Noah turned, and with every footstep closer, his grin grew wider. Her belly flipped and tossed. It felt like prom, and she wasrunning down to meet her handsome date. Only he wasn’t in a tux. He was in gray board shorts, a white linen shirt, and Vans.
“Rob, I can’t thank you enough.” Dahlia handed him the check, knowing full well it was making a substantial dent in her Charleston savings. “You are a lifesaver.”
“You are,” said Noah, opening the door. “I’ll see you on the island.”
“Sure thing.” Rob walked off the porch and waved.
Noah shut the door and met her eyes. “I thought he’d never leave.”
Dahlia clenched the banister, hoping McHandy would make another move. Anchored to the last step, she wondered how slow he would take things. After that kiss, Dahlia wanted more, more butterflies, more goosebumps, and more floating on cloud nine. If she were being honest, though, she wanted more companionship. Dahlia had been alone for so long in her marriage, and this, whatever it was, felt good. “That was nice of him to come over on a Sunday.”
“He likes me, plus he owed me one,” he said, leaning against the door like he was pondering something consequential.
“What are you up to over there? What’s going on in that head of yours?” Dahlia asked, raising a brow.
He glanced up with a devilish grin, closing the gap between them. Noah gave her the most passionate, steamy kiss that made her fall off the last step and into his arms. Their tongues collided, and all she could think was that he tasted like sweet peppermint.
“What was that for?” she asked, not wanting to open her eyes fully.
“For being you,” he said, kissing her nose. “I could kiss you for days.”
“Okay.” She grinned playfully. “We don’t have to go to the movie, you know. We can stay right here.” Dahlia felt spellboundin his arms, and the thought of getting lost in his warm and delicious kisses for hours on Lil’s couch made her giddy.
“If we stay, I won’t be able to control myself.” He laced his fingers with hers and kissed her hand.
“And that’s a bad thing?” Dahlia bit her lip, trying to control her erupting insides.
“Dimples, you’re killing me.”
Dahlia wrinkled her nose.
“What, you don’t like that nickname?” His brows furrowed.
“Oh, I do.” She laughed, loving that he had a pet name for her. “I just feel a bit like an awkward teenager with braces when you say it.” “Dimples” wasn’t the sexy woman she wanted him to see her as. And if she had any chance of competing with Josie, she at least wanted that chance.
“Okay, fair enough. How about I call you D? A twofer, for Dahlia and Dimples.”
Dahlia pressed her lips to his, his whiskers softly brushing her mouth. This man knew how to kiss. Whether it was sudden and lustful or tender and sweet, he knew what he was doing. “Sold,” she said, not wanting to leave Lil’s entryway.
“We should probably leave before I carry you up the stairs,” he said with a wide grin.
Dahlia didn’t want their kissfest to end. “Now who’s killing who?” She smiled. “Let me say goodbye to Harry and grab my jacket. You go ahead. I’ll just be a minute.”
“Don’t be too long.” He tugged at his zipper.
Dahlia smiled, looking down, knowing full well that it was a great sign. “Oh, I won’t.” The front door closed, and she leaned against the wall, covering her ear-to-ear grin. It felt like there was a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. She couldn’t get too attached. It could only be a summer fling. She was leaving inless than one month. She inhaled and blew out her concerns, telling herself it was okay to be a little reckless.
The box of pressed flowers from the basement now sat on the entry bench next to her jean jacket. She reached for the jacket and tapped the carton, setting the intention to open it tomorrow. Then she caught Harry lying on top of the couch. “Ugh, you’re not supposed to be up there. Lil would not be happy you’re ruining her cushions.” She snickered, kissing Harry goodbye and letting him stay right where he was.
Noah laid a tartan blanket over the grass like a true gentleman. He opened up a cooler filled with wine and snacks. Dahlia couldn’t believe a guy who barely knew her would go to this much trouble. In all the years she was with Spence, Dahlia had planned everything, down to her own birthday celebrations, which she had only for Daisy.
“Rosé?” he asked.
“Sure.” Dahlia eagerly leaned forward. Her cheeks hurt from smiling. “When did you have time to do all this?”
“While you were showering.” He popped a grape in his mouth, which made the urge to kiss him stir with feverish urgency. She wondered how she would get through the night without wanting more.
Dahlia’s entire body tingled as she watched him take control of the date. Acts of service had to be the sexiest of the love languages, followed by physical touch. “So what are we seeing anyway?”
