Page 14 of Puck of My Life

“Oh.” He stepped closer, and his shoulders relaxed.

Mine did too. He was no longer leaving. He was staying. Better… he was coming over to me.

“I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere.”

He reached up and cupped my cheek. I leaned into it. This wasn’t my imagination. Archie was here... touching me.

“Can I?” His eyes were focused on my lips.

“Please.”

He brushed his lips against mine and started to pull back.

Absolutely not. I had waited too long for this moment, I wasn’t letting it be over that quickly. I pulled him back to me and kissed him. No sweet, delicate kiss like he had given me. I needed more, and the second my mouth reached his, I knew he did too.

Archie took over the kiss, and I got lost in it. His mouth owned me, and there was no place I’d rather be than this hidden-away bathroom, finally giving into my feelings.

And then we broke apart. His forehead rested on mine.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry about that.”

“I’m not sorry for the kiss. I’m sorry because I have to go back or face my coach’s wrath. I don’t have to be on stage anymore, but I need to be present.”

Shit. I had to go back too.

“Same, but boss, not coach. I have nothing for my article.” I reached for his hand. “I was a little distracted.

“What do you need, information-wise?”

I told him the detailed kind of things I was missing.

“You think we can get this done in twenty minutes?”

“Maybe?” If I could manage to keep some focus, it was more than enough time.

“Let’s go.”

I thought we’d be splitting up and meeting back after the twenty minutes, but he stayed glued to me. He introduced me to the organizer of the event, grabbed their introductory speech so I had that for the details, and managed to get us a copy of what items sold and for what price. After that, he “mingled” with me, allowing me to get a lot of great quotes from attendees. He wasn’t taking over my job. He was paving the way for me to do it quicker.

“What more do you need?” he asked.

I looked down at my tablet and the papers in my hand. “I think I have enough.”

“Good. Let’s go.” He put his hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. We must’ve been the talk of the room because there was no one who wouldn’t notice how attentive he was to me, not when he was one of the stars there.

I didn’t hesitate and went with him as he led us outside.

“Where’s your car?”

“I didn’t bring one. I used the bus.”

“Good. I didn’t want to be away from you long enough to bring two cars. I’m driving.”

“Where are we going?” I didn’t care where it was as long as he didn’t want us to part ways. “I’m not ready to go home.”

“Are you ready to go to my place?” There was so much in that one question. He wasn’t asking me to watch a movie or have a cup of tea. At least, I didn’t think he was, but at this point, I’d take what he was offering no matter what it was.