Page 61 of The Mr. Right Checklist

I get a twinge of jealousy, wondering if she’s one of the women he has casually dated.

“Everyone thought they’d end up together,” Piper says, turning that twinge into an uncomfortable knot. “But then she fell in love with Derek, and now they’re married with a family of their own, and Fletch has you. How long have you guys been seeing each other?”

“Not that long. He’s been helping me get organized with my business, and we hit it off.”

Piper’s brow furrows. “Let me get this straight. The guy who doesn’t believe in love is helping you with your marriage-proposal business? How did that happen?”

“It’s an embarrassing story . . .”

I tell her about the picnic-proposal fiasco, which seems like it was ages ago. It’s easier to laugh about it now and to admit how naive I was.

The guys find us in stitches when they finish grilling, and as we sit down to eat, Piper relays the story to Harley. He teases us relentlessly. Fletch takes the opportunity to make fun of Piper and Harley’s engagement, and I learn that when Harley proposed, Piper was so freaked out, she ran away and tried to bury her love for him in doughnuts. Clearly it didn’t work, because there’s so much love between them, it fills the room.

Fletch puts his hand on my leg, leaning closer to say, “Maybe we should give them a do-over proposal.”

His use of we burrows into my heart, and my perspective takes on that sand-like quality again, leaving me futilely trying to stop it from slipping through my fingers.

When we leave Piper’s, we chat the whole way back to my place, and as he pulls into my driveway, I’m not ready to say goodbye. That feeling has become a broken record when it comes to him, and I know I need to get my arms around it.

He gathers my picnic blanket, towels, and the other things I brought with us and walks me to the door. I fish out my key. “Thanks for letting me crash your fishing-buddy time with Molly and for arranging for me to meet with Piper.”

“I’m glad you came with us.”

“I had the best time.” I turn to unlock the door, and he slides an arm around me from behind. My pulse quickens.

“I did, too. I’ve been thinking about kissing you all night.”

His warm lips trail over my neck, sending heat slithering through me. I fumble with the key and close my eyes, trying to center my thoughts.

“Having trouble, sunshine?”

“It’s a little hard to concentrate when you’re doing that.”

“If my good night kisses only affect you a little, I’m doing something wrong. Is this better?” Those tender neck kisses turn to enticingly sensual open-mouthed kisses. My breath rushes from my lungs. “Let me help you.” He sets my things on the porch and reaches around me from behind again. His chest presses against my back as he takes the key from my hand and unlocks the door.

I turn in his arms, the desire in his eyes wrapping around me like a ring of fire as our mouths come together, and we devour each other. A voice whispers through my mind, telling me to protect my heart, but Ruby’s voice barges in—Go for it. Satisfy your lust, and enjoy every second of it—giving me the reinforcements I crave.

“Come inside,” I say between fervent kisses.

“That’s probably not a good idea,” he rasps against my lips. “Two nights with you could become a habit.”

“No, it can’t,” I say, desperate for more. “We have an expiration date. We’re like a coupon that won’t be valid after the wedding.”

He presses his smiling lips to mine. “And I won’t stay the night.”

“Perfe—” He recaptures my mouth and pushes the door open, kissing me as we stumble inside. We both break the kiss, saying “Molly” in unison. He curses, and I laugh as he runs outside to get her.

Chapter Eighteen

FLETCH

As Molly and I set out for an early run, it feels like it’s been a month since our last morning run. I do a quick calculation and realize it’s been that long since Destiny blew into our lives. Time has passed in an enjoyable blur of activities and accomplishments and unstoppable heat. I swore I wasn’t going to stay at her place last Sunday night after we got back from Piper’s, and one way or another, we’ve ended up hanging out together in the evenings and have woken tangled up in each other every morning for the past week.

That’s the spell my new sassy friend and enticing lover casts on me, with her tangential talks and guileless smiles. When I’m with her, time ceases to exist. She’s seeped into my world like water, filling every crevice, bringing something into my life that I didn’t even know I was missing. Like sunshine to a freaking flower.

Getting Molly out of Destiny’s bed this morning was not an easy task. I swear Clementine gave me the stink eye for taking his bestie away when he’d been cozily curled up beside her. I glance at Molly running begrudgingly beside me as we turn into the park. While I’m trying to figure out how this thing with Destiny has progressed so fast, Molly’s probably wondering why she’s missing out on her morning snuggles.

Destiny has been working like a fiend, making calls, collecting estimates for Arjun’s proposal, and setting up meetings with potential clients, while still working part time at Perfect Paws and walking Molly in the afternoons. I don’t know how she keeps it all straight and manages to maintain a positive attitude. That’s why I offered to cook her dinner Monday night when she texted to tell me she spoke to Bridgette and set up a meeting with her. She brought work with her to my place, and after dinner we went over the budgets she’s putting together and discussed ideas for the new inquiries she’d gotten. One thing led to another, and we ended up talking until almost midnight. There was no sense in her leaving that late. She joined me and Molly for an evening walk Tuesday, and we watched The Office, playing the one-more-episode game until after eleven, when one kiss led to another, and a wild night of passion ensued. That’s how naturally it happened, every single night.