Page 129 of If It's You

“No,” she relented.

“Just curious, why do you wear shoes that hurt you?” he asked.

Maizie played with the edge of his collar, tickling the back of his neck softly. He grunted, and she grinned.

“Because they make my butt look good.” She kept a straight face when Christian stumbled ever so slightly.

“I can’t say I’ve ever noticed.” He kept his face forward.

“Liar,” she said, tickling the back of his neck again. “No, I actually just like to be tall.” They reached the driveway, and Christian set her down but kept a tight hold on her.

“I like the way you are,” he said.

“But if you wanted to kiss me you’d have to lean—” her voice drifted off.

His eyes twinkled. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

Maizie’s face burned. She wanted him to kiss her more than anything, but she was too scared to admit that. Because then she’d have to admit she liked him, and liking him meant she’d lose him.

Christian tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers running along her jaw to lift her chin.

“Do you?” he asked again.

Maizie couldn’t think straight with him this close. She barely registered her head nodding before his lips brushed hers.

He touched his lips to hers, then to her cheek. He brushed over her lips again, and her heart pounded out of rhythm. He was taunting her, and her self-control was obliterated by her desire.

“Yes.” She said more definitively, pulling his head down harder.

His lips pressed against hers with intensity and a spark strong enough to light a wildfire. Her breath escaped in soft gasps as he pulled her tighter against him. The feel of his body was everything she dreamed heaven would feel like. Her body melted into his as his full lips explored hers with a passion she’d never known before. Her fingers found the curls behind his ear, and his hands roamed her back.

He finally pulled back, his chest rising and falling as rapidly as her own.

“Sorry you had to lean down for that,” she said.

“We can try again with your heels on, if you want.”

“We might have to.” But before she could put her shoes on, he was kissing her again. Softly. Perfectly.

“No,” he whispered against her lips. “I like it like this.”

She met his lips again, taking the lead this time, kissing him like she liked to dance. Fast then slow. Hard then soft. Kissing him was her new favorite routine.

He pulled back, and his gaze locked with hers. “You don’t know how broken I was when I came to the farm. That game we started made my grief and pain bearable. You put hope back into my life.”

Tears rested on Maizie’s eyelids. Their ridiculous little game had done the same thing for her. “Does that mean I can still fight with you?”

He ran his finger along her bottom lip. “I’ll allow it.”

“I know this is only technically our first date,” he said, “but I’ve been falling for you since the moment I met you in the barn.”

She pulled back. His voice caused waves within her. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore, she had fallen for him too, but . . . she couldn’t. If she allowed herself to love him, that meant he’d get hurt.

“I. . . I can’t.” She dropped her arms from around him and raced up the stairs.

“Maizie, wait.” He caught up to her quickly and grabbed her hand. “You don’t have to say anything, I just wanted you to know.” He pulled her in, and her brain went fuzzy again. He was dangerous this close.

“That’s not it.” She shook her head.