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We stared at each other for a charged moment, the air crackling between us. I was half-tempted to tug him back down for round two.
But I couldn’t let myself get carried away, could I?
This was supposed to be a fun, flirty escape from reality. Nothing more. Sure, every fiber of my being was aching to know what would happen if I threw caution to the wind, but I wasn’t even sure I knew how to do that. Had I ever even tried?
I cleared my throat, trying to gather my scrambled wits. “Well, I suppose we can check that off our bucket lists.”
“What?” His voice was hoarse, giving me chills.
“Kissing a handsome stranger at midnight.” I grinned, shaking my head. “Well, I don’t know if that was on your bucket list, but it was definitely on mine.”
“Handsome, huh?” I could hear the smirk in his voice. “You sure about that? You haven’t even seen my face, considerin’ the mask and all.”
“I don’t need to see all of your face to know you’re easy on the eyes,” I quipped, grateful for the return to our playful banter.
It was safer than either of us paying any mind to the monumental, too-much-for-strangers-to-feel nonsense still simmering between us.
He chuckled, a low rumble that sent a shiver racing down my spine. “Guess I walked right into that one. But for the record...”He leaned in closer, his warm breath fanning across my cheek. “I bet you’re the most beautiful woman I’veneverseen.”
My heart stuttered in my chest at his honeyed drawl, but his words? Laughter burst from my lips at the ridiculousness.
But it was true. He really hadn’t seen me. Not my whole face, and not in something other than this dang dress that was so far from my simple, business-casual wardrobe he likely wouldn’t recognize me if we met on the street tomorrow.
I wanted to laugh at that realization just as loudly as his silly words, keeping things light. But when he said things like that, looking at me like I was the only woman in the world...
I hated that none of it was real.
That I couldn’t sink into the fantasy and let myself pretend, just for a little while, that this could be the start of something lasting.
Because it wasn’t.
I swallowed hard, trying to shore up my defenses before I fell headfirst into even more trouble. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Nah.” He shook his head, holding my gaze like he was about to say something else that would make everything worse.
“No?”
“Nope. I don’t make a habit out of kissing masked strangers.”
The quick, crooked grin that followed his words had me laughing again, and thank goodness, too. Playfulness removed the gnawing fear that I’d never find my way out of this dream.
“Come on,” I said, tipping my chin toward the door. “I’m hungry. Let’s get snacks.”
He stepped forward, then hesitated, running a hand over his jaw. “You go on ahead. I’ll meet you inside.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… I just need a quick sec.” He shook his head, pulling out his phone. “To make a call, that’s all.”
I nodded slowly, then tossed him a casual, “You got it,” as I turned toward the door.
“Red?”
Smiling, I spun on my heel to face him again. “Yeah?”
“Just so you know, I may not make a habit out of kissin’ strangers,” he said, swallowing hard. “But tonight? I’m really glad we did.”
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