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“Right.” He ran his knuckles along my jaw. “I’ve gotta go, and you gotta catch the bus.”
“No bus,” I said. “Andy’s taking Rachel and me home in his van.”
A piercing whistle startled us apart.
“C’mon, Addy!” From the mouth of the hall, Andy gestured. He had his arm slung around Rachel’s shoulder. “Your Chevy chariot and your sister await.”
“I’d better go,” I told Barry, not wanting Andy to whistle again. The few students lingering in the corridor were giving him irritated looks.
“Yeah, I know.” He frowned at Andy. “Here.” He lowered my books like a drawbridge away from my chest and dropped a handful of red- and pink-wrapped candies on the horizontal surface.
“My favorite flavors of Starbursts.” I hugged the books and the candies to my chest. “Thank you.” My eyes filling with emotion, I went up on my toes and pressed a kiss to his whisker-roughened cheek.
Barry took a step back. “It’s just candy.”
Ugh, I’d crossed the friendship line. He was always affectionate with me, but sometimes like now, he pulled back when I did similar things.
Stupid, Addy. I needed to remember not to cross the line. No matter what.
“Not just candy. My favorite. You remembered and made the effort. That means a lot to me.Youmean a lot to me.”
“You mean a lot to me too.” He touched my hand. “See you tomorrow, Addy.”
“See you, Barry.”
I watched as he strolled away down the hall. He was my best friend, but he had a compelling stride and an ass as fine as Collin’s.
Andy whistled again, and I tore my gaze away.
“I don’t like being whistled at,” I told Andy when I reached him, giving him a disapproving look.
“And I don’t like being kept waiting,” he said, giving me an irritated look back.
We strode down the nearly empty hall, Andy with my sister and me. Outside on the stoop, I saw Collin on the lawn talking to a group of girls. Seeing us, he lifted his hand and started toward me.
“Looks like your man wants you,” Andy said. “Meet you at the van.”
“Sure.” I nodded. Watching Rachel and Andy together, I made a mental note to talk privately with my sister later. She needed to be careful.
“Hey.” Collin leaned in and kissed my cheek. Warmth flowed through me as he took my hand. Threading our fingers together, he led me in the same direction Andy and Rachel had gone. A glance around revealed that nearly everyone on the lawn was watching us.
“You realize everyone is speculating about us.”
“Let ’em. They’ll eventually get that you’re with me.” He gave me an assessing glance. “Isn’t that what you want?”
“I told Barry we’re together,” I said, and Collin’s expression lightened. “But I don’t have that many other people to tell. I don’t travel in as many social circles as you do.”
“Everyone knows who you are, Addy.”
Collin stopped on the other side of the barbwire-wrapped fence that separated the main part of the school grounds from the parking lot. He tugged me into him, placing his hands low on my hips. I put mine on his hard chest, relishing the heat of his hands through my jeans.
“Been waiting all day to do this again,” he said low.
My heart racing, I stared up at him, watching his handsome face coming closer. His lids lowered, his silver eyes closed, and his thick lashes fanned his cheeks as he touched his mouth to mine.
Firm to soft, our lips were a perfect fit. He coaxed me to open my mouth, and I did. From scalp to toes, heat swept through me. I was clutching his shirt when he ended the kiss.
“Wow,” he said on a long breath. His smoky cinnamon breath bathed lips his impassioned kiss had made super sensitive. He touched his forehead to mine, saying low and meaningfully, “I’m falling for you.”
