I turned to look at her and she came to a crashing halt, almost running right into my chest. “I might notknowyou, know you. But I know you.”
The moonlight lit up the street outside. Frankie looked even more beautiful out here than under the harsh neon glow of the bar lights.
“What does that even mean?” She let out a frustrated sigh.
Even though she was incredibly irritated with me right now, I still felt tempted to ask her back to my place—a place I hadn’t even been yet. Frankie was stunning. Tense and easily bothered, sure, but stunning, nonetheless. I had to drag my gaze away from her pout.
She must have caught the shift in my eyes because she traced her lips with her tongue. Damn. That wasn’t fair.
Who was I kidding? Frankie wasn’t the type of girl to proposition for a one-night stand or anything of that nature. She looked like she overthought everything. Probably had togo home and make a pros and cons list before she made even the smallest of decisions.
But still, I did see a flicker of something in her eyes. Lust? Intrigue? Maybe it was just frustration. I couldn’t quite place it, but the way she seemed to forget we were still arguing as she lingered by my side said everything I needed to know.
We stood outside, wordless, for what felt like a while but surely was only seconds. The cold evening air was far more bitter than it had been in Denver, and I fought the urge to reach out and put an arm around Frankie and her insufficient coat.
“Look, I’m a straight shooter. Sorry if I offended you,” I offered. “Can I walk you home or something?”
“I’m fine. My sister lives right around the corner.” Her voice was softer than it had been only minutes ago.
“Alright, then,” I said, disappointed this was where we’d be leaving things.
Warm air trickled from her pink lips, and I found myself unable to take my eyes off of them.
“You’re right,” she whispered, taking me by surprise. “I’m not adventurous.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Look, I shouldn’t have?—”
“You know what’s something I would never do?” she continued.
“What?” I breathed, our bodies drawing closer together as if they were magnetized.
“Kiss a random stranger outside a bar who I’ll never see again.” Her voice shook, but her eyes were determined.
The bag of food in my hands and the warmth of my new apartment were completely forgotten. Suddenly, I was thinking of nothing else except what she might taste like.
“Is that something you’re looking to cross off your bucket list tonight?” I asked huskily.
She nodded, her eyes searching mine. She tilted her head up and her mouth looked like an offering. I leaned toward her instinctively, our eyes locked. I saw the open invitation in them and eagerly bent the rest of the way down until my lips brushed hers. They were warm and soft. The slight shiver that ran through her as soon as I touched her made me ravenous for more.
For someone so uptight, her lips tasted reckless.
I pressed into her, my mouth moving over hers as I lightly nipped her bottom lip. She tilted her head, parting her mouth and letting her tongue dance against mine. I lifted my free hand to cup her soft cheek before moving it to her hair and tangling my fingers in it.
The kiss was sweet and hot all at once. I’d had my share of meaningless makeouts in my life, but none had hit me quite as hard as this one. Maybe it was the fresh start in a new town. Maybe it was that everything about Frankie was still a puzzle to me. Whatever it was, I welcomed it.
She nibbled on my bottom lip before pulling away. I tried to lightly tug her back in with my hand, but she moved her face out of my grasp.
“Come home with me?” I asked, desperate for more.
She laughed breathlessly and opened her eyes. “I’ve got to get back to my sister’s.”
“Please?” I offered her my best charming smile. Somehow, I knew it was fruitless. I couldn’t change her mind, but I wanted to. “We don’t have to do anything—although more of this would be amazing. We can just talk. Or you can have some of my fries.” I held up the forgotten bag at my side. They must be getting cold, but I couldn’t have cared less. I’d happily let them freeze if it meant standing out here for a few more minutes with Frankie locked beneath my gaze.
But to my dismay, Frankie patted my chest and steppedaway from me. Her absence left me cold, but I let her go without argument.
“I’ve got to get going. This was fun though.” She had already turned away from me. Just like that, whatever magical moment that had transpired between us had completely passed. She turned back around to point at me. “Think about this moment next time you call some woman you’ve just met in a bar rigid and unadventurous.”
“I don’t think I used those exact words,” I called.
