Page 32 of Captivated

Joe glanced down at the glass of whiskey he had poured, and twirled it a bit making the ice inside click against crystal. “Can’t say that’s a bad thing, though.”

“No, growth is … good.”

“It can be.”

Joe kept his gaze on the whiskey, and Liliana suddenly decided to be a little bold. They weren’t outside where anyone could see, or where her sister was right there to watch and make her feel nervous. There was no stumbling over her words, or feeling skittish.

Really, Joe didn’t make her anything but comfortable.

And a little hot sometimes.

Crossing the distance between them, Liliana came to stand right in front of Joe. It was only then that he finally glanced up from the glass in his hands to give her one of his slow, easy grins. The kind that made her stomach do that weird clenching thing—like butterflies for big girls.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Joe tipped his head to the side a bit. “Hey.”

“Thanks for helping me today.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Lucky you were there to help me, really.”

Joe quirked a brow high. “Yeah, lucky.”

Before Liliana could over think her next move, and while she was still feeling that bit of boldness in her heart, she stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Joe. It was a fast kiss—nothing too spectacular, and certainly not lingering. Just a sweet press of her lips against his, and then she was pulling away again.

As fast as it had happened, it was over.

Then, she waited.

For him, that was.

Joe’s gaze darted to hers, and she swore she saw a flash of heat behind his eyes. Without ever looking away from her, he set that glass of whiskey to the wet bar, grabbed her waist with a firm grip, and brought her even closer. She didn’t even get the chance to take a breath before he kissed her.

His kiss was not like hers.

Deeper, harder, and hungrier. A teasing stroke of his tongue against the seam of her lips, demanding she open up to him, and let him in. She couldn’t even help herself but to part her lips, and taste him.

Joe pulled her closer still until her chest was molded against his, and she found it hard to take in a decent breath. And only then did he pull away. His hand came up to cup her cheek, and his thumb stroked her cheekbone with a soft touch.

“I mean, if you’re going to kiss me,” he murmured as he pulled away, “then at least really kiss me, Liliana.”

She laughed breathlessly. “I wanted to see …”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you see whatever it was?” he asked.

Liliana grinned widely. “I did.”

“And?”

“Would you like to go out with me sometime, Joe?”

She expected an immediate response, but not the sudden silence that answered her back. And certainly not the slight stiffening in his body against hers. His mouth didn’t even open to speak, but she didn’t really need him to at that point, either.