Page 86 of All I Feel

He smiled. “This is the best birthday of my whole life.”

I blinked, my head jerking back. “From a kiss?”

“Princess, do you know how good your kisses are?”

One question.

One simple question, and I could feel the blush creep over my cheeks. How was I ever going to do what was necessary to convince him to finally take things to the next level between us?

“I think they’re like that because it’s you,” I explained. “I haven’t kissed many men, but the few that I have never made it seem like my kisses were anything special.”

“Well, they were fools, then. But if you don’t mind, I’d rather not spend any portion of my birthday talking about men who’ve kissed you.”

“Sorry.” I bit my lip. “So, can I assume you like my dress?”

Ace’s hands came to my hips as he took half a step back to look at me again. “I love it, Tessa. You look beautiful.”

I smiled. “You look incredible, too.”

“Do you need anything inside?”

Shaking my head, I answered, “I’m all set if you are.”

Without delay, Ace took the keys from my hand and led us back out to the truck. The next thing I knew, we’d arrived at Lou’s.

“Who knew this was all it would take?” Harper declared.

“What?”

“All my sister needed was a boyfriend to get somewhere on time,” she clarified.

“Boyfriend?” Archer murmured, belatedly noticing my fingers linked with Ace’s.

Before I could address that, Mia noted, “Technically, there was a boyfriend before Ace, and that never helped.”

Laughing, I said, “I’ll have you know, I worked so hard to make sure I’d be here on time for Ace’s birthday.”

“Hang on. Who cares about what time Tessa showed up here?” Archer asked. “I’m still back on Tessa and Ace showing up, holding hands, and everyone seemingly aware that he’s her boyfriend.”

“I had no idea,” Taj declared.

“I didn’t, either,” Kingston added.

The men directed their attention to Phoenix as Archer asked, “Did you know?”

He nodded. “I was aware.”

Ace laughed as my eyes slid through to all the women. My girls were positively ecstatic for me. “Relax, guys. This is nothing to get worked up about. Tessa and I are together. Yes, it’s new, but don’t be weird about it.”

“New?” Taj asked.

Ace nodded. “Uh, yeah. This has only been official about a week.”

Kingston said, “Okay. Maybe when you talk inofficialterms. But if we count all the time that you two spent together over the years, pretending to just be friends, I’d say it feels like this has taken an eternity.”

Lark had arrived somewhere in the midst of everyone coming to grips with the news and didn’t hold back. “At least theyfinallydid something about it, though. I’m glad for them, and the rest of you should be, too.” She narrowed her eyes on the men, specifically Archer, Kingston, and Phoenix. “Some of you have no room to talk.”

I bit my lip as Archer said, “But Tessa… You just… If you’re happy, I’m happy for you. And Ace, I love you like a brother. I just want to make sure you’re not rushing into something so soon after…”