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“You look really pretty tonight.”

“Thanks.” It’s a soft whisper.

“Can I kiss you?” He touches my chin with his thumb and forefinger, and my stomach flips.

“Yes.”

He leans down and places his lips against mine, warm and full. A little nudge, and they part. His tongue touches mine so, so softly my whole body catches fire.

We’ve had sex. He’s licked my clit until I had to suffocate myself with a pillow to keep from screaming his name, and I swear, this kiss is the hottest thing he’s done yet. I want to jump his bones right here and now…

His head lifts, and our eyes meet, warm hazel burning straight to my core. He grins, and that dimple pierces his cheek. “What’s for dinner?”

“Oh…” I exhale a laugh, blinking the haze from my eyes. “You’re going to love it.”

Stepping back, I catch his hand and lead him to the kitchen, thinking of Deacon’s words… The kickass Mindy, who goes after what she wants. Right. Until this man walks in the room.

It’s sort of like catching a butterfly. You’re so confident when you set out to grab it. Then when it’s right there, you’re scared to touch it.

At least I am… I don’t want to break it.

Stopping in front of the oven, I clasp my hands at my chest. “It’s Ma’s handwritten recipe. Eggplant parmesan.”

His eyebrows rise. “Smells really good. I’m surprised I’ve never had it.”

“I know, right?” I turn to the oven to check the timer. “Just about fifteen more minutes. What should we do?”

“It’s a really pretty night. We could go—”

“Want to see what’s on Netflix?” We are not leaving the house. My plan is codename Netflix and Chill.

Also known as having sex.

“Okay.” He laughs, shaking his head. “I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie.”

My nose wrinkles. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Well… No.” He runs a strong hand over his scruffy chin. “We get up so early, and I work pretty much all day. Dove makes me watch Angelina Ballerina sometimes, but I crash halfway through it.”

I’m so in love with this man. I try to imagine him with his little blue-eyed, blonde-haired niece on his lap doing his best to watch one of her cartoon movies after working his ass off all day in the orchard.

He’ll be such a good daddy.

“That’s okay.” My voice is softer, less teasing. “Is there anything you missed? Something you heard about?”

He looks around the room, thinking. “What was that movie Noel couldn’t stop talking about? La La Land?”

“You want to watch La La Land?” I can’t even hide the surprise in my voice.

“Does it suck?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it.” He chuckles, and that settles it. “I’ll cue it up.”

We get through the opening to where Emma Stone is making fun of Ryan Gosling’s 1980s cover band at a party when the oven timer goes off.

Jumping up, I hit pause and look back at him. “What’s the verdict?”

He shrugs. “It’s a lot of singing… But you like it. We can keep going.”