AllFreeNovel
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We share a moment so intense I almost forget to breathe. Our gazes lock. His fingers are playing with my hair.
We don’t say anything, but we don’t need to. There’s an intensity connecting us that is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before. I’m afraid if I move, the connection will be broken.
“Rachel?” he whispers.
“Yes?”
“You’re breathtaking. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to be alone with you.”
I don’t know how to answer that. I can’t tell him that I’ve been pining after him since he moved to Logan Creek. That he’s what I picture as every guy in every romance novel I’ve read since then.
His hand shifts from my hair, cupping my cheek. His thumb brushes along my skin, causing a wave of goosebumps to prickle over my skin.
We stay like that for another breath. I don’t know if he’s going to kiss me. I want him to. I want his kiss more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my whole life.
Mitch drops his hand and turns, instantly severing the intensity. I miss the connection, even knowing that we couldn’t just sit and stare at each other all night.
He turns back with the bags from the brewery in his hands. The smile he gives me is more reserved, almost shy, which isn’t a look I’ve seen on him before.
“I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for both of us.” He begins to pull out container after container, placing it on the blanket between us. I don’t miss how he shifts over, closing the distance between us so our legs press close together.
“No, I don’t mind.”
My mouth waters as he lifts the lids off the containers. Sweet chilli chicken, potato wedges, poutine, wings. It looks like most of the brewery’s appetizer menu is laid out on the blanket before us. “This smells amazing.”
“I give Zach shit for a lot of things, but the man knows his food.” He smiles, sneaking a glance up at me while he uncovers the last container.
I grab a disposable fork, digging into the chili chicken. The sweet and spicy flavour immediately fills my mouth, making me moan. “This is amazing.”
Mitch’s hand freezes, hovering above the potato skins container, eyes wide as he looks at me.
“What?” I ask, wiping the corner of my mouth with my finger. “Did I get the sauce on me?”
He raises his hand, his thumb brushing against my bottom lip. He doesn’t say anything as he continues, his gaze never straying from the movement. I resist the urge to look away. I want to pull my bottom lip between my teeth, but I don’t want him to stop touching me. He looks like he wants to kiss me. Maybe even do more than kiss me. While I want that, too—more than anything—I’m afraid of opening myself up to that. What if I’m just a passing phase? What if I let him in only to find he just wants a hook up? I can’t stand the thought of losing him and then watching him with other women around town.
“You’re thinking too hard,” he whispers, meeting my eyes but not letting go. “What are you thinking about?”
I shake my head, causing him to drop his hand. I can’t let him know what I’m thinking. I don’t want to sound like some stage five clinger thinking about anything past tonight. It’s our first date, for heaven’s sake. Instead of being truthful, I pick up a jalapeño popper. “So, how did you get into making beer?” I take a bite of the popper, preventing myself from saying anything further.
He looks at me for another moment before dropping his shoulders and looking out at the city before us. “It’s not that interesting, really. I was looking at programs at local colleges and universities and saw one about making beer. I figured I like beer, so why not?” I let out a chuckle, drawing his attention back to me. “What?”
“Nothing, it’s just—cute.”
“Cute,” he repeats slowly.
“Yeah, I don’t know how else to explain it. You knew what you liked, and you went for it. I like that.”
He sends me a heated look. “Damn right, I do.”
Now I don’t know if he’s talking about his degree or me.
Heat rushes through my body, even in the chill fall night. A shiver runs through me, and I’m unable to hide the intensity of it.
“Cold?” Mitch asks, shrugging out of his jacket and placing it over the shoulders of my own thin coat.
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine.” He gives me one of his signature smiles that melts every part of me.
