo. The shifter. The awkward talker, the easy-blusher, the queen of discomfort in her own skin—her. Birdie.
And he didn’t seem to regret it, because currently they were sitting in the main lodge, on the leather couch in front of the stone hearth that boasted a roaring fire, while he showed her pictures of his apartment, and his friends, and his family.
“Wait, is that you?” she asked, pointing to a post he’d made of a soccer team.
“Yep. I play with Brock for an indoor soccer league in the winters. Recognize him?”
He pointed to the guy beside him with his arm slung over Lance’s shoulders. Lance was mid-laugh and looked so handsome in his uniform.
“That’s the guy from the front desk. Brock. He was shot gunning the beer with you in the website picture. Ava’s mate…errrr…husband.
“Yep. Speaking of, I was getting to the part where I ask you to come watch a game. We always go to this bar afterward and hang out with the team. I mean, no pressure, but if you want to come, you’re invited.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “I’m only staying for one more day. I check out the morning after UnValentine’s Day and head back home.”
He chewed the corner of his lip and stared out the window thoughtfully. It had started snowing on their drive home from the horseback riding excursion, and now it was coming down in big flakes. It was quite beautiful outside in the piney woods.
