“Cheese coma.It happens to the best of us.”
“Sounds serious.”
“She’s snoring,” I stage whisper at him.“It’s very serious.”
The world outside the snug, loud warmth of the brewery feels as changed as my own outlook towards the future.The drizzly, grey day has ushered in an uncharacteristically cool night.A crisp wind bites against the tip of my nose and my cheekbones, the chill at the back of my neck uncomfortably reminding me I put my hair up wet.
“Wow, it actually feels like fall,” I say.“Look at the moon.”
Dark wisps of clouds streak across the bright sphere hanging in the sky, moving quickly through the warm white glow.The streets of New Hopewell have been fully transformed into a veritable Halloween shrine, jack-o-lanterns glowing in every doorway, lining the sidewalks.
“Oh, there’s the cauldron Colton said he had to mess with.”It’s huge, and green-lit smoke spills over the top in a festive wave.
“How was Colton today?”Aiden asks, guiding me back down the street.
“Busy.I didn’t really pay him much attention.Prudence, however, apparently creeped on him all day.”Her purring intensifies, and I chuckle to myself.
Next to me, Aiden relaxes slightly, like the news that I didn’t pay attention to Colton has lifted a weight from his shoulders.
I must be imagining that, though.Still… what if I’m not?
Aiden would be nice to kiss.
“He wasn’t the one who threw stuff at you, right?”
“What?”I ask, nearly stumbling.Aiden’s steady hands keep me (and Prudence) upright, and I lean into him.
He’s warm and smells like clean, piney-fresh man, and I nearly sag against the welcome warmth of him.
His chuckle reverberates through my chest, and he wraps his arm around my waist.
Heat spirals through me at the brief touch of his fingertips against my hip, my heartbeat speeding up to Olympic sprinter levels.
Time seems to stand still as we both stop, staring at each other.
Aiden’s gaze heats, his attention slipping to my lips then back to my eyes.
“He didn’t throw anything at me,” I finally manage to answer.
“Good,” Aiden says.
We should keep walking.The back entrance to my house is only a few steps away.
But we don’t.
His other hand cradles my face and there’s a hushed, solemn moment where he waits, leaning closer.
I can’t help smiling, happiness bubbling through me, champagne-effervescent.
“Kiss me,” I tell him, throwing caution to the wind.Who needs it?
I don’t.Not when Aiden is right here, warm, kind, and so damn handsome it makes my heart hurt.
He laughs again, the sound and warmth of his breath washing over my skin like summer sunshine.
Stretching up on my tiptoes, I close the distance between us.
The first brush of his lips isn’t a question, but an answer to one that’s been lingering between us since he appeared in my life yesterday.
