Page 66 of Sunkissed Colorado

I picked up our bowls. “Dining table? Or living room?”

With her eyes averted, she said, “Living room. I like to curl up on the couch while I’m having dessert.”

“Like a cat?”

“Shut up.” Again, zero bite. “Are you watching any shows on Netflix?”

Totally a date, my rebellious side cheered. “I could put on a movie.”

“Okay. I’ll grab the wine.”

“Perfect.” My heart took off like I was running a 5K. And my cock was imagining Zandra and me cozying up, which wasnotsupposed to happen. She was my competition. I had to be selfish.

But keeping my distance wasn’t the particular way I wanted to be selfish right now.

I carried the bowls of dessert to the living room, while Zandra brought over our wine glasses. We settled onto the couch. I grabbed the Netflix remote and switched it on. “Rom com?” I asked. “Or action?”

“I’m good with anything.” But when I clicked on something,she made a cute sound of protest. “Notthat. A serial killer documentary? No.”

“I can comfort you if it’s scary.”

“But there’s good scared and bad scared, and your creepy killer show is the latter for me.”

I nudged her with my arm. “Pick something then. You’re so fussy.”

After a couple more minutes of arguing, we settled on an action romantic comedy. The dialogue was awful from minute one, but I wasn’t paying that much attention. We finished our dessert—delicious—and then sipped wine while things exploded and the movie leads traded quips.

Zandra folded up her legs, bringing them closer to me. I widened my knees, wishing I wasn’t wearing long sweatpants so our skin would touch.

But after a few more scenes in the movie, she was pressed in close enough that her arm draped over mine. Her laughter went to my head far more than the wine.

Whatever was happening right now, I didn’t want it to end.

Unfortunately, I’d picked a short movie. Those ninety minutes had gone way too fast. “Another one?” I asked. “I think there’s a sequel.”

“If there is, I can’t take it. Thanks, though. For the whole evening. This has been fun.”

“If it had been a date, it would’ve been fucking amazing. Admit it.”

“Fine. I admit it. It would’ve been a really good date.”

I pretended to glance around the living room. “I don’t even have an audience to witness this. My first real, official date, and I aced it.”

“Not a date.”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s for the best anyway. Because if this really were a date, then the next thing I would do is kiss you.”

She opened her mouth again, like she was about to tell me allthe ways I was an arrogant prick. Our usual banter, which was pretty enjoyable in itself.

But instead of all the protests and indignation I expected, she started leaning in. Then stopped so close I could feel her exhale on my skin.

You’re playing with fire, I told myself. But fuck it. I was trained for that, wasn’t I?

“Zandra,” I whispered. “Do youwantme to kiss you?”

“No.”

“Okay.”