Page 25 of Finding Romance (Romances in the Building #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Piper

“Oh my God! It’s a Dairy Queen! Can we stop?” I say excitedly as we drive toward the interstate.

“Please tell me it’s because you need a Blizzard,” Kasen says as he pulls into the parking lot.

“Obviously,” I answer because who doesn’t love Blizzards.

We get out and go inside to order. I look at the flavor of the month but decide to go with my staple, Oreo.

“I’ll have the same,” Kasen says and I grin.

We get our ice cream and sit on a bench outside to eat it.

“What’s your favorite food?” I ask because this ice cream thing is making me think that I really don’t know this man, and after what we’ve done in the past twenty-four hours, I probably should get to know him a little better.

I watch him lick the ice cream off his spoon and memories of his tongue on me earlier today have me pressing my thighs together.

“That’s a tough one,” he says as he eats his Blizzard. I take another bite of mine and wait for him to contemplate it.

“I mean, I love fish and chips, but I think…this is going to sound weird”—he pauses and looks at me—“corn dogs.”

I giggle. “No way.”

“Way.”

I roll my eyes. “I love corn dogs, but like the type you get at a fair. It has to be legit.”

He grins and I realize how sexy he looks grinning. He is serious so much of the time. “Exactly. That’s how I feel about it.”

“When did you have your first corn dog?” I ask.

“The county fair. I was maybe five or six. I also had funnel cake,” he says.

“My grandmother took me to the state fair when I was eight. My mom never used to buy hot dogs or any junk food because she was always training for a race. So I ate my weight in all the food. I remember feeling so sick but I didn’t care,” I say as I finish my ice cream.

“Did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents when you were a kid?” he asks.

Nodding, I toss my cup and spoon away. “My mom’s mom and dad lived nearby, so I spent a fair amount of time with them. I only saw my dad’s parents once a year. What about you?”

“Well, I didn’t get to see my grandparents very often because they lived in Scotland and Key West,” he says.

“Key West as in Florida?” I ask.

He nods. “Yeah. My mom’s parents lived down there.

They were in their early forties when she was born and she was a bit of a surprise baby.

My aunt and uncle are fifteen and sixteen years older than her.

I hear from them once in a while but her parents died when I was maybe seven or eight.

My dad was a twin but his brother died two days after they were born.

I have cousins on that side of the family but I’ve only met them once or twice.

My dad wasn’t very close with his siblings.

” He pauses and then continues. “And then Granddad died about eight years ago. So it’s just me and my grandmother. ”

He finishes his ice cream and tosses the cup in the trash. We climb back into his car and head back toward the city.

It’s amazing how much we have in common. We like the same bands, a lot of the same movies, and he even admitted to liking a reality television series that is my total guilty pleasure.

By the time we pull up to one-eleven Hearts Lane, I feel like I know a completely different Kasen than the one I met in the hallway several weeks ago. He comes around to my side and opens my door and helps me out, slinging my bag over his shoulder.

“What about your stuff?” I ask as I point to his bag in the back of the car.

“I’ll get it later,” he says as he places his hand on the small of my back and steers me toward the building.

We stop when we hear Hutch yell out, “God damn it!”

I turn to see Hutch throwing something on the ground and stomping toward us.

“Whoa. What’s going on?” Kasen asks.

“The freaking trash pandas is what’s going on,” Hutch growls throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“I’m sorry, what?” I ask in confusion. Kasen pulls me protectively to his side.

“Bro, did the fuzzy little bears mess up another trail cam?” Kasen asks.

“Mess it up? Hardly. They massacred it. They completely annihilated it. That’s the third one they’ve killed,” he grumbles.

I really do try to be serious. I fight the laugh bubbling up in my throat. But a giggle makes its way out of my mouth.

Hutch glares at me and I clamp a hand over my lips. “Sorry,” I mumble behind my fingers.

Kasen’s body shakes with silent laughter.

“Dude, those things are expensive. It’s not funny,” Hutch says as he glares at us.

“I’m sorry, Hutch. It’s just…why do you keep putting out trail cams if the raccoons keep messing with them?” I ask.

“Well, Hutch here is determined to find out who puts flowers out on the bench over there every morning. So far, he hasn’t cracked the case,” Kasen explains.

Hutch shrugs. “It’s sort of become my hobby.”

“The bench where I paint?” I ask.

Hutch’s interest is piqued. “What are you painting?”

I nod. “I paint the lily pads in the little pond next to the stream,” I explain as I point in the direction of the bench. “And frogs sometimes.”

“You should talk to Roxy. She mentioned trying to help her author friend do some book art,” Hutch suggests.

“Already did. Not sure if anyone will ask me to do any art for them, but maybe,” I state.

Kasen squeezes my arm. “They will. You’re going to be a famous artist.”

I roll my eyes. “Let’s just start with being an artist who gets commissioned to do anything.”

“Baby steps,” Hutch adds.

“Exactly,” I agree.

It’s then that Hutch eyes the bag. “You guys going somewhere?”

“No, just coming back from visiting an artist,” Kasen says quickly. I wonder if he’s embarrassed to tell his friend about our weekend away. I mean, it’s not a secret, not exactly. Maybe I should be embarrassed. After all, I can’t even get a real boyfriend. I have to employ one to practice with.

I blush. “I should get upstairs and check on my aunt,” I say. “Good luck with the trash pandas, Hutch.”

“Thanks. It’s back to the drawing board,” he says. “I need coffee for this.” I watch as he walks over to the café.

“Come on, illustrator. Let’s get you settled,” Kasen says as he guides me inside. We’re both quiet as we ride the elevator, but when we get to our floor, Kasen presses the emergency button and the elevator shakes to a stop.

“W-what are you doing?” I manage to ask before he drops my bag, walks us into a wall, and picks me up. I squeal and wrap my legs around his waist as he presses me into a mirrored panel and kisses me.

I’m not sure how long we kiss for, but eventually, he pulls back. Our heavy breathing is the only sound inside the metal elevator.

“I had a good time this weekend,” he says, breaking the silence.

“Same,” I reply, my lips twitching with a smile. I frown a little and his brows furrow.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I smirk. “I think I could use more practice. Are you free later tonight?”

This time his smile is so wide it nearly splits his face. “I could probably accommodate that. I mean, there’s so many things we didn’t practice.”

My eyes widen. “Like what?” I say.

“Like, this position for instance,” he says as he thrusts his groin against me. I mean, he’s right, we didn’t do it standing up. He’s quiet for a moment. “Are you sore?”

I shake my head. It’s a little bit of a white lie. I am slightly sore, but not enough to keep me from wanting more of Kasen. If I only get him for another week, I’m going to get as much of him as I can possibly have. I can’t imagine a future boyfriend being better at sex than he is.

“Did you enjoy it?” he asks, his forehead pressing against mine.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be asking for more practice, now would I?” I say.

“Good, because I think as your teacher, you need a lot more practice,” he says as he leans in and kisses me again.

I grin and kiss him. “I think.” Kiss. “I’m going to like.” Kiss. “All this practice.” Kiss.

“Your aunt can wait. You need another lesson right now,” Kasen says as he releases the emergency button, grabs my bag, and carries me out and straight into his apartment.

I think I like having a pretend boyfriend.

But right now, Kasen feels more real than any other guy I’ve ever dated. Will I be able to let him go in a week?