She laughed again at his dry tone. “And that’s what I hope for on allmydates.”
He smiled, though it was fleeting. “What happens now?”
She wasn’t sure what he was asking. “Now I suppose we go back to our lives and enjoy the rest of the holidays. You’ll be heading back to San Diego after Kim returns. I’m sure you can’t wait.”
He didn’t look nearly as enthused by that as she might have expected.
“I meant, what are you going to tell your in-laws about us?”
She considered. “If you don’t mind, I might string our relationship out a little longer, even after you go back to San Diego. You make a very good diversion.”
“Good to know I can be useful for something besides flying rescue missions and landing a Seahawk on an aircraft carrier.”
“I’m just saying,” she said, trying for a light, easy tone, “I could always create another fictional boyfriend so everyone would back off about setting me up with someone else. But why do that when the Moore family has already met you?”
“Good point.”
“Not only have they met you but they adore you. I heard from every one of Troy’s aunts as well as his mother that I needed to hang on to you. I believe their exact words were that I would be a fool to let you slip away.”
She found it adorable that he actually looked embarrassed about that.
“Nice to know I was a hit with the older ladies.”
“Withallthe ladies,” she corrected. And probably a few of the men, too.
The tips of his ears were definitely pink now.
“So you’re suggesting we string this out as long as possible so people don’t try to set you up with anyone else.”
“Would you mind?”
“What’s in it for me?” he asked in a teasing voice.
She made a face. “The knowledge that you’re providing an important service for a beleaguered single mom in Idaho without having to lift a finger?”
“That sounds fine in theory but what happens when you meet someone you actually want to date? Am I supposed to disappear out of your life without a word?”
“First of all, that’s not going to happen.”
She suddenly knew without a doubt that was true. She didn’t want to date anyone at all, if that man couldn’t be Ryan Caldwell.
“Second, I’ll tell them you and I reached a mutual decision that we’re better off as friends.”
“What if they don’t buy that?”
“Fine. I’ll tell them I broke up with you. I decided we weren’t a good fit. You were, of course, devastated and went back to San Diego with a shattered heart. In a week or two, I will quickly find a new fake boyfriend, even hotter than you are.”
As if that were possible.
He laughed and before she could guess what he intended, he reached for her hand and tugged her toward him. His mouth lowered to hers, tasting of chocolate and mint.
All the hunger that had simmered inside her all afternoon and evening seemed to explode at the touch of his mouth. Unlike their earlier kisses, this one was hot and hungry.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him, and she surrendered to the moment, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. The kiss deepened, a storm ofemotions swirling between them. Desire, longing and something she didn’t dare name.
Her world narrowed to the feel of him, the strength of his arms, the warmth of his body. His hand slid to her jaw, tilting her face up to his as if he couldn’t bear to stop kissing her.
She felt as if she were standing on the edge of something vast and uncharted, and for once, she didn’t want to step back.
