He laughed out loud,then looked around to make sure none of the other guys had heard him. This one had Cedar written all over it. He shoved his way out the door at a run and scanned the parking lot. There was a group of guys bunched around his SUV, so he made his way that direction. From a few feet away, he could hear Cedar’s laughter. “Sorry, I’m pretty sure the position has beenfilled.”
“Hey, you can’t advertise for a great kisser and not expect me to show up,” said SethDallas.
Like a bull in the arena, Teo saw red. He pushed his way through the group of about six second-string linemen and planted himself in front of Cedar, glaring at theapplicants. “Like she said, the position’s beenfilled.”
“Teo? No way.” Seth guffawed. “This isyourlady?”
Cedar’s delicate hands came around his middle and she poked her head out from behind him to address the group. “I’m most definitely his lady.” Though she spoke with a note of authority on the subject, she looked up at Teo with a question in hereyes.
Teo twisted around, wrapped his arms around her, and lifted her up so she was within kissing distance. Cedar’s look flipped from uncertain to ecstatic. Teo’s heart gave a giant leap as she kissed his cheek once, thenagain.
The guys grumbled and made their way to their own vehicles. All the while, Teo drank in the feel of Cedar in his arms, against his body, and so close he could smell her sweet pineapplescent.
“I’m so sorry, Teo. I should have beensmarter.”
He kissed her forehead. “You are the smartest person Iknow.”
“Ha!” She kissed his cheek again. “If I was smart, I never would haveleft.”
“If I was smart, I never would have sent youaway.”
“Sounds like we deserve oneanother.”
Teo chuckled. “I would very much like to give that atry.”
She drew circles on his chest, right below his collarbone, right where his pulse thundered. “Love is the miracle,” she saidquietly.
“What?” He set her on her feet and cupped her face in his hands. “Say thatagain.”
“Love is the miracle. You once told me that miracles happen all the time. I didn’t believe they would happen for me, but … I figured it out. Love, the kind I feel for you, that’s the miracle I get in thislife.”
Teo brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. “That’s a pretty amazing miracle, Cedar,” he whispered as he lowered his head to kiss her. “I’m sorry for what I said. I wish I could take itback.”
* * *
Cedar’s breathcaught as Teo brought her closer to him. She’d told the truth: her love for Teo was a miracle, because it had changed her whole outlook on life. “We can’t go back,” she said, “but I want to go forward withyou.”
“I love you, Cedar.” The words were barely out before Teo’s lips captured hers in a long, slow, seductive kiss that filled her insides with butterflies and had her lifting on her tiptoes for more. His large arms wrapped her up, and she melted against him, grateful for his strength because his achingly perfect kiss had knocked her feet right out from underher.
He moved to deepen the kiss, and she went positively limp in his arms. “Teo,” shegasped.
He smiled against her lips. “I like it when you say my name likethat.”
She laughed. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. “Teo,” she whispered seductively. “I love you,too.”
He growled and kissed her with urgency. She thought she’d been swept away before, but there was a whole new connection betweenthem.
Several cars honked and they broke apart. Cedar buried her face in Teo’s chest, embarrassed that she’d been so bold inpublic.
“Do you want to come over for s’mores?” Teo pumped hiseyebrows.
Cedar felt her face heat up. “I’d lovemore.”
“Don’t you means’more?”
“Nope. I meanmore.” She winked. “More kissing. More of this.” She ran her hands up and down his arms. “More time withyou.”
He hit the button on his key fob and the doors unlocked. “More itis.”
