Page 49 of Long Story Short

We’re stepping out of the privacy of the lush green hedges and into the parking lot when Tyson’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. “Everything okay?” he asks, his hand giving mine a reassuring squeeze.

I look up at him through my lashes, my gaze immediately going to his lips for a moment as I imagine kissing them again. “Yes, just processing everything, is all.”

“I’m sorry. I probably should’ve waited to kiss you unt⁠—”

“Don’t be sorry. That kiss…” My entire body tingles with the memory of it. “It was perfect. I was more so still processing the fact that one of your friends read my books and was talking about the sex within it.”

He lets out a bark of a laugh. “I’ve only met Charlotte a few times, but she really doesn’t have a filter. Jude doesn’t have one either, so they’re a perfect match.”

I nod because I didn’t get to speak with them for too long, but they both did seem to have large personalities. “Well, if I see them again, I can’t wait for Charlotte to bring up my books—and me being famous even though I’m not even remotely close to it—again.”

“Oh, she will. Just wait for it,” Tyson offers with another laugh.

We fall into a comfortable silence as we make our way back to his SUV. I don’t know why, but with every step closer we get to his car, the more my heart races with anticipation.

Will he kiss me again?

Was it a one-time thing?

Why does my stomach drop at the thought of never kissing him again?

Last night, he was so controlled about not kissing me, even though it was obvious he wanted to. If I’ve learned anything about Tyson Bishop, it’s that the man has restraint. He’s made it clear that he wants me and feels the same connection I do, but what he hasn’t been clear on is whether he’s going to act on it or not.

I’m so lost in overanalyzing everything that I don’t even notice we’ve made it to his SUV until he comes to a stop again.

“Should I be nervous that you’re quiet?” he asks.

I shake my head as I meet his gaze. I’m not normally one to be bold, but something about Tyson makes me want to step out of my comfort zone. Instead of keeping my thoughts to myself, I decide to say them out loud instead.

“No, I was just wondering if you were going to kiss me again,” I answer truthfully. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I wait for his response. I love that I’ve taken him by surprise. His eyes have gone wide, and his lips part slightly.

It takes a few seconds, but his lips twitch with the hint of a smirk as his gaze narrows on me. “Do you want me to kiss you again?”

I continue to bite my lip as I nod, needing to feel his lips on mine again.

Tyson drops my hand and takes a step closer, eating the distance between us until his toes touch mine. I expect him to immediately pull my body against his the way he did earlier, but he doesn’t. Instead, he reaches up and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“I can’t stop thinking about kissing you again,” he confesses. He traces his knuckle over my cheekbone, making my entire body ache for more of his touch. “But…we’re still in public, and the things I want to do to you—with you—are only to be done in private.”

My breath hitches. In fact, my entire body freezes at his words. I can barely think straight as I try to imagine what he means.

Tyson must find my silence amusing because a deep chuckle leaves his throat. His thumb dusts over my cheek before finding my lips. He traces my Cupid’s bow with his thumb for a moment, his gaze focused on what he’s doing.

A soft sigh leaves his mouth as his hand drops slowly, the tip of his thumb now on my bottom lip. He pulls it down slightly, his gaze still longingly on my mouth.

“Let’s get you back to the house so you can work,” he says. His thumb runs along my bottom lip one more time before his hand fully drops to his side.

He steps away from me before opening the passenger door. His mouth spreads in a smile as he tilts his head, directing me to get in. I sigh, wondering if I love or hate how patient this man is.

He’s right that we probably shouldn’t make out in the parking lot. It’s even busier now than it was when we got here. But when it comes to him, for some reason, I lose all sense of reason. I forget that I’m shy and have never been one for PDA. I forget how much I hate the gossip and chitchat that comes with the social circles I grew up in. I even forget how stressed and overwhelmed I feel with a looming deadline. It’s still new, but when we spend time together, I get so wrapped up in him that I forget about anything else.

“Thank you,” I say as I slide into my seat.

Tyson stands in the opening of the car door for a few moments, his gaze locked on mine. I squirm under the intensity of his stare. His jaw flexes as his focus moves to where my thighs press together in my seat. He lets out a long sigh before closing the door.

I smile as he rounds the front of the car. He may be showing some restraint right now, but I love the small indicators that show he wants to continue where we left off just as badly as I do.

The car ride starts off quiet, but a few minutes in, Tyson finally breaks the silence between us. We make small talk—the good kind—the entire car ride home. I enjoy the easy conversation with him, but despite how effortlessly we fall into simple conversation, there’s a tension between us that doesn’t go away.