“As long as you haven’t chickened out yet,” Trenton said. It was another thriller, after all.
A soft chuckle fell from Andie’s lips as she wrapped her hand around his arm. “I was going to say the same thing to you.”
Trenton shook his head. “Tsk,me,chicken out? Never.”
“Well, then I guess it’s on. Be ready to getreallyfreaked out. Richard said it gave him nightmares for weeks. Which says something since he’s never scared of anything.”
“We’re talking aliens, right?” Trenton verified as he recalled the trailer.
“Half-animal, half-alien invaders,” Andie confirmed.
“Nice!” Those were the types of thrillers Trenton liked. Science fiction plots that went beyond the norm. The conversation had offered a nice distraction from the thoughts in Trenton’s head, but soon he was recalling what he planned to tell Andie before the night was through. He didn’t want to rush it, but he also didn’t want to let the evening pass without sharing what was on his heart.
Already his palms were breaking out in sweat, making him glad Andie was holding his arm instead of his hand. Would he have to wait until the movie was over to confess his feelings? And what if Andie fell asleep during the show? It wouldn’t be the first time. A recollection of the way he’d woken her up last time came to mind—by planting small kisses along her throat, up to her ear, and then the corner of her lips.
She’d moved in to kiss him then, and he’d be lying if he said those kisses hadn’t nearly set him ablaze. Yes, he and Andie had what he’d consider the full-package relationship. Romance, friendship, chemistry, and a shared humor that lent to dozens of inside jokes. He’d even entertained thoughts of having a family together one day, raising little ones there on The Homestead. The mere idea caused waves of warmth to flow through him every time. It was right with her, he knew it.
But could he get himself to say so aloud?
* * *
Was it just Andie, or was Trenton a little…off tonight? He’d gotten pretty quiet after their conversation about the movie they planned to watch, and now, as she waited to push play on that very show, Trenton seemed stuck inside his own thoughts. Gaze set on a spot along the floor, a concerned-looking furrow along his brow, and a complete unawareness of the fact that she’d walked back into the room with a bowl of popcorn over sixty seconds ago.
“You okay, Trenton?” she ventured, resting the popcorn bowl onto the coffee table.
Trenton blinked, nodded, then set his gaze back on her. “Of course,” he blurted, rubbing his palms over his jeans. “Are you?”
She smiled, resisting the urge to tell himshewas the one acting normal here; ofcourseshe was okay. “Yes,” she said instead, but a hint of laughter coated the word. “You seem preoccupied, that’s all.”
He nodded again. “I am, actually. I just…” He glanced at the flat screen where their show was paused at the beginning. “Before we start the show, I’d like to tell you something.”
Andie’s heart thumped out of rhythm. Spots of tightness pulled at the muscles in her throat. Involuntary reactions, she realized, since she hadn’t yet processed his words. Words that shouldn’t cause any real sense of fear. Yet as she took in the pursed set of his lips, and the jagged sound of his exhale, Andie wondered if perhaps therewassomething to fear after all.
“What is it?” she urged.
Trenton licked his lips, blew out another breath through pursed lips, and reached for her hand. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, trailing a finger over the lines in her palm. The tense energy traveled from him to her as she pulled in her next breath.
“Okay…”
He chuckled suddenly, the unexpected sight and sound adding an intrigue of its own. “I really suck at this. But in my defense, I’ve never done it before.”
Done what?she wanted to ask, but resisted.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone else,” he said, lifting his gaze to hers. “Something happened to me, recently. I discovered that I…I don’t want a day without you in it.”
Her heart let out a long, delayed beat of anticipation. As if it were gearing up to start an entirely new rhythm.
“It’s been that way for a while now, and I realized that that meant something. It meant that…” He glanced down, gulped, then leveled a look at her once more. “That I’m in love with you.”
Andie grinned as those words seeped into her soul. He loved her. It hadn’t been easy to say, but he’d done it, and she couldn’t wait to return the sentiment.
“I’m in love with you too, Trenton,” she assured.
Trenton let out a sigh, one mingled with hints of laughter and relief. And then he closed the gap between them and brought his mouth to hers.
His lips were strong and certain, the kiss a celebration of the love they’d confessed to. An unspoken addition to the sentiment. Andie thought she’d experienced Trenton’s full talent for kissing before; time after time he’d left her breathless with his masterful mouth and gentle touch. But this time was different. This time there was a new sense of confidence in his kiss.
She sighed as she leaned back onto the couch, urging Trenton to join her.
