“Are you okay?” His voice is softer now, careful, as he brushes his thumb over my jaw.
All the bravado, all the walls have fallen, and he looks at me with such open concern that I can’t help but admit the truth.
“I don’t know how to do this. Kiss, I mean.”
Patty smiles, and brushes his nose along mine, slow and deliberate, before pressing a kiss to my forehead. To my temple. To my jaw, right next to my ear.
“Goodness, Queenie, for someone who’s never kissed before, you could drop a man to his knees.”
My lips touch his earlobe, and a pained exhale escapes him.
Next thing I know, his hands are cupping my face, steady and sure.
His mouth finds mine again, his lips parting in an embrace as natural as a hug. As a breath.
His touch grounds me, our rhythm shifting like a song finding its tempo.
What starts as an urgent, uptempo beat becomes slower, like a ballad.
I match him now. The melody builds, our lips moving together in harmony as beautiful as anything I’ve ever heard.
There’s a break in the melody as I pull back to catch my breath.
His eyes meet mine, and when I grin, he grins.
And I’m breathless again.
Patty’s grin … it’s … heart-stopping.
And I know this is dumb—I know it is—but he has these beautiful white teeth that I’ve never really noticed before.
Those bright white teeth against those red, swollen lips and his dark scruff are a combination I suddenly can’t resist.
“Your smile is a symphony,” I say.
His grin becomes a smirk. “Do you always think in lyrics, or are you feeling extra inspired?”
“Maybe we should kiss some more and find out. I have an album to write.”
His smirk fades, leaving something more thoughtful in its place.
He smooths my hair and kisses me.
“Let’s pause the album and go out.”
“Out?” I look around. “Into Branson? How?”
His lips curve back into a knowing grin.
“I have an idea …”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
PATTY
The thing about giving in is how good it feels. I’ve been fighting myself and what I want for weeks on end, and now that she’s basically forced my hand, I’m done fighting.
Even if I shouldn’t be.
