Page 70 of The Mr. Right Checklist

“Then I’d love to meet your family.”

It starts raining harder, and I hold her tighter, unwilling to break our connection just yet. The band stops playing, and the din of people shouting and rushing from the park rings out around us.

Destiny looks up at me through rain-soaked lashes. “It’s raining pretty hard. Should we leave?”

I spin her again, then pull her in close, earning a smile that gives me the answer before I even ask, “Do you want to leave?”

“Not even a little.”

Chapter Twenty

DESTINY

We dance until the rain comes down in sheets and thunder booms around us, and then we run all the way back to our neighborhood, laughing and joking about how Molly must think we’re nuts. Fletch’s house is closer than mine, but when I run up the walk, he snags my hand, tugging me back to him. Our hair is plastered to our heads, our clothes are drenched, and the rain is relentless. “What’s wrong?”

“You said Clementine’s afraid of thunder. We’ll stay at your place.”

I can’t believe he remembered. My heart takes a perilous leap. It’s a good thing he’s holding my hand as we run toward my house, because my head is in the clouds, and my heart is thundering louder than the noises in the sky. Left on my own, I’m not sure my legs would know what to do. Thankfully, running through the driving rain helps me get my head on straight, and by the time we reach my house, I’ve wrapped all those beautiful, troublesome feelings in a bow and tucked them away.

I’m getting good at that.

We hurry inside, soaked to the bone, and Molly immediately shakes water all over us. I laugh, and Fletch apologizes profusely. I take his handsome face between my hands and go up on my toes to say, “Stop apologizing for her. I know she’s a dog, and I’m well aware of what dogs do when they’re wet.” I kiss the center of his scruffy chin. “Now stop worrying and get those wet sneakers off while I get towels.”

As I sink to my heels, he sweeps an arm around me, hauling me back to him, and kisses me until my temperature rises so high, I’m sure we’ll go up in smoke. I come away breathless and a little foggy headed.

I must look dazed, because he kisses my forehead and says, “Towels.”

“Towels. Right.”

After we dry Molly as best we can, she zooms around the house and bolts upstairs. Fletch futilely hollers after her.

“She’s just looking for Clemmie.”

“I know, but she’s still wet, and she’s probably standing on your bed right now.”

“Then I’ll wash my bedding.” I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing the goose bumps on my arms.

“You’re shivering.” He embraces me. “How about a hot shower?”

“I knew you could use that sharp mind of yours for something better than worrying about my furniture.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a smartass?”

“No, but I’ve heard you say you like my ass a few times.”

“I like your ass just as much as I like that smart mouth of yours.” He grabs my ass with both hands and lifts me up. As my legs circle his waist, he claims my mouth and carries me up to my bedroom like he carries a hundred and thirty pounds around every day.

I mentally add Strong enough to sweep me off my feet to my checklist.

He breaks the kiss as we walk past my bed, where Molly and Clementine are, in fact, cuddled together, and I feel him tense up. I touch his jaw, bringing his attention back to me, and whisper, “Shower,” and then I kiss him as he carries me into the bathroom.

We close the bathroom door and let the shower warm up as we strip off our wet clothes. My body hums with desire as his gaze blazes down the length of me.

“My God, you’re beautiful, and don’t you dare try to tell me I can’t say that.” He kisses me hard, as if to underscore his authority in the matter.

G.I. Joe has nothing on this Ken doll.

He takes the kiss deeper as we step into the shower. Warm water rains down on us, seeping between our lips like secrets. Our bodies slip and slide as we grope and devour, his erection temptingly hard against my belly. I ache for him in ways I never knew I could. It thunders and roars inside me like a creature wanting to be set free, driving me to reach between us and stroke his cock. He growls against my lips, and the sinful sound sends white-hot need shuddering through me. Steam billows around us, and I feed that creature, kissing Fletch’s chest, running my fingers over his nipple as I stroke his length with my other hand.