Page 99 of The Surprise Play

I’m dreaming.

That has to be it, right?

But it’s not!

Pinch me now, it’s not a dream!

Bending his legs, Wily lets out this delectable groan, his grip around my waist tightening as he stands tall and brings me with him. Our mouths are that much closer as he lines up our heads.

Part of me wants to wrap my legs around his waist, but I’m too nervous to do it. I’m not even sure I can, so I just dangle, kissing him like I need his tongue in order to take my next breath.

He eventually puts me back down, but he doesn’t break away from the kiss. We start to sway, making out and dancing in the snow for I don’t know how long.

But the dream just keeps going until Wily’s watch starts beeping.

With a disappointed groan, he pulls away from me, brushing the tip of his nose against mine and giving me the kind of smile that could melt my heart in a second.

In fact, I’m pretty sure my chest is filled with defrosting ice cream right now.

“We gotta go,” he whispers. “I promised to lock up the place by ten.”

“Okay.” I swallow, not wanting to release him.

He’s not moving either, so we just stand there gazing at each other until his alarm starts going again.

Forcing myself away from him, I step back on shaking limbs and fumble my way through our snow-covered picnic cleanup.

Shoving everything into his bag, I scoop up his football and hug it to my snowy coat. He grins at me, brushing snowflakes out of my hair before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and walking us out of the stadium.

This giddy giggle is sitting in my belly, all bouncy and pert, wanting to burst out of me any chance it can get.

I fight to keep it clamped down, but it’s pretty hard when I think about what I was just doing on that field.

Yep, I was making out with a tall, hot, funny, gorgeous man who danced with me in the snow and then kissed me like he meant it.

I keep waiting to come to, for reality to hit, and I’ll open my eyes and realize I’m tucked up in bed and my imagination has been toying with me. But as Wily locks the gate behind us, then opens his truck door and helps me into the passenger seat, I realize this dream is still going.

As soon as the doors are closed, Wily gets the heatpumping, and we sit in the stadium parking lot for a minute not saying anything. I don’t know why he’s not starting the engine and driving me back to Buckley Hall.

Throwing him an awkward side-eye, I silently ask him, but he just runs his fingers lightly over the top of the wheel.

Finally, while my brain is scrambling for something to say, he whispers, “I just had the best time. I’m not ready for it to end.”

“I loved it too.” I smile at him.

He nods, his lips twitching.

“We can stay here if you want. Talk or… whatever.” I end in the softest whisper, my stomach jittering with excitement at the thought of kissing him again.

I want his hand to curl around the back of my neck, or maybe thread through my hair. I want his lips to sink against mine as his thumb brushes a soft line across my cheek.

“I want to invite you back to my place, but…”

I blink, the cold crash of reality starting to pinch me awake.

He just saidbut.

Here we go.