Page 94 of Finding My Charming

I sat up straight and quickly debated how to start.

Direct or with a long lead-in?

“I like you. Like really, really like you.”

I sucked in my bottom lip and gentle bit down to keep myself from saying anything else. If I started rambling, I knew no good would come from it.

His casual, cheerful disposition returned in a flash.

“So, what does that mean?”

I sighed and released my plumped lip. “I guess it means that I wanted you to know how I feel about you, and I would like us to…” My voice trailed off along with my courage.

Shall I just tell him that I want us to be exclusive? That I want to have a future with him? That will undoubtedly freak him out.

“You want us to what?” I could tell he was really enjoying my struggle.

“I want you, Dallin!” I sunk into the booth and looked around. I hadn’t meant for that to come out so loud, but I didn’t want him to continue teasing me either.

“You want me?” He said the words slowly as if he was still digesting them.

I nodded and waited. I refused to say any more until he did.

“You want me? Like a boyfriend?” The amazement in his voice matched my own.

He got it!

“Yes. I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else, and I don’t want you to either.”

“You want to be exclusive.”

I nodded.

“So, you really like me?”

“Yes.” Why are we repeating this part?

“Good, because I really, really, really like you.”

I smiled and knew my cheeks were flaming red. We were saved by the waiter bringing us our meals. The bowl of mac and cheese suddenly became the most interesting thing to each of us. We kept our eyes down and finished in silence. It wasn’t awkward. It was more like if either of us made eye contact or spoke, we would each lose our composure. I could tell he wanted to get out of here just as much as I did.

When the waiter came back to ask if we wanted dessert, Dallin handed him a few folded bills and thanked him before standing and helping me to my feet. We rushed out of the restaurant and to his car before breaking into laughter.

“Don’t laugh! We had a serious moment.” I was giggling so much I doubted he understood me.

“We did just have a great moment, and now I can say what I’ve been thinking since you told me you wanted me.” He stepped forward until he was inches from me and brought both hands to my face. His thumb caressed my gnawed bottom lip, which was still sore, and slowly leaned down. When his lips met mine with a featherlight touch, I nearly melted. Everything with him felt right. I’d been so nervous, but I had no reason to be. He understood how I felt, even when I barely knew.

I allowed myself to get lost in his kiss, knowing I was his.

Chapter 28

i floated into the house still dazed from the kiss. Dallin liked me. A small part of me had been worried that he might laugh in my face or give me the friend speech, but everyone had been right.

My mother called to me from the kitchen, so I changed direction.

“Hi, Mom.”

She turned and paused in the middle of chopping a carrot. “What’s got you all smiley?”