Page 62 of Making It Burn

"I have a better idea," Beverly said."A test, if you will."

"A test?"I asked.

"Kiss each other.Right here, right now."She gestured to the dance floor."If there's nothing there, we all laugh it off and I go find someone else to dance with.But if there is something..."She smiled."Then you stop lying to yourselves."

"Absolutely not," I said immediately.

"Why not?"Beverly challenged.

"This is ridiculous," I said, but my heart was pounding.

"Then prove me wrong.Kiss him and show me there's nothing there."Beverly's smile was pure challenge."Unless you're scared?"

Beau turned to look at me, and in his eyes I saw the same war I was fighting—fear and want and the desperate need to stop pretending.

"Mason," he said quietly."We don't have to—"

"Are you scared?"I asked him.

"Terrified."

"Me too."

The whiskey made me brave.Or maybe it was the music, or the city, or the fact that I was so tired of being careful.I took Beau's hand and pulled him toward the dance floor.

"Wait, you're actually doing it?"Beverly called after us, sounding delighted.

I didn't answer.Just kept walking until we were in the middle of the crowd, bodies moving around us, the music wrapping us in a cocoon of sound and heat.

Beau's eyes were wide."Mason, what are we—"

"Shut up," I said, and kissed him.

Not the desperate, frantic kiss from the bar.This was different—slower, deeper, intentional.My hands cupped his face and his arms came around my waist, pulling me closer.His mouth opened under mine and I tasted whiskey and heat and something that was purely him.

Someone bumped into us and I didn't care.The music swelled and I didn't hear it.The world narrowed to this—Beau's hands on my back, his tongue sliding against mine, the groan coming from deep within his chest.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

"Fuck," Beau whispered.

"Yeah."

His hands were still on my waist, mine still cupping his face.We stood there, foreheads pressed together, and I could feel his heart racing against my chest.

"Mason—"

Beverly appeared beside us, and I'd forgotten she existed."Okay, wow.That was..."She fanned herself."I'm woman enough to admit when I've lost.You two don't need me.You barely know I'm here."

"Beverly—" I started.

"No, it's fine.Actually, it's better than fine.This?"She gestured between us."This is the real deal.And I'm not about to get in the middle of that."She squeezed my shoulder."Go.Take him back to your hotel.Stop overthinking everything and just be with him."

"Are you sure?"Beau asked me, one eyebrow lifted.

"Honey, the way you two were just kissing?I'm surprised the sprinklers didn't go off."Beverly thought Beau was talking to her."I'll see you tomorrow at the meeting.But right now?Get out of here before you scandalize the locals."

She disappeared into the crowd, and suddenly it was just Beau and me, standing in the middle of a dance floor in New Orleans, his hands still on my waist.