Page 16 of Scoring a Sweet Thing

“You look cute when you scowl.” I grin. “Baby.”

“I’m not cute,” he grumbles.

I loop my arms around his shoulders and begin to sway us to the beat. His hands tighten on my hips, the move bringing us closer until our chests are touching.

“You’re so cute. And—” I lower my voice when the deejay switches it up to a slower song. “—very hot.”

He ducks his head slightly, almost embarrassed. His teeth dig into his bottom lip, and my eyes drop to his mouth. I want to kiss him. I want to tell him that I feel this bizarre pull between us that’s so strong, I don’t think I can ignore it.

But I also don’t want to break this moment. Especially when he lifts his head and I lose myself in those hazel eyes for the rest of the night.

The car pulls up outside Bailey’s house, and I ask the driver to wait for me while I walk Bailey to his door.

“Thanks for a fun night. I had a great time,” he says with a soft smile.

“It was so much fun! Thanks for coming with me and being my pretend boyfriend.” I lean in closer and lower my voice, even though there’s nobody around. “We really showed those grandmas, eh?”

I wiggle my brows, and he huffs out a laugh under his breath, ducking his head for a moment before lifting it up again. This time, his eyes are filled with affection, and it’s taking everything in me not to lean in and kiss him.

Instead, I blurt out, “Can I see you again? Like take you on a real date? We could get tacos or those mini pancakes!”

Those creases I love so much appear around his eyes as his mouth tips into a smile. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I internally fist pump. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I…” He shakes his head, almost like he’s in disbelief with whatever he’s thinking. “When Lian told me to match with you, I didn’t expect any of this. I don’t feel this comfortable around people easily, but there’s something about you, Remi… You make me want to be brave. You make me feel alive, and I’m so damn attracted to you, it kinda scares me.”

All the worries I was feeling earlier melt away, replaced with a sense of excitement buzzing in my veins.

I’m practically bouncing on my toes when I ask, “Can I kiss you?”

He takes a step closer, curving his hand around my neck. “I think I might die if you don’t,” he whispers.

I suck in a breath. Placing both hands on his hips, I close the distance and press my lips to his. It’s like mini fireworks are set off around us. Tingles rush down my spine to my toes as our tongues brush. I can feel his smile against my lips when I let out a small whimper.

But once again, our moment gets interrupted when a car horn blasts, and I jolt off the ground, startled.

“You better go before he drives off without you,” Bailey says, so quietly I would’ve missed it if my eyes weren’t fixated on him.

“Mhm, okay. I suppose.” I kiss him again quickly, then jog down the few steps. When I reach the car, I turn back to face him where he’s still standing by the door.

“You’re hot!” I shout, not able to help myself. Because he is hot.

He laughs. “You’re hot too!”

I make a heart with my hands before sliding into the back of the car.

And my damn face aches from how hard I’m smiling.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Bailey

The week following the after-gala kiss passes by in a blur. I’ve been working through a stacked schedule at the studio, and Remi is back to his hockey duties. He left for a road trip a few days ago, but you wouldn’t think he’s nearly three thousand miles away because we’ve been talking nonstop, from texts to FaceTime calls.

Whenever I’ve not been tattooing or drawing designs for upcoming appointments and he hasn’t been on the ice, I’ve been glued to my phone like some lovesick teenager with their first crush.

It’s been ten days since Remi bamboozled his way into my life, and I don’t think I can remember what it was like without him in it. I should be embarrassed about how easily I’m falling for him. His fun-loving charm, his excitable personality. His big, strong body that felt so good underneath my palms when there were mere inches between us the last time I saw him. The memory of our kiss has played on an endless loop in my brain, and with him coming home today, I’m hoping I’ll get to relive it again in real time tonight.