Beneath the bright porch light, his eyes were crystal blue.“Maggie, I want to make sure you weren’t forced into this.They meant well, I think, but if you don’t want to do this—”
“I do.”The words sort of erupted before she could stop herself.Way to play it cool, Maggie.
He was smiling that bone-melting smile again.“You’re sure?”He took a step closer.
She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now.”He reached up and tucked a curl behind her ear before cradling her face in his hands.
“A while?”All she could manage was a whisper.“If you want to kiss me, why did you wait—”
His lips brushed across hers.“My mistake.”Then his lips sealed against hers.Firm.Warm.Deliberate.One quick kiss became two.Another, not so quick.
She leaned into him, eager to learn the shape and feel of his mouth.She shut off everything but the feel of him, the scent of him—the taste of him.The brush of his stubble against her chin and cheek was all kinds of delicious.But then, so was he.She rose on her tiptoes, slid her arms aroundhis neck and kissed him back with her all.She wanted him to know this was what she wanted.He was what she wanted.
The moment his lips parted hers, she swayed against him.The way his mouth tugged, ever so gently, on her lower lip, had her clinging to him.
With a hoarse moan, his mouth lifted and he was staring down at her.
This was… He was… There were no words.Only feelings.So many feelings—many of which were reflected back in his gaze.Every inch of her was awake and throbbing with desire for him.Right here and now, she wanted nothing more.And while it was invigorating, it was also dizzyingly unnerving.She didn’t know which way was up.Not that she cared.He had her, safe and warm, against him.All she could do was breathe and hold on to him.Anything else was too much.
“You ready to go?”His voice was thick.
Not yet.“Yes.”Her hands tightened on his shirtfront.She needed a second to take all this in.
“Me, too.”His forehead rested against hers.
She smiled up at him, happiness bubbling up inside her.Many a night she’d dreamed of Braden Parker, but this was no dream.No, she was wrapped up in his arms and perfectly content to stay that way.At the same time, she didn’t want the kids, Mike or her parents finding them this way.It was a sobering enough thought to have her reluctantly easing her grip on his shirtfront.
What was she supposed to do?Say thank you?Let go of him and crumple into a boneless heap at his feet?“This is surreal.”
He chuckled.“I’m glad our kids set us straight.”
She nodded, smoothing his shirt.“Apparently, they are geniuses.”
“I’d say so.”He took one of her hands.“You okay with skipping the football game?”
“Without my favorite cheerleader?I don’t think it would be as much fun.”She paused, suddenly nervous.The two of them hadn’t spent much time just the two of them.A phone call or two, maybe, but that was nothing compared to this.“What did you have in mind?”
“Dinner.”He cocked an eyebrow.“You know, like a real date.”The corner of his mouth kicked up.
“I haven’t been on a date in… It doesn’t matter.”Admitting she’d never had much of a dating life wasn’t only a mood killer, it was also pathetic.She’d rather focus on the here and now.The way the air between them crackled.The unmistakable desire on his face when he stared at her mouth.His crooked grin and slight head shake.All of this, all of him, was the only thing that mattered tonight.
* * *
Braden could not have predicted a single thing that had happened this evening, but he had zero complaints.In fact, he couldn’t stop smiling.Here he was sitting in his truck, holding her hand, and, damn, but he liked it.He liked that she held his hand back.He liked that she was smiling, too.And he liked that there was no need to fill the silence with conversation.If there was any tension between them, it was the good kind.The “I can’t wait to kiss you again and leave you breathless” kind.Because kissing Maggie was something he could get used to.
It was a Saturday night, but Castillo’s had plenty of parking.
“Guess everyone is at the football game.”Braden parked his truck and turned to her.
“I guess so.”
Her smile was slow and shy and so damn pretty all hecould do was stare.“Something else I should have done is tell you how pretty you are.”
She blinked.“You think so?”
“I know so.”He shook his head, still marveling at the sudden course correction in their relationship.Tonight had been…something.
