Page 16 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

She had a couple options here. She could move away, grab the popcorn, and keep eating like nothing had happened and it was a simple slipup.

Or, she could acknowledge it and go a step further.

She knew what she wanted to do, but as time passed, she started to lose her nerve.

Zoey hadn’t moved away either, but when her fingers didn’t move into the hold, Dani sighed softly and shifted, grabbing a few kernels of popcorn.

The moment seemed to break and a loud noise from the screen made both of them jump.

So much for that , Dani thought as she mentally berated herself for chickening out.

For the rest of the movie, their fingers would occasionally brush, but Dani didn’t think about making a move.

She needed to come up with a new strategy, but the movie soon caught her interest, and she found herself engrossed in the plot as it played out on the screen.

By the time the movie ended, Dani was nearly in tears and when she glanced over at Zoey, she was relieved to see her in the same state.

They both moved to leave the theater, dropping their empty snack boxes in the trash before walking out and into a darkened night.

“That was amazing,” Zoey said, her lips split in a wide smile. She brushed a finger under her eyes. “A little sad and definitely very emotional, but still so good.”

“It was,” Dani agreed. “I had to hide a very womanly sniffle in the popcorn that last time. I thought you were going to burst into tears.”

Zoey laughed and pushed against Dani with her shoulder. “Me? Didn’t you just say you had to hide a sniffle?” Dani laughed along with her. “Do you need to get home?”

Dani shook her head. “Jordan is having an auntie night with Ava, and told me not to come home too early.” At Zoey’s questioning look, Dani went on to explain.

“The two of them love watching scary movies and I hate it. So, when I go out, he and Ava buy a bunch of junk food, build a fort in the living room and watch all the scary movies I refuse to see.”

“Ah,” Zoey replied. “That sounds like a lot of fun.”

Dani groaned and shook her head. “Don’t tell me you like scary movies too? You seemed so normal and wholesome.”

Zoey smirked and cocked her head to the side. “Don’t let the cardigans and glasses fool you. I love scary movies, especially when they don’t explain everything so you’re left wondering what could be real.”

Dani snorted, shaking her head again. “I will leave that stuff to you guys.”

“So, if you don’t have to get home just yet, do you want to come over to mine and have a drink? It seems a waste to let you go home too early.”

Dani swallowed hard but nodded. Anticipation and excitement warred in her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time she went to Zoey’s of course, but it would be the first time they were alone. “I’d love to.”

It wasn’t until they were both seated together on her sofa that Dani realized this was another chance to see if Zoey was interested in this as more than just friends.

But now that they were really and truly alone, Dani’s nerves were threatening to undo her.

Zoey was perfect. She was like the sweetest combination of nice and just the right amount of sarcastic to keep Dani laughing and on her toes.

“And right when I went to put the last book on the stack, the whole thing fell down, barely missing Tiffany’s head. I thought for sure she was going to clock me over the head with the thesaurus.”

Dani chuckled and shook her head. “I probably would have thought about doing it too if I were her.” She sat back, resting her head on the back cushions of the sofa.

Zoey mirrored her as their laughter died down until they were both sitting there staring into one another’s eyes.

Dani wasn’t sure what it was that propelled her to act, but before she realized what she planned to do, her lips were pressed to Zoey’s in a soft kiss.

Shock had Dani freezing and she could feel when Zoey jerked as well. It was that startled motion that had Dani ripping her lips away and shooting up from the sofa with stuttered apologies.

“I am so sorry. I should go.” Dani moved to flee, but a hand on her arm stopped her in place.

“Wait. Don’t go,” Zoey said.

“I should,” Dani insisted. “I just kissed you when you were being nice enough to invite me out. I didn’t mean to make things weird.”

“You didn’t,” she insisted. Her hand slid down until it gripped Dani’s. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you all night, but I was never sure if it was the right time.”

Dani turned to face Zoey fully. “Really?”

She nodded. “If I’m being honest, I’ve been wanting to kiss you since that day in the library when you asked me for book advice.

” Zoey looked away, though her grip on Dani’s hand didn’t waver.

“I wasn’t sure if you were into women, but I wanted to spend some time with you. Even if it was just as friends.”

Dani smiled softly as she looked down at their hands. She clasped her fingers around Zoey’s and gave them a slight squeeze. “I wasn’t sure if you were into women either.”

“Seriously? The cardigan? The glasses? None of that screamed at least queer to you?”

Dani shrugged as she chuckled. “I mean, maybe? I’m so used to my sisters being explicitly out that I never really stopped to think about it.”

“I drive a Subaru for fuck’s sake.”

Dani’s laughter was soon buried beneath Zoey’s lips as they kissed again.

Dani closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of pillow-soft lips pressing against her own.

She hadn’t kissed Vernon, but the guy she had kissed before him hadn’t even come close to feeling like this.

Dani felt this kiss down to the very marrow of her bones and she brought her free hand up to cup Zoey’s cheek.

She marveled at the warmth in her skin and let the faint floral scent wrap around her.

Everything about Zoey felt different than what Dani was used to, but instead of making her nervous, it settled her in a way she had never experienced.

She sank into their kiss like a woman half-starved and when Zoey’s lips parted slightly, Dani took it as the invitation it was.

She wasn’t sure how long they stood in Zoey’s living room trading kisses back and forth as the air heated up between them, but just when Dani was going to suggest moving things to a new location, her phone rang, startling them both.

If not for the hold she now had on Zoey’s shoulder, Dani might have jumped away.

As it was, it took her a few moments to realize that the phone ringing was her own and it was Jordan’s ringtone.

“Sorry about that,” Dani said, digging her phone out of her pocket. “It’s Jordan so I should…”

Zoey nodded and smiled, drawing Dani’s attention down to her kiss-bruised lips. “Right. It’s no problem.”

Dani couldn’t tear her gaze away even as she connected the call. “Hey, Jordan. What’s going on?”

“Auntie Ava and I are done watching the movies. When are you coming home?”

Dani finally looked away as she reassured him, “I’ll be home in just a bit. I promise.” She disconnected the call and then gave Zoey an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry.”

She waved her off. “There’s no reason to be sorry, Dani. You’re a mom. Jordan comes first.” She squeezed their hands together. “Plus, we should probably take things slow. I know you said this is all new for you and I don’t want to push you too quickly.”

As much as Dani wanted to go quickly, she knew Zoey was right. This was new for her, and she couldn’t rush into things half-cocked without thinking everything through. “I know you’re right, but I do still want to get to know you.”

Zoey smiled. “I want to get to know you too.”

Dani took a step closer to her. “And getting to know you can include kissing right?” She couldn’t help the way her gaze dropped back to Zoey’s lips. She was emboldened when Zoey’s gaze landed on her lips as well.

“Oh, absolutely.”

Dani smiled as she leaned in again. A couple minutes delay getting home wouldn’t be a bad thing, right?