Page 28 of Perfect Assumption

I step forward until I’m directly in front of her. “Angie, I brought you here to La Maison du Chocolat soyoucould escape. After all, it’s called House of Chocolate for a reason.”

She cocks her head to the side. “You did this for me.”

“I did.”

“Why?” Her voice is confused.

Why?“Because…” My voice trails off. I smile down at her, remembering each moment of the last week filled with laughter and good humor. I mentally wince, recalling my irrational jealousy over the last two years. I clasp her smaller hands in mine. “Maybe I just wanted to see you away from the office.”

As I lower my head to hers, her lips part on a soft gasp. A breath I feel waft across my lips as I brush a stray lock of her gorgeous hair away from her face. She sways; I catch her closer against my body, where her hands automatically come to rest against my chest.

“Ward.” She whispers just my name.

“Do you want me to kiss you, Angie?” I murmur, holding her tucked against my body, away from the prying eyes of the store.

She raises her face a bit more. Her pupils dilate. And just when I’m about to give up hope of tasting her lips against mine, she leans forward until her lips are gently lying against mine. Then she soundlessly says, “Yes.”

There’s something so tender about this kiss, it makes every other one before it vulgar by comparison. The soft way her lips part, the sweet way her tongue duels against mine, I’ve never felt anything like it. I feel like I’m holding a wish in my arms, perhaps trying to capture fairy dust in a jar. Maybe it’s because I’ve wanted her for so damn long and she’s been in my dreams, haunting me.

I cup my fingers around her face, sliding easily from one kiss into another. I keep each kiss soft, tender, because that’s what the moment calls for. I have no doubt this woman has passion buried inside of her, but it isn’t for now.

A moan escapes the back of my throat and startles Angie. She wrenches back and almost falls into the display again. Her hand comes up to her mouth, eyes wide. “You just kissed me.”

I move to the side of her and whisper in her ear, “Yes.” Before she can say anything, I proclaim with a touch of arrogance, “See what the smell of good chocolate inspires me to do?”

Angie’s hand drops, and she grins. “Is that what did it?”

“Completely,” I lie. “Now, did you find something you want?”

“Everything, and none of it’s something I can afford.” Before I can offer to buy her something, she reaches past me for a box of dark chocolate candied orange peels. “But these were always bought for special celebrations.”

“Were they? And what do you have to celebrate, Ms. Fahey?” I ask as we walk up to the register.

For just a moment, there’s a spasm of pain across her face before all the beauty I witnessed during our kiss returns. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you.”

And in that moment, I begin kicking myself mentally for wasting years, for not talking to my sister. I wish I knew everything about this woman because I have strong feelings it’s impacted everything about her that attracts me to her.

Her smile.

Her mind.

And her heart.

* * *

“It’s strangely quiet,”Angie comments as we enter the frosted outer doors of LLF.

“Is that a good thing?” I question as we shed our outerwear.

“Well, either it means Carys handled the situation or…” Just as Angie says those words, the wooden doors behind her fly open.

David emerges, his hair standing up on end. “You’re back. Thank God. Erzulie is denying the photos are her. Carys is going to war.”

I hold out the milk-chocolate-colored bag. “Give this to our general, and we’ll be right in.”

“Make it quick. Call in five.” David snatches the bag before closing the door behind him.

Angie is already gathering her laptop, pens, and calendar. But I stop her just before she rushes through the door. “Amid everything else we’re about to go through, I don’t want you to forget.” Then I brush my lips across hers. “This changes things.”