Page 14

“It turns out we’re really good at that,” Kyle said. “Wow.” She smiled against my cheek and placed a kiss there. I turned to face her, finding her eyes.

“This whole night came out of nowhere. You did. I’m still in shock.”

“Listen, I was just walking down the hall. You’re the one who shut yourself in the door and changed the course of my whole night.”

“I’m just really awkward. Who else gets trapped in doors?”

Kyle pulled her face back. “Let me just tell you that there is nothing awkward about you. In fact, you have some highly impressive moves.” Her gaze dipped to my chest. “And your body backs them up. It’s amazing.”

“No, yours is. Your breasts are…” I shook my head. “There aren’t words.”

“Yeah? I have it on good authority that they like you right back.”

I grinned, marveling. “It’s not just me, right? I mean, we fit really well together, don’t we?”

She nodded, eyebrows raised, and eased a strand of hair off my forehead. “Can you stay? Say yes. Your place is literally yards away. You don’t need it.” Her blue eyes carried hope as she traced the outline of my breast.

“I can stay,” I said, honored that she wanted me to.

But we didn’t sleep. In fact, we spent much of the night talking and kissing and having sex another two times. We were already well on our way to learning each other’s bodies and minds. When the morning came, a sadness nestled in my chest. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Kyle, and wasn’t sure what to do about that. The circumstances kind of dictated that this was a hookup, even if the way we treated each other didn’t.

“It’s not a hookup,” Kyle said, when I indicated as much.

“Isn’t it? You can be straight with me.” I was sitting on the side of the bed, searching the floor for my clothes.

She eased me back into bed beside her and kissed my neck, lingering as if she belonged there. “Nothing about us is straight.”

“That’s a good point,” I said, sliding my fingers into her hair. I pulled back and met her gaze. This was too important. “But I’m all about realistic expectations. I don’t want to set myself up for one thing, and then it turns out to be quite another. We had a great night. Maybe that’s all this was.” My heart thudded because as nonchalant as I was attempting to be, I was desperately wishing that our story didn’t end today.

“I don’t look at it that way.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to understand. “How do you look at it?”

“Maybe we’re just ahead of our time.”

I nodded. “If we’d met a year later, maybe.”

“Can’t we?”

I tried to follow. “What do you have in mind?”

She sat up, taking the sheet pressed to her chest with her. “Let’s press pause and find each other in a year. Do this thing right. My last gasp of residency will be over. We can see what’s here. I have a feeling it’s a lot, Potter.”

I let her words wash over me. “You realize this is kind of romantic. ‘Meet me in a year.’ It’s what all romantic movies say.”

“I like romance, and I like you. Meet me on the suspension bridgein a year. The anniversary of last night. I’m asking you on a date, just with a little bit of lead time.”

“So, to summarize: Am I freea yearfrom now?”

“That’s the question at hand, yes. I have to see you on that day. I’ll be desperate to.” She fell back in bed, pleased with herself, and rested the side of her head in her palm, the sheet still draped across her body as if she’d been posed by one of the greats.

“What’s going to happen then?” I asked, so ridiculously curious about this plan.

“We are. Because I refuse to accept this is it.” She moved closer and softly twisted my hair around her finger. “How are you this beautiful in the morning? I didn’t even know I have a thing for redheads, but trust me, I do now.”

“Don’t distract me with flattery.” I batted my lashes.

“Fine. But it’s true.”