She kissed him like it had been on her mind nonstop, too. Her lips gave and received with perfect pressure. She delivered a little “mmm” and he instantly wanted more.
This was the biggest and best mistake he’d ever made. The sweet sensation coursing through him was completely new. And not at all unwelcome. He turned off his brain and forced himself to focus on the physical only. If he kept his feelings for Liv out of it, he could forget how undone she made him feel.
He licked her bottom lip, took it between his teeth. She played back, nibbling in return, and that’s when he coaxed her mouth open and slipped his tongue into her mouth. She welcomed him with a sexy hum, and the second their tongues collided he forgot why this was a bad idea.
She tasted sweet and spicy and like everything he didn’t know he wanted. Her hands combed through his hair, held his head possessively.
His heart pounded like it…like it never had before. He couldn’t get his body close enough to hers. He wanted her in his bed, naked and writhing and saying his name.
He pulled away first, breaking their connection at all points of contact. Liv stared up at him under languid eyelids before she blinked and pulled her shoulders back.
She scrunched up her nose. “That. Was terrible.”
“The worst,” he lied.
“I’m glad we got that out of our system.”
“Yeah, no worries about ever wanting to do that again.”
“Exactly.” Only her voice faltered, she dropped her chin to stare at the sand. And everything in her expression said the kiss had rocked her world as much as it had his.
“Fifth Element?” he asked, hoping to get them back to where they used to be with one of their favorite movies.
“You always know just what to say.” Her smile didn’t exactly come across as genuine, but he’d take it. “I bet honey tastes good drizzled over popcorn.” There was that honest-to-goodness turn of her sexy lips.
Not sexy. Not sexy. Not. Sexy. If he ruined watching the movie with inappropriate thoughts, he was going to have to figure out a way to kick his own ass.
…
The bell tower in the middle of town struck three as Olivia waved goodbye to her last customer. She couldn’t believe how many people had stopped by her booth to have their handwriting analyzed. A steady stream of young and old, male and female, smiles and sighs, had made the hours fly by. Everyone had welcomed her, congratulated her on the baby, thanked her. This is home, she’d thought more than once.
The sun continued to play peek-a-boo with the clouds, but right now a warm ray of sunshine slanted across her face. Today had been the distraction she’d needed after her kiss with Danny last night. What a gigantic mistake that had been.
Holy mouthfest, he could kiss. He’d left her dizzy, stirred up, breathless. And his lips had wanted hers as much as hers had wanted his, a heady thought she couldn’t get out of her head. She’d lied when she said it was terrible, which he no doubt knew, but he’d proceeded to reinstate some sense of normalcy between them with their favorite Bruce Willis flick.
At least one of them hadn’t lost all their brain cells to pregnancy. His bringing them back together in a way they were comfortable with meant the world to her.
“Olivia?”
Liv blinked away her recollection to find Honor staring at her in concern from across the table.
“You okay? Your face is flushed. Can I get you some more water?”
Shoot. One quick thought with “kiss” and “Danny” in the same sentence and she couldn’t help but blush. “I’m good.” She stood to prove the statement. “Thank you again for including me today. Do I need to break the tent down?”
“No. I’ve got some high school boys helping out. And you need to get over to the stage for the costume contest. I think Danny is already there.”
At the mention of costumes, Liv glanced down at her comfortable sunny-side-up eggs getup. Danny had on a bacon costume. There hadn’t been a lot of last minute choices left, but you’d think they hit the jackpot with all the compliments they received when arriving at the carnival. “You two are adorable!” “There isn’t a cuter couple here today.” “You guys are the perfect pair.” Ugh.
“There it is again,” Honor said, breaking into Liv’s internal dialogue.
“There what is?”
“The blush.” Honor tilted her head to the side. She looked amazing in her white disco boots, short, tight black-and-white dress, and matching hairband. “It’s Danny, isn’t it? You’re having a tough time staying in the friend zone.”
Liv sat back down and covered her face with her hands. “Yes.”