Kira hung her feet over the ledge of the window seat before sliding off and onto the floor. Her bun had gotten messier throughout the day, and he’d be danged if it didn’t add to her beauty. A pair of large overalls hung loosely around her small frame and over a snug tee shirt. She wore fluffy socks again. Today’s were gray, which was good, since he’d seen her mop up a few fresh drops of paint from the hardwood floors with them, mainly against the baseboards where the cloth pulled away from thewall.
Mischief danced in those big brown eyes as she stepped over the bunched-up canvas, that pouty lip caught between her teeth. If his heart had settings like a blender, Kira could hit those buttons with a look alone. The particular one she gave him now triggered a setting he hadn’t encountered often:whipped.
“Well,” he said, lifting a hand to her face as she neared. Her cheek, smooth and cool against his palm, flushed pink. “I’m not interested in dating anyone else, Kira. And if you aren’t either, then I guess we can make it official.” He grinned, let his posture droop like a lazy teen’s, and channeled his old high school bravado voice, which sounded a whole lot like Sylvester Stallone’s inRocky. “I don’t have a ring or nothin’ like that, but uh … will you be my girl? I can bring my letterman’s jacket to school if you want to wearit.”
She grinned, that color in her cheeks deepening. “I would love that.” And then, in true Kira fashion, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for akiss.
He was in trouble now. His recent reaction said it all. Just one week ago, Kira had come into the diner with her head hung low, looking as if she were ready to wave that infamous flag. Turned out that wasn’t the case, but Anthony had nearly crumbled under pressure. Yet now, as he kissed Kira’s warm and tempting lips, Anthony mindfully clambered for that protective guard. The one he used to have poised at the ready. He’d have done anything in that moment to build it high once more. But it was toolate.
“Can’t believe we’re almost done,” Kira mumbled against his mouth. “How about we clear out, clean up, then meet back at myplace?”
Anthony nodded, took one more kiss before speaking. “Sounds good to me.” The phraseYou can’t swim if you don’t get in the poolcame to mind—something his pop always said. It was fair to say, as Anthony savored the taste of Kira Moretti’s mouth once more, that he’d jumped in with both feet. He only prayed he wouldn’t regretit.
That train of thought stuck with him as he helped finish the last few details, slowly tugging blue strips of paint-tape from the ceiling and baseboards. The gal who’d moved out had left the duplex in decent condition. Not too much clutter or junk. Thank heavens for that. With a nice layer of paint, the place looked good asnew.
As Anthony dragged his supplies back to the truck, Kira hauled the extra paint cans and brushes to the utility garage behind the duplex. While she took a quick shower, Anthony ran home and did the same. She’d invited him back to her place afterward. And though it was getting late, there was no place he’d rather be. Kira had just made a declaration: She wasn’t interested in anyone else but him. She was committed to Studio Click and planned to stay right there in the good old town of CobbleCreek.
He’d kissed her earlier, when she said yes aboutbeing his girl. And as good as that moment had been, he craved more. Craved being close to her without the hesitant voices in his head. Without the reservation that kept those encounters safe in theshallows.
The shops along Main had closed up for the night. All but the bar, a few men climbing off their bikes and heading in. Perhaps if he looked close enough, Anthony would see good ol’ Seth. The poor guy was in a similar position. Running a family business, rooted in a place that didn’t offer a whole lot of single ladies. Well, Seth would have to keep on looking; Kira was already interested inAnthony.
A warm light glowed from her front window as he pulled into the drive, feeling different from how he’d felt when he left. More confident. He wasn’t a fool risking everything for someone who’d take off without warning. He was a man falling in love with a woman. One who planned to stay right there in CobbleCreek.
After a tap on the door, Kira’s voice sounded from inside. “Come onin.”
Anthony didn’t hesitate. Kira sat on the couch, a bottle of lotion nearby as she rubbed both hands down one leg. “Hi,” she said. “Come, sit. I’m just letting my hair dry in front of thefire.”
He closed the door, glancing at the gas-fueled flames behind the glass. She had her back to it while a fan blew the scent of that lotion throughout the room like a drug.Her.It was so her. A scent that reminded him of a rose-colored wine he’d tasted at a recent fundraiser. The tangy sweet scent of wildstrawberries.
