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There was the faintest brush of contact, and Sophie’s heart throbbed in her chest. With desperate hands, she reached up and grabbed hold of Tilly’s jacket, forcing herself to stop.

“Tilly,” she began.

But it was too late. Far too late.

Tilly didn’t say a word. She moved a millimeter and then any semblance of logical thought was gone.

Their lips crashed together, the breath left Sophie’s body, and her eyes closed as Tilly’s mouth met her own, as Tilly’s tongue explored her own, as they tasted each other, touched each other, crammed as closely together as they could in the darkness.

They were kissing. Finally. And nothing else in Sophie’s world seemed to matter.

Chapter Sixteen

Tilly had never wanted to meld into someone more. She pressed her body against Sophie’s and reveled in the taste of her, the feel of her, not caring that she couldn’t breathe. Sophie’s hands clasped the back of her neck, pulling her even deeper in.

She backed her against the wall, not wanting this to ever stop, not wanting to be alone ever again, just wanting this to go on and on forever.

Only after a long, long time, did she finally pull away, tilt her forehead against Sophie’s, and take a deep breath. “Thank you.” It was all she could think of to say.

“You’re welcome, I guess?” Sophie said. In the shadows Tilly could see a small smile on her mouth, her lips swollen.

“I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you,” Tilly admitted.

Sophie laughed. “Me too.”

“I thought you weren’t interested,” said Tilly. “You turned me down, and I thought I needed to forget all about you. And then I got this investigation and thought maybe it’s for the best, maybe I shouldn’t have any distractions. And now this.”

Sophie turned her head a little. “What investigation is that?” she asked, perhaps not as casually as she’d meant to.

“Some stolen cars,” Tilly said with a shrug. “Someone or someones are stealing cars in the area. I’m looking into it. That’s all.” She moved her hands, stroked back her hair, moved an inch away from Sophie. “It’s not a murder or anything, but… But it’s my first real case and it’s a good opportunity.”

Sophie was sliding away from her now, moving so that she was standing properly, not backed up against the wall. The lights from the entrance hall gleamed in through the windows in the door, catching in her dark hair. “Tilly.”

It was just one word, but it sounded so ominous. “Yeah?” Tilly asked cautiously. If this was it, she promised herself, if Sophie was calling things off now, she’d be fine with it. Hurt, but fine. She could do this. She’d had that kiss and what right did she have to expect more?

“I have to tell you something.”

Tilly bared her teeth in a grimace. “Oh god, are you married? Dating?” Her heart plunged. She hadn’t even asked if Sophie was single. Hadn’t suspected a thing. Christ, she should really be more careful.

“It’s not that.”

“What is it then?” Her heart was beating fast now, her mouth getting dry. What could be worse than being married? The tone of Sophie’s voice told her this was going to be something bad.

“Um, my name,” Sophie said.

“I know your name. It’s Sophie.” Tilly was confused. “It’s a beautiful name. Do you not like it?”

“Not my first name. My full name.” Sophie was looking out toward the entrance now, looking like she was wishing she could run away. She took a deep breath. “It’s Sophie Farmer.”

It took a second. A second of seeing the light gleam in Sophie’s hair, a second of tasting that kiss, a second of slow thought, until… “You… you what?”

Sophie turned back. “Sophie Farmer,” she repeated.

Tilly shook her head. “No.”

“Yes.”

“But… You should have told me, you should have said something.” Tilly backed up further, as though physically distancing herself could make everything un-happen. “You… you’re… But I can’t, and…”