He cut off as a noise clattered in the kitchen. Maverick or Silas must have knocked something down. There was a soft curse.
“Am I too late?” Hank asked again. “Is your date…” He swallowed hard and dropped his voice to a whisper. “He’s not here, is he?”
I blinked. “No. I didn’t— Wait. Why are you here?”
“I made a mistake, Jamie. I fucked up. I’m sorry. I think… No, Iknowthat I don’t want you to be with some other guy. I want you to be with me.”
My heart skipped a beat. Surely I had misheard him. “You what?”
“Please tell me it’s not too late. I’ve been so stuck on what I’ve always wanted in the past that I couldn’t see what was right in front of me.”
“I don’t understand,” I said numbly.
“I want to be yourmatch,Jamie. I should have never shot you down at the park. I should have given us a chance.”
“But you’re straight…”
“Am I?” Hank cupped my face in his big hands. “I really don’t know anymore. I just know that I care about you.”
My pulse rushed in my ears, and my stomach swooped. It was everything I’d ever wanted, but it was so far beyond what I’d ever expected that I kept blinking, expecting to wake up any minute.
“Kiss the man already!” Silas called out, startling us both.
Hank’s gaze shot over my shoulder, then dropped down to my lips. “C-can I?”
“Yes.”My voice came out breathy and trembling, full of wonder and disbelief and so much eagerness it was a little embarrassing.
I didn’t have time to dwell on that, though. Because there with my two best friends watching, with my dogs jumping against my legs in excitement, Hank Reeves pressed his lips to mine.
They were warm and full, but feather light. I swayed forward, needing more, and he gave it to me, increasing the pressure, tracing my bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.
It was a sweet kiss, this first one, and a swell of warmth burst in my chest. My eyes burned with unshed tears. I’dwantedthis so badly, and here it was, tasting like…
I pulled back. “Have you been drinking?”
“Uh…”
“Shit. This is just like some drunken thing? You don’t really want this.”
“I do, Jamie. I do. I was out with my cousin, and he helped me figure out why I was so messed up over you going on this date. I was jealous because what we have, it’s more than friendship. I didn’t come here tonight because of alcohol. I didn’t need liquid courage to kiss you. I’m sober right now. I had the whole ride back to think about what I wanted, and what I want, Jamie, is you. I want my match. Iola got it right all along.”
Silas snickered. “They better not tell her that.”
“No kidding,” Maverick muttered. “The woman takes credit for any love match, intentional or not.”
I blocked out their voices, focusing on Hank. On the intensity in his eyes. The clearness of his words. The roughness of his hands, still cupping my face.
“Okay,” I said shakily. “I believe you.”
“So we can do this? Be together?”
I stepped back out of his grip, needing some space. Needing to think. “This is happening fast, don’t you think? You’ve always been straight. What if you don’t like?—”
“I loved that kiss. I want to kiss you again.” His gaze flicked to Maverick and Silas. “Maybe without an audience?”
“That’s our cue,” Silas said, crossing the room. He patted my arm on his way by. “Give the guy a chance. This is what you wanted, remember?”
Maverick flashed me a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay to take things slow. Just be honest with each other.”