He plopped onto the other end of the comfy couch, watched as she smoothed her palms over her ankle, and then herfoot.
“Thank you so, so much for coming to my rescue thisweek.”
He grinned, a bit of nerves kicking up suddenly. “Anytime.”
Kira switched her focus to the other leg, squirting another dab of lotion onto her hand before smoothing it over her knee, down the back of her calf. “I can’t tell you how much it means to have someone help without acting like I’m a giant mess or a great big burden.” She shrugged. “When we talked about my family before, I said I didn’t think they were sincere in their compliments. Rememberthat?”
He nodded, curious. “Yes.”
“But after giving it more thought, what I really believe is that they’re afraid ofme.”
He let out a chuckle before realizing she was serious. “Why would they beafraid?”
“They think I’m less predictable than I am. They’re all just waiting for me to self-destruct somehow, andIkeep waiting for them to figure out that that’s not going to happen.” She rested the lotion on the coffee table and straightened out, draping the bottom half of her legs over his lap, and sighed. “I might mess up here and there. But I’m never as far gone as they think, youknow?”
He was guilty of that very thing himself. Misjudging her. Fearing her, even. But he was done with that. Starting tonight, Anthony was all in. He nodded, cupped a hand around one of her knees, and circled his thumb over her silky skin. “I can’t speak for your family, but I’ll admit to being scared in thebeginning.”
He risked a glance at her before continuing. “First my mom. Then a couple of women I dated, Ruth and Elsie. Separately—I didn’t date them at the same time.” Anthony shot her a wink, then shook his head as he continued. “The most important women in my life all left. And when you came in declaring your passion for new adventures, I was terrified. Mainly because I already felt so drawn toyou.”
Admitting that, with her so close, it dug into a whole new level of vulnerability. Setting his gaze back on her took that connection even further. Deeper. She gulped, lifted her head away from the armrest like she was hanging on the words hespoke.
“But I can truthfully say that I’m not worried anymore. You have it together.” He laughed. “I mean, you’re going to have stuff sneak up on you, like the due-sooner-than-you-thought house payment. But you’ve impressed me. You’re smart—brilliant. With the way you thought to contact the high school and the ideas you’ve come up with already. And you’re so talented. Those pictures … wow. I can’t get over it.” In his excitement, Anthony hadn’t noticed the tears welling in Kira’s eyes. Not until one trickled down hercheek.
“Really?” she squeaked. “Is that what you see inme?”
The question nearly ripped his heart in half.Thank you, God, for letting me see this before now. Before a moment that Kira probably needed more than he’d ever know. “Of course,” hesaid.
At once she was in his arms, her exuberance like the sun itself. A mass of vibrant energy, heat, andlight.
In a contortion of arms and legs, the removal of his jacket happening somewhere along the way, they moved onto the floor. A rug as thick and soft as the socks she wore buffered the rigid wood planks beneath. Colorful flames flickered in her eyes as he slipped a hand around the back of her neck. Only this time she didn’t rush in and take over like she often did. Instead, Kira stilled, closed her eyes with her face toward his, andsighed.
Anthony looked over her face. Soft, rosy cheeks, hints of moisture caught in her dark lashes, and a vulnerability that sparked a deep admiration. He leaned in and pressed one soft kiss at the corner of her jaw. And thenanother.
The anticipation was fuel as he moved up her warm cheek, over her brow, and back down the other side of her face. As he neared her delicate earlobe, Kira moaned, kindling an entirely different fire low in his belly. The urgency won out. Anthony rushed in, took her mouth to his in a series of deep, lingeringkisses.
She was a taste of heaven. Silky soft, fire hot, and sweeter than anything he’d known. He loved this woman. Cherished her. With the gentle touch of his lips to hers, he admitted that very thing. “I love you,Kira.”
Kira pulled back the slightest bit, held his gaze in the low light. “I love you too.” She sealed the words with a kiss, and he lingered in every blessedsensation.
Anthony had always hoped to give his heart to someone before he died, even if hehadbeen hurt before; he just never imagined giving it to someone so completely. In that moment, Anthony knew his heart belonged more to Kira than it didhim.
