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Thayle turned slightly from the wines to face me. “Chocolate and Devine Bakery cinnamon donuts will be my downfall.”
I did the same, turning toward her.
“It occurs to me,” I said. “With all of the celebrating last night, I let you off the hook.”
“Oh yeah? How so?”
“I forgot to ask again about why you were laughing during the massages.”
“Which means I win. I didn’t tell you by the end of the day yesterday.”
“I guess you do.”
“Why did you remind me?”
“Because I’m a man of my word, Thayle. You should know that.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
“No,” I admitted. “It’s not.”
She turned as serious as me, likely knowing where this was headed. “So what’s the other reason?”
“Because I’m ready to share a truth,” I said.
She was going to kill me after she heard what I was about to say. But teasing her was almost as much fun as trying to figure out if there might be something between us. And I wanted to save the latter for when she was feeling herself.
“Okay,” she hedged. “I’m waiting.”
“The truth is...” I paused for dramatic effect, staring at Thayle’s freckles. I wanted to kiss each and every one of them.
Reaching for the second piece of chocolate, I took it between my thumb and forefinger and brought it to Thayle’s mouth. Catching on, she opened, just slightly. The game had just turned itself back on me, but my body’s reaction to seeing her like that, to my fingers being just inches away...I hadn’t thought this whole thing through. Clearly.
“The truth is...” I moved it closer to her lips. And just as the chocolate reached her mouth, I allowed my fingers to touch her, to linger. The contact was as electrifying as I’d expected it to be. Pushing it deeper into her mouth, I only pulled away as Thayle closed her lips. Even still, they brushed my fingertips, and I was rock hard because of it. “I don’t actually like chocolate. I just pretend to, because you love it.”
Thayle’s eyes widened as she finished chewing. And then she promptly swatted my arm as I laughed. “That’s your truth? I’m gonna kill you,” she said.
“Hopefully not before we talk,” I replied, “because I think we have some things to discuss.” Still laughing, I turned back to the remaining wine. “But let’s finish these first.”
“You really are an idiot.”
I thought about all the time that Thayle and I had spent dancing around each other these past years. “I am,” I agreed. “But I’m hoping to remedy that this week.”
FOURTEEN
thayle
“It’s been a long day.I’m sure you’re ready for bed?”
Last night, after we’d had dinner with the owner of the bed-and-breakfast where we were staying, Neo had carried my luggage to the third floor. He was staying on the second.
“I am,” I’d said so inexplicably that I still couldn’t get over the fact that I had passed up an opportunity to be with him. Yes, it had been a long day, which had begun with a hangover from hell. And yes, I’d been alternately excited and confused and embarrassed and thrilled about what had happened at dinner the night before. But my answer should have been,Actually, I’m not tired at all. Instead, scared, I let Neo walk downstairs, not to be seen again for the rest of the night.
Even this morning, when he texted me to ask if I wanted to go for a run, I said I’d pass. I did a quick workout in my room instead, showered and packed, ready for a full day of wineries. I’d thought of calling Garrett but already knew what he’d tell me. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening after I’d locked myself in my room all night.
The one thing I never in a million years thought would happen had happened. The same guy who’d treated me like a little sister for our whole lives had fed me a piece of chocolate. His fingers had actually touched my lips, and like the night before with the cake, there was no ambiguity about the look he’d given me.
I knew Neo as well as anyone, which was how I also knew the next move was mine. He was too much of a gentleman to push it, especially given my employment status. Which left me two choices:
