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“It’s a big deal to me,” he said. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
My stomach was full of butterflies as he opened the car door and helped me into the passenger seat. I grinned after he closed the door and I watched him walk around to the driver’s side. I’d been on thirty-seven horrible dates during my fruitless search for Mr. Right, and never once had any of the men opened the car door for me.
I breathed in deep as he slid into his seat and closed the door. The scent of him was just as sensual as I’d thought it was the night before. Being so close together in the car felt intimate, especially when he turned toward me so he could lay the box of chocolates down on the back seat. His gaze held mine as he did it, the air thick with tension as we stared at each other.
Arousal pulsed hot in my veins as countless seconds passed. I sighed when he cupped his hands on either side of my face and held me in place as he leaned into me. When his lips covered mine, everything suddenly made sense. I knew everything in my life up until that moment had been leading me to Ryan.
He expelled a guttural sound when my lips parted and our tongues touched for the first time. I leaned across the console toward him, anxious to be closer. Never in my life had I been so affected by a kiss. I was a romantic at heart and my dreams were big, but kissing Ryan was more than I’d ever hoped for, mostly because I hadn’t known anything like it was possible. It was too much while also being not nearly enough. His tongue caressed mine slowly as he explored me passionately. He tasted like rice crispy treats, cake, and something else indefinable that was just him.
The console between us jabbed into my side as I slid my arms around his back and held on as the kiss continued. Kissing Ryan was the equivalent of finding an oasis in the desert. It was everything that was right in the world and I never wanted to stop. It was addictive, and I loved it. The entire time we kissed, Ryan cupped my face in a way that made me feel desired and treasured all at the same time. We kept up like that until there was a knock on the window.
When we pulled apart, I turned and found Gina standing next to the car. I giggled nervously as I pressed the control to roll down the window.
“Did I forget something?” I squeaked.
She laughed and shook her head. “No, I just needed to break it up before your audience came back.”
I glanced around but didn’t see anyone staring.
“What audience?”
“There were a few teenagers watching from the sidewalk.”
“That’s crazy!” I sputtered.
“Well in their defense, you’ve been going at it for more than ten minutes,” she teased. “I think they were amazed.”
Ryan and I both chuckled.
“Sorry,” he said to Gina.
“Don’t apologize,” she said dryly. “Just keep making the girl happy.”
“You can count on it,” he answered.
My entire body tingled with happiness at his word. After saying goodbye to Gina again, we both buckled in.
“Have you eaten lunch yet?”
I shook my head. “Nope, and I’m starving.”
“Me too. The only things I’ve eaten today were the eggs I had for breakfast and the unbelievably delicious cake at Emmett’s party.”
“I’m so glad you liked it.”
“I didn’t like it,” he said, “I loved it. Best cake I’ve ever had. You rocked it, sweetheart.”
His praise meant the world to me.
“Thank you, Ryan,” I murmured.
“What do you feel like eating?”
“I’ll eat anything. Uh, except for Winston’s Pub,” I cringed. “We had three staff members out with food poisoning from their wings yesterday.”
Ryan grimaced. “Okay, consider Winston’s crossed off the list for life. How about Chinese food? I know a great place that serves the best egg rolls I’ve ever had.”
“Ooh,” I squeaked, “are you talking about King Fu?”
He nodded his head. “I am! I eat there at least once a week.”
“I go every Tuesday after work to pick up the General Tso and cashew chicken dinner combo.”
His eyebrows. “Holy shit,” he laughed, “me too. It’s insane that we never ran into each other.”
“I go early,” I chuckled. “Typically I’ve got my stuff by three o’clock. The life of a baker runs a little earlier than most.”
He nodded as he put the car into gear and reversed out of the spot. “Yeah, I can see that. I normally squeak in just under the wire right before they stop serving the special at eight o’clock.”
“I’m normally in bed at eight. I might not go to sleep until nine or ten, but I need to be up by four thirty at the latest. I’m a real pill after a few days of little to no sleep.”
