Arden
I kissedher because I didn’t know what else to do.
Because I’d fantasized about doing it since the moment I saw her.
Because she talked and talked and talked, and I loved every minute.
But mostly because I wanted to.
Oh, how I wanted to.
I ignored my feelings, ignored how calm she made me feel, ignored the attraction, but it didn’t change a goddamn thing. I could be as cold and closed off as I wanted, and it still wouldn’t change anything.
I stole a kiss from her, just like she stole my heart.
Isla tasted like strawberries with a hint of mint, our lips effortlessly gliding together as if we were always meant to be.
When we broke apart, neither one of us said a word, our chests rising and falling in succession.
When I finally spoke. “At a loss for words now?”
Isla laughed. “Pretty much.” Her cheeks flamed red.
Fred barked from downstairs. “I need to relieve my dog. He’s probably ready to burst.”
Isla’s face lit up. She was too fucking cute. What was this damn woman doing to me? Cute? Really? But she was. “Can I meet him?”
“He’d like that.” I offered her my arm, and she took it. I wasn’t hiding from this anymore.
Downstairs, I led Isla through the living room to where I kept Fred’s crate. He’d been used to a crate since he was a little puppy, and most of the time, he went in there on his own.
As soon as he saw us, he was on all fours, his tail wagging as he whimpered.
“Hey, buddy. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” I looked at Isla and pointed at the couch. “Sit there, and I’ll bring him over. Sometimes he gets a little too excited and jumps. I don’t want him to knock you over.”
“No, he’s a good boy, aren’t you, Fred?” Isla made baby sounds toward him, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Most of the time.” I unlocked his crate and opened the door, grabbing his collar and clipping his leash on. “Go easy, Freddie. We don’t want to scare our guests.”
Fred barreled out of his crate anyway, but I pulled back on the leash, and he obeyed. “Good boy.” I pet his head. “Heel.” We walked over to Isla, and she held out her hand for him to sniff.
He sniffed and licked her palm, causing her to laugh and pet his head. She petted him and scratched beneath his collar, her huge smile never once disappearing. I loved how much she loved my dog.
Not that Fred was hard to love. Everyone who came in contact with him loved him.
But it felt special since it came from her.
“I’m going to go for a quick walk with him. Did you want to join us?” I asked Isla, hoping she’d say yes. It’d be nice to have some company.
The thought made me stop dead in my tracks.
Had it been nice to have some company?
Who the hell am I right now?
But when it came to Isla, I wanted her around me. I wanted her company, her warm rays of sunshine, her beaming smile, and dammit, I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her. Again.
“Yes, I’d love to.”
