Matthew unloaded the rest of the contents and spread them out. “Looks like most of the food survived.”
“What is it with us and getting wet? First a random storm, and now a cider explosion.”
“I have no idea, but it’s beginning to make me wonder too.” Just as he’d promised, he’d packed all the sandwich fixings they needed and even some pickles. A cheese board tucked into the front pocket of the canvas tote served as their platter.
He assembled the sandwich, then cut it into four pieces for them to share.
While nibbling the sandwiches, they enjoyed the lush scenery around them.
“So are you going to give me the down-low on this big creative process for our dates now?” she asked.
“As good a time as any. Each time we come back, you spin the doohickey as you called it?—”
“Technical term,” she corrected.
“Yes, of course. So you’ll spin to see which number on the map we’ll visit on each subsequent visit.”
“What if I land on one of the numbers we’ve already visited? Like if I spin a seven again next time?”
“Oh, well, you can earn another spin. It just costs a kiss.”
“I see,” she said, not looking displeased with the prospect. “You know, I’m smart enough to know the more often we come, the more likely it is that I’m going to have to have to respin for me to get one of the numbers we haven’t already hit.”
“I’m counting on that.” He chose his words carefully. “I’ve been thinking about kissing you all week long. That respin clause is pretty creative, isn’t it? What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” She looked dismissive. “What if you’re a horrible kisser?”
“I’m not a horrible kisser,” he insisted.
She shrugged. “Occupational hazard. I’m an attorney. I don’t believe anything without proo?—”
He stopped her mid-sentence by pressing his lips to hers. They melted into one another, him pulling her bottom lip into his mouth, and ever so gently kissing her.
His heart pounded, and her sweet scent made him dizzy.
She didn’t pull away, and he couldn’t let go. He let his hand fall to her shoulder, then skimmed her cheek.
Gentle, yet eager, the kiss fired off feelings and excitement that felt so right.
Taking a deep breath, he looked into her eyes for a sign that she’d felt the same thing he’d just experienced.
Intensity lingered in the air.
She blew out a breath. “That was really nice.”
He cleared his throat. “Exhibit A, counselor.”
“Well, Mural Guy, this exhibit provides irrefutable evidence supporting your argument in the area of adept kissing and directly corroborates my hopes in this case.” She paused, biting down on the edge of her bottom lip. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a kiss like that.”
“Maybe it was the cider?” he teased.
“I don’t think so.” Her cheeks reddened.
He leaned in and whispered, “Does that mean you’re okay with spinning the wheel for those future dates?”
“So many times,” she admitted.
“I’m really happy to hear that.” He dropped a playful peck on her cheek. “You are sweeter than any dessert. I can’t believe we’ve lived in this same city for years and are just now finally getting to know each other.”
