“Someone has to be the favorite,” Bree singsongs.
Mia rolls her eyes and answers the phone as they leave the room. “We’re almost there, Mama.”
Theo stands and offers me a hand. “Come to dinner with us.”
I set the photo down and let him pull me up, feeling inexplicably drawn to him. Like some invisible force is shrinking the space between us. His gaze darkens as I step closer and lift onto my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck while his circle my waist.
Pressed fully against him, I savor every detail of the hug—my fingers curling into the hair at his nape, his face buried in my neck, my toes barely touching the ground.
“You smellincredible,” he whispers against my pulse.
“So do you. Your hair...” I fade out, closing my eyes to inhale again.
There’s a smile in his voice when he informs me, “Last night, you said you’d like to sleep there.”
A laugh slips out of me. “I said that out loud?”
“Mm-hmm.” Fingers flex on my back, and my insides flutter with something hot and effervescent andawake. It pulls me right back to that closet.
“We kissed,” I whisper, unable to keep the thought to myself.
He leans back and looks over every inch of my face. Ifeel the appraisal like fire on my skin. Every part of me, from my toes to my ears, prickles with anticipation as his gaze falls to my lips. “We did.”
I curve my hands to his jaw, his stubble deliciously rough against my palms. “Is it something you’re interested in doing again?”
The golden flecks in his irises glow bright. A line appears between his brows. “Fable,” he whispers, and my lashes fall to my cheeks. “Idon’t know how to explain what a ridiculous question that is.”
A hand dips into the back pocket of my jeans, and warmth swirls up my spine. My restraint is burning away so quickly that I wonder if it ever even existed. I want to wrap my legs around his waist. Hear him groan into my skin. Dig my nails into his shoulders. Feel him press into me. Watch him come undone.
“Your heart’s beating pretty fast,” I whisper, leaning closer until our noses brush.
His smile curves against my cheek. “You make me nervous.”
I can’t hold back anymore. Ipress my lips to his, and a low, unconscious sound leaves the back of his throat. My breath disappears again, and I’m melting from the inside out. He kisses me like I’ve offended him by asking if he wanted this—like he needs to make it very clear how much he does. It’s hot and hungry, wet and delicious. His grip tugs me impossibly closer, and his tongue dives into my mouth.
It’s as if he knows kissing has been boring for me in the past, and he’s determined to prove otherwise. He’s going to fight to change my mind with every slide of his tongue, every guttural groan, every nip of his teeth. And it’s working. He isn’tjustkissing me; he’s lighting me aflame. It might be difficult for any of my future partners to beat him at this.
My toes leave the ground. His hand grasps my thigh, and I’m about to koala myself onto him when—
“Hey, um, guys?” Bree’s apologetic voice filters down the hall. “Mia sent me in to tell you we need to go. She said she’d steal your keys if she has to.”
Theo shakes his head and calls, “Be right there.”
My feet touch the ground again, and I step back to see his expression. He looks properly kissed. Perfectly disheveled. Puffy lips and messy hair. Iwish I had a picture of it.
He cups the back of my neck, fingers and thumb tucked behind my ears. “Do you get it now?” he whispers against myforehead. “How much I want to kiss you? How desperate I am for more of you?”
“I think—” I laugh shakily. “You made a very good argument.”
We take a second to help each other look presentable—me raking my fingers through his hair and him straightening my shirt—before we leave the room.
And on our way out of the house, I sneak over to stick the new photo of Gramps and me to the fridge. If this picture is a sign, I want to make sure I can see it.
Chapter 23
Fable
The gazebo in the middle of downtown Fern River has seen and heard a lot of things. Secrets to Santa are whispered under its eaves during the holiday festival, Logan’s famousfuck’s sake, Cathytook place in the grass right beside it, the winner of the annual pie baking contest is crowned on its steps, and Tessa’s first kiss—with a boy in her theater class—took place on the bench inside.
