Page 74 of I Saw You First

“Yes?”

“Why did you kiss me?”

“I couldn’t wait until midnight.” I lean close and inhale her sunshine scent, so bright and fresh in the cold and dark of this long winter. “I wanted to kiss you, but I didn’t want to wait until midnight. It’s New Year’s Eve, remember?”

She balks and pulls away from me. “That’s why you kissed me? Because it’s New Year’s Eve and you needed to find someone to kiss at midnight?”

“Well, that’s not the only reason.”

“Enlighten me.”

“My pleasure,” I say and lean in for another soft kiss that quickly shifts from sweet to hot hot hot.

She pushes me away, panting, and waggles a finger back and forth between us. “I thought you said that this couldn’t happen.”

I grab the finger and pepper it with tiny kisses, then move my lips down to her palm. Her breath hitches. “Oh, it’s happening.”

I drop her hand and lean in again, moving my lips down her jaw to her neck. I sweep her hair behind her shoulder for better access. I draw my hand lightly down her side and settle it on her rib cage. She gasps, and I love the sounds she makes at even the lightest, most innocent touch.

There’s nothing innocent about this, though. I want her. So badly.

“Come home with me tonight.” I nip at her earlobe. “Please.”

“What about your family?”

“They’re not invited.”

“The countdown?” she presses.

“I don’t care about the countdown,” I say and groan. “Come home with me. Please. Let me show you how much this is happening.”

She smooths down the front of her dress. “Don’t do something stupid that might jeopardize your future with the company. You should be with your family for the announcement.”

She’s right. I know she’s right. I wouldn’t put it past Dad to retaliate in some way if I embarrassed him tonight and didn’t show up on that stage. “Damn it. You’re right.”

She cups her ear. “I’m sorry, what was that? Did you say that I’m right?” She smirks.

“I’d like to kiss that smirk right off of you,” I say and smirk right back.

“I’m going to hold you to that. Now go find your family, and I’ll meet you at coat check after the countdown.”

Midnight can’t come soon enough.

TWENTY

“F.N.T.” BY SEMISONIC, 1996

ABBEY

Come home with me.

Come home with me tonight. Please.

He skipped right over the first date, although maybe you could count Ruh-Roh, or La Cuchara. Near-dates.

Wil’s words, low and raspy, and so, so sexy, loop on repeat in my mind as I walk back into the ballroom and the table where Cesar, Crystal, and Travis wait for the countdown with champagne. I sit next to Cesar and reach for a glass and a water pitcher.

I’m very, very thirsty.