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“Good to know,” Cory said softly.

“Can I get y’all another beer?” Talia asked, wiping down the bar around them.

“Not for me,” Vi said.

“I guess I’d better get back to my store and see how things are going. I was away most of the day,” Cory said, giving Vi a sideways glance.

“This round is on me,” Talia said, taking their glasses and putting them under the bar.

“You don’t have to do that,” Cory said.

“You know your money isn’t good here,” Talia said to Cory.

“Talia, let me pay,” Vi offered quickly.

“It’s okay. I’ve got it. I’m glad you came here to celebrate,” Talia said.

“It was good to see you,” Cory said, standing up.

Talia nodded and smiled.

Cory drove them back to Vi’s office and pulled into the parking lot next to her car.

“I’ll think about your deal,” Vi said, unbuckling her seatbelt and turning towards Cory.

“I know you have to weigh what’s best for you and Spec’s. I’m glad you’re considering it because I quite like being almost on the same team.”

Vi could see Cory’s eyes shining with delight.

“Whatever you decide, we’ll be all right, Violet,” Cory said with the sweetest look.

Vi could feel her heart softening and Cory inching her way further inside. “How do you know that?”

Cory smiled. “Because if we both want it, then we can make it happen. And I want it.”

Vi watched as Cory began to lean towards her then her seatbelt wouldn’t let her go any further.

Cory wrestled to unlatch it and Vi chuckled. “Let me help you with that.” Vi reached down, hit the button, and Cory’s seatbelt snapped out of the way.

“I’m glad I got to spend this afternoon and part of the evening with you,” Cory said.

“I am, too.”

Cory started to lean in once again, but Vi stopped her. “Wait.”

Cory stopped and stared at Vi with a confused look.

“When we walked into The Neon Rose, Talia looked like she was going to kiss you, but she stopped,” Vi said.

“That’s because I didn’t want her to kiss me,” Cory said. “You’re the only one I want to kiss, Violet.”

This time when Cory leaned in she was able to meet Vi halfway across the console and their lips met in a soft sweet kiss. How did it happen that you suddenly had something you didn’t even realize you needed, but wanted desperately? That’s how Vi felt about Cory’s lips in this moment. Sure, she’d thought about their kisses from the other night, but right now Cory’s lips were all she wanted and this kiss was all she could think about.

“Mmm,” Vi murmured, taking a breath. “We’re making out in the parking lot where I work.”

“And?” Cory said, pressing their lips together again.

Vi didn’t care where they were as long as Cory kept kissing her. Their lips fit together perfectly and Cory was sending warmth all through Vi’s body.