Page 55 of A Love Like Candle Light

A happy hum escapes the back of his throat as he draws back and ends the kiss.

"Wow," I whisper, staring at his collarbone. My face feels as hot as the damn churros when I first bit into them.

"Wow indeed," he whispers and tilts my chin up until I meet his eyes. "Was it okay?"

"Okay?" My jaw drops and I softly shake my head. Fireworks are exploding in the sky, the scent of gunpowder overshadowing the autumn fair scents, their lights casting pink, yellow and blue over his face. "Erik, this was a lot better than okay."

"Good," he mumbles, a shy grin tugging at his lips as he twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. "I got worried for a second there."

"The only thing I worry about..." I hook my finger into the collar of his shirt and pull him closer until I can stretch and whisper into his ear, "is when we're going to do that again."

His low chuckle feathers over my ear and the side of my neck. "I wouldn't call it a worry. Not even a concern."

"How about—”

“Kylie? Erik? Are you coming?"

For a moment, I expect him to jump back, like a teenager caught watching something they weren't supposed to. However, he isn't deterred. As if he has all the time in the world, he draws back and glances to our left, where the voice called us from.

"Give us a minute, Lauren," he shouts back unapologetically, my hair still around his finger.

"Take all the time in the world, you lovebirds! I'll save a spot for you by the bonfire." She scurries off and he turns back to me. He's blushing. Fuck, how cute.

"Come on." I reach for his hand and lace my fingers with his. He grabs our empty cups, I grab my teddy bear and we make our way to the others with the speed of a sloth after a weed-brownie dessert. We didn’t even get to watch the fireworks, but I don’t care.

Damn. I can't stop grinning. Erik kissed me. We kissed. And he got me churros and totally let me win a teddy bear. It was the perfect first date, the perfect first kiss with the perfect man.

There's a little voice in my head that screams at me. ‘It's too soon’ and ‘Hopping from one guy to the next, aren't you?’ But I ignore it.

Zach and I are done. We have been over for the better part of four years. The divorce only made it official in the eyes of the law.

I can date without a guilty conscience. And I will, because I might be starting to fall for the town's incredibly hot officer.

Who am I kidding? I’ve fallen. Dove off a cliff without a parachute.

As promised, Lauren saves a spot for us right by their little group. The autumn fair is over, and all the tourists have left for the day. The only people remaining live in Wayward Hollow, gathering to celebrate another successful fair.

There’s a huge bonfire, several simple benches around it and they’re packed. Seriously, all of Wayward Hollow, every single person I met as we set up the decor, is here and then some.

Lauren is sitting in Caleb's lap, still wearing his jacket. She’s chatting with Nic while her boyfriend holds two marshmallows over the fire. They’re sharing a bench with Nic, who has her legs over Henry's lap, her cheeks fire-red from the fire. Henry's arm is on her knees and both of them hold their own marshmallows over the fire, though Henry is having a conversation Bobby, who sits a few feet away from them.

Kieran sits on the bench next to them, alone. From the corner of my eyes, I catch him cast a wistful look towards the couples.

“Grab us a seat,” Erik mumbles and gets us our own marshmallows, along with some crackers, chocolate and long sticks to toast the marshmallows over the fire with.

“Hey Kieran! How are the dogs?”

“They’re grand. Exhausted from playing though, so they’re napping in my car with two open windows.” He nods towards the street, where his car is right in sight. “Don’t need them to run around the fire. Or catch fire.” He waves towards the fire. Something is off. His usual, joyful demeanor is dimmed. Maybe he’s also exhausted.

“Good choice.” I take a seat next to him and watch Erik. He navigates the crowd with ease. Occasionally someone stops him and they exchange a few words, before he continues on his s’mores mission.

Our eyes meet on his way back and I can’t help it. My lips curve up, because we’re officially dating and I scoot close to Kieran to make space for him.

“Here you go.” He hands me a marshmallow, and, to my surprise, another one to Kieran.

“Thanks, man.” Kieran’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. How odd.

"Bobby, I think you ought to tell the story," Henry suddenly declares, making all heads around the fire turn to him.