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I shake my head, not able to find the right words.
“Does this mean you’re finally ready to confess your undying love for Waffles?” she asks with a gleam in her eye.
“I wouldn’t bank on that happening anytime soon.” I chuckle. “Not until he’s learned to behave.”
“Darn, he’ll be crushed when I break the news.” She flashes me a teasing smile.
Her smile is intoxicating, and the longer I hold her, the more difficult it is to not make a move. My resolve is on the verge of crumbling.
“In case it wasn’t clear, I was talking about you.” I slowly brush my hands down her arms, covering her skin with goosebumps. “Ever since that night at the café, I haven’t stopped thinking about what it would be like to kiss you.”
She takes a deep breath at my confession.
“Honestly, neither have I,” she confesses in a whisper.
Her admission catches me off guard, considering she called our almost kiss a terrible error in judgment. It seems I’m not the only one affected by the tangible chemistry between us, despite our best efforts to ignore it.
Marlow’s gaze shifts to my mouth, and she licks her lips. Even though I know I shouldn’t tempt her, I can’t help but lean in so our faces are mere inches apart. The sound of our intermingled breathing fills the hallway as her hooded gaze meets mine.
It demands every scrap of willpower I have not to close the remaining distance between us. The next move is Marlow’s, and I focus on the steady rise and fall of her chest as I wait to see what she’ll do next. A surge of excitement runs through me when she wraps her arms around my neck and lifts on her toes to place a chaste kiss on my lips.
Her touch sparks an inferno of desire that I’ve attempted to restrain. In this moment, I’m defenseless to her allure as I capture her mouth with mine, eliciting a soft moan from her throat. Lost in the moment’s intensity, I entangle my fingers in her golden blonde hair, tugging her closer. She grips my shoulders in response, our bodies fused together.
“You taste sweeter than I imagined, sweetheart,” I groan into her mouth.
Our kiss is electric, igniting a fire inside me that has me craving more. Our chemistry is all-consuming, leaving her gasping for air. She tastes like strawberries, pink lemonade, and all things sweet, and I never want this to end.
When I break the kiss, Marlow looks up at me with a dazed look on her face.
“Marlow, I—”
She places her hand against her lips. “I’m sorry I kissed you,” she blurts out. “I’m not sure what came over me.”
I chuckle. “In case you didn’t notice, sunshine, I enjoyed it very much.”
She chews on her lower lip. “That doesn’t mean it was a good idea.” I’m flooded with disappointment at her words, and her eyes widen when she sees my dejected expression. “I don’t regret it if that’s what you’re thinking,” she rushes out.
“Neither do I.” My tone is resolute.
That was the single best kiss of my life, and I’d do it again… and again if she’d let me.
“It’s just that we both have a lot going on right now and the last thing I want to do is complicate things. You and Lola are both important to me, and I don’t want to do anything that could hurt you.” She fidgets with her hands as she glances at the floor. “I’m not even sure how much longer I’ll be in Aspen Grove.”
I blink back at her, unsure how to respond. How am I supposed to remain unfazed when the very idea of her leaving is enough to make my stomach churn?
Her concerns have merit. My life is centered around Lola and my career, leaving little space for a romantic relationship. And like she said, she doesn’t know how long she plans to stay in town. When she does leave, Lola will be crushed, and I’m not sure I can afford to introduce my complicated feelings into the equation. Although I’m beginning to think it’s too late for that.
I run my hand through my hair, perplexed by my reaction. Hell, I’m usually the sound of reason and ready to run in the other direction at any sign of commitment, but as of late, when Marlow is around, all common sense is thrown out the window. It’s like an invisible string draws me to her and it’s all I can do to keep myself from getting tangled up in her beautiful chaos.
“It’s late. I should probably get home,” she says abruptly, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, okay.” I reluctantly let her go as she steps out of my embrace. I’m immediately left with a sense of longing to hold her again. “I’m going to keep Lola home from school tomorrow so you can take the day off. And don’t worry about downstairs. I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure? I promise I had every intention of cleaning up before you got back.”
“Yeah, I’ve got it.”
I watch with disappointment as she slips into the bedroom to get Waffles, wishing more than anything she would stay.
