Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Could this guy be more perfect?
“I just want to make sure this is actually going to go somewhere before we tell my parents.”
“Okay, I get that. For the time being, we’ll keep everything on the downlow.”
“Thank you.” Relief floods through me.
His heated gaze dips to my lips, and warmth rushes to all the places that have spent the last year cold and dormant. Hayes is gradually waking my body back to life again.
My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. “Any chance we’re going to seal this with a kiss?”
He smirks, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Is that what you want?”
My heart thuds painfully in my chest as I nod.
“Then, yes, Ava. I’m going to kiss you.”
There’s no rush in the way he lowers his mouth. It’s slow, deliberate, like we have all the time in the world. When his lips finally brush against mine, they’re softer than I imagined. The kiss is gentle at first, a tease, his tongue lightly brushing against my bottom lip. Heat sparks in my core, spreading like wildfire through my veins.
His hands tighten on my waist, pulling me closer, and I melt into him as everything around us fades away.
There’s only him.
His scent, his touch, and the way his lips make me feel like I’m floating.
It’s a kiss that makes me forget every reason why I should be afraid.
Just as I sink deeper into the moment, he pulls back, his breath mingling with mine.
“You taste good. I’m definitely going to want more of your sweetness.”
I blink, dazed and breathless, as I struggle to form a coherent thought.
“Keys,” he says, holding out his palm.
It takes a second to realize what he means. “Oh,” I murmur, fumbling in my purse until my fingers lock around the cool metal.
After I drop them in his hand, he unlocks the door and pushes it open. His beachy scent wraps around me, cocooning me in familiarity. It’s so tempting to invite him in, but I hesitate.
That feels like a big step.
Maybe too big for where we are at the moment.
As if sensing my inner conflict, he retreats. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I echo, still trying to play mental catch up with everything that’s happened this evening.
He flashes his signature lopsided smile. The one that makes my heart flutter. “Yeah. Tomorrow. We’ve got more to figure out.”
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling lighter than I have in a long time.
With that, he turns and heads to the elevator. As I stand rooted in place, my fingers drift across my lips. I can still feel the soft pressure of his mouth sliding over mine, and it sends a shiver dancing down my spine.
He swings around and walks backward, his gaze pinned to mine. “You can think about that kiss inside the apartment. Make sure you lock the door behind you.”
Heat floods my cheeks at being caught in a daze.
A grin flashes across his lips, as if he knows exactly what thoughts are running rampant through my head.
For the first time in a while, hope fills my heart.
Whatever this is between us feels like the start of something real.
Something that has the potential to last.
21
Hayes
I balance the steaming cups in one hand as I rap the knuckles of the other against Ava’s door. My heart’s already pounding, nerves tingling as I wait. After about fifteen seconds, I knock again.
It’s possible that I already missed her.
Just as I raise my hand to knock one last time, the door swings open, and I find Ava blinking at me from the other side of the threshold. Surprise flickers in her eyes. She’s wearing tiny sleep shorts and a tank top, her blonde hair tumbling down her shoulders in loose, messy waves.
My mouth dries.
She looks incredible.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice is thick with sleep.
I shrug, trying to act casual even though my pulse is racing like I just finished a sprint. “I know you usually practice at six, so I thought I’d drive you to the arena.”
Her gaze dips to the travel containers. “Is one of those for me?”
“Yeah.” I hand over a cup, watching as she lifts it to her lips.
Fuck. The way her mouth curves around the lid sends a wave of heat straight through me. I shift my weight, trying to focus on something other than how much I want this girl.
I promised we’d take things slow.
“Thanks.” Her eyes linger on mine before she takes another sip.
For a second, I think about how good it would feel to kiss her again, but I shove that thought aside.
Slow, Hayes.
Glacial.
I clear my throat. “Why don’t you change, and then we can head out? I wouldn’t want you to miss your ice time.”
She glances down at her outfit, as if only now remembering she’s still in her pajamas. “Give me five minutes,” she murmurs, turning toward her bedroom with her coffee in hand.