“One kiss,” he mused, rising to his feet as Jiji gave a feline glare and bolted from the room.
He held out a hand and tugged me up from the couch, his grip gentle but firm. I collided with his body, every nerve ending inside me lighting up like a Christmas tree. There was still a hint of a smile playing across his lips as one of his hands slid to the small of my back and the other sank into my hair, threading through the thick locks until his fingers curved at the back of my neck.
“Paradise,” he whispered.
I blinked up at him, too distracted by the feel of him against my front to process what he meant. “What?”
His head dipped until his lips were a hairsbreadth from mine, so close that I felt him speaking against my skin. “Whenyou told me your name at the bar that night, that’s what I thought. It fits you perfectly.”
“Oh.”
I breathed the word just as his mouth settled on mine. For the first few seconds, he didn’t take advantage of the fact that my lips were already parted, kissing me lightly instead, almost playfully. As soon as my hands went up over his shoulders, linking at the back of his neck, he dove in, deepening the kiss, reacquainting us.
God, this man was good with his mouth.
One kissfrom Milo was worth a dozen kisses—or more—from anyone else I’d ever been with.
Fortunately, I went into this knowing just how good and applauded myself for my clever choice of reward.
By the time he ended it with a teasing nip of my lower lip that sent electricity zinging through my veins, I was ready to abandon all hope of a restful night and beg him to take me to bed. His lips curved up as he drew back, like he knew exactly what I was thinking, and he dropped a chaste kiss to the tip of my nose.
“You have a big day tomorrow,” he said gently. “Let’s get you home.”
I groaned in protest but Milo only laughed, keeping hold of my hand as he pulled my reluctant body toward the door. When we got there, I slipped my shoes back on, still pouting. Milo lowered his head until his breath tickled my ear.
“I guess that answers my question about whether you’re still interested,” he whispered.
“I didn’t realize there was any doubt,” I admitted. “I had to restrain myself from leaping over the counter and tearing your clothes off that day I walked into your store.”
“That definitely would have saved me from worrying that you regretted our night together.”
My head shot up. “You were worried about that?”
“Yes. I guess I should have kissed you as soon as you were back within reach. It would’ve cleared things up quicker.”
“Yeah, you should’ve,” I mused. “But since your nephew was there, I guess it would have been extra inappropriate to go at it right off the bat.”
His low laughter raised goosebumps along my skin. “Unfortunate, really.”
“You’re telling me.”
“God, you’re cute. Are you sure you didn’t mean to claimtwokisses as your reward?”
“I did mean that, actually. Yes. Please.”
Milo’s hands gripped my hips, pulling me flush against him, and he kissed me again. This one was hotter, harder, a little more desperate than the last. My body caught fire, burning right along with him. When it ended, I chased his mouth, rising on my toes to follow him as he pulled away.
“Now I know how you tasteandyour favorite food,” Milo murmured. “I’d say we’re making good progress.”
I leaned back to look him in the eye and burst out laughing.
Thatnightwasnotrestful.
Instead, I tossed and turned, alternately wishing I could forget Milo’s existence and regretting that he wasn’t there to calm me down—or exhaust me—so I could finally get some sleep.
I was up with the sun, freshly showered and staring down at three different outfits I’d laid out on the bed. One was a fitted burgundy dress that made a clear statement supporting my business model—that I embraced my size and loved my curves, which I did.The other dress was deep purple, soft and swingy with a flared skirt that would definitely be easier for moving around the shop all day. My final option was a pair of wide-legged navy sailor pants with gold buttons up the hips that I’d paired with a floral blouse sporting a big, floppy bow at the neckline.
The pants won out. They were cute and professional, and without knowing what the day might actually look like, comfort was key. We could be slammed with customers from open to close.
