Page 72 of The Other Room

“I love you, Jo,” he whispered between kisses.

“I love you, too.” Pulling him in harder, I folded my body against his chest.

The door to the kitchen opened, and one of the cooks stepped out. I pushed Matt away and spun to see the cook grinning.

“Sorry.” I gave him a sheepish smile.

He just gave me a thumbs up and ducked back inside.

Matt laughed and pressed back in for another kiss, but I found the will to stop him. “I have to get back to work.”

“Just another minute,” he said, slanting his mouth over mine.

Another minute wouldn’t quench the desire coursing through my body.

I didn’t think even a lifetime of kisses could put out this fire.

“Work. I have to go.”

His warm breath ghosted my lips, and I closed my eyes and pressed in for a quick kiss before ducking under his arm. I paused at the glass door and turned back. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He slumped against the side of the building, pushing out his lip in a pout. “I’ll be counting the minutes. Hurry up and get off. Date night.”

Date night.

I had a date tonight. With Matt.

The thought made me smile, and when he mouthed ‘I love you’ I almost raced back into his arms.

“I’ll text you when I’m done.” I blew him a kiss and slipped back inside.

Ugh! If it weren’t the heart of the busy season, I’d be taking a week-long vacation just so I could spend every second in his arms, trying to make up for all the time we’d missed.

Okay, maybe a month-long vacation.

I closed the glass door, pausing to regain the composure his kiss stole from me.

Only a few more hours and I could devour him all over again.

For the next two hours, I tried not to stare at the clock. People came and went from the bar, but my excitement remained steady all day. Only twenty more minutes until I could bust free and fling myself back into Matt’s arms.

The phone at the bar rang, and I picked it up. “Hello, JJ’s,” I said, grabbing a pad of paper to jot down what I assumed would be a to-go order.

“Hey, Jo, it’s Hanson.”

“What up, Hanson?”

“Hey, my wife got a flat tire in Sturgeon Bay. Would you mind staying a couple hours late so I can run down and save her?”

“Of course,” I said. Though I was happy to help, it meant a couple more hours away from Matt. But Hanson always had my back, so I didn’t mind a couple more hours of suffering so I could have his.

“You are a lifesaver. Running to her rescue like a knight in shining armor is good for major marriage bonus points.”

Laughing, I nodded though he couldn’t see. “Damn straight, Hanson. Go save your girl.”

“I’ll see you in a couple hours.”

We hung up, and I put the pen back down and picked up my phone, shooting Matt a text.