Strawberries.
Her lip gloss tasted like strawberries.
I liked strawberries…but not as much as I liked whatever the hellthiswas.
Andi wasonme with no warning whatsoever, blindsiding me as my brain scrambled to make sense of what was happening.
Because this? This was new.
Up until now, I’d been the one to initiate any kind of mouth-to-mouth action. I’d waited for her cues, let her set the pace, let her trust me fully before I even dared to move in. But now? Now she was taking the reins.
The drinks in my hands sloshed as I swiftly held them out and away from where our bodies were now flush. Cold tea splashed my wrists, but hell if I really even noticed as her insistent mouth slanted over mine, coaxing the stupor right out of me. The cups slipped from my grip and hit the grass with a dull thud as my hands shot to her waist—one sliding to the small of her back, an unspokengo, and the other curling around her ribs, a quietwhoa.
I didn’t want to be the guy to snuff out this newly bold version of Andi, but I also couldn’t stand here and kiss her likeI really wanted to—not with Cody three steps away from us, clearing his throat.
Mustering a strength I didn’t even know I had, I slowly drew back from Andi with a low and gravelly, “Easy, princess.”
Her lips stilled a breath away from mine—eyes dark and hazy and locked on mine like she wasn’t quite ready to stop. Shit, I didn’t want her to stop but we had an audience, and I didn’t like the idea of sharing her like that with the whole damn town. My eyes did a quick search over her face as I reeled myself in, and the sight of her—flushed cheeks, chest rising fast, mouth kiss-swollen—hit me square in the gut.
I swallowed and moved my hand away from her ribs to the base of her neck, letting my thumb trace against that line from her ear to her jaw as a grin tipped my mouth. “Not that I’m complainin’, but…where’d that come from?”
Her teeth caught her bottom lip as a flicker of what looked like embarrassment slipped through all that sudden boldness. “I met your ex.”
That news hit me like a bucket of ice water.
For half a second my brain flat-out froze then went straight into panic mode. Shit, Brianna was here? My pulse drummed hard as my jaw tightened, wondering what sort of bullshit had come out of her mouth this time, and I had to drag in a slow breath before I could look at Andi again.
She must’ve sensed my sudden internal struggle, because her fist unclenched my shirt and flattened over where my heart was beating—just for her. “I hate that you’ve spent the last year being sad, or mad, or hurt, or whatever because of that…” She hesitated, jaw tightening as her nostrils flared with an inhale. “...woman.”
The way she said it—sweet but sharp and…almost protective—sent a jolt through me.
Before I could respond or even come up with awayto respond to that, she went on. “I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.” Her lips curved sweetly. “You’re a good man, Zane McKade. I see it every day. And it kills me that someone likehermade you ever question it.”
The air went thin between us, and I couldn’t think—couldn’t breathe. All I could do was just…look at her—this woman who’d just set my entire world right without even knowing it. A slow grin worked its way across my face and I held her eyes with mine as I tried to tell her what I couldn’t say in words. I leaned in, ready to taste those strawberries again when?—
“Has anyone seen Zane McKade?” Tim’s voice boomed over the speakers from the stage.
I froze, breath mingling with Andi’s, and muttered a curse.
A sharp and really obnoxious loud whistle came from my right, and my head snapped in that direction to see Cody, pulling his fingers away from his mouth.
I shot him a glare. “Thanks a lot, man.”
Cody just grinned, rocking back on his heels, and shrugged. “Hey, don’t blame me for you finally deciding to rejoin the living.”
Tim’s voice boomed once more. “There he is. Zane, come on up here for a sec.”
I shot another glare toward Cody, who just threw his hands up defensively—looking way too smug and entertained.
Still half tangled with Andi, I sighed and took a step back—reluctantly—but caught her hand before she could drop it to her side. Our fingers threaded together easily.
“Do you have any idea what this is about?” she asked.
“Not a hundred percent positive,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze as we weaved through the small crowd, people parting and murmuring as we passed. “But I’ve got an idea.”
Tim walked to the edge of the stage and crouched down. “I need a favor,” he said. “One of the guitar players had to leave for a family emergency, leaving the band short for the last few songs.”
Was he serious? I bit back a disbelieving laugh. “Tim, I’m a…kinda on a date here,” I said, and tipped my head toward Andi, who looked entirely too entertained by this.
