Page 55 of Your Last First Kiss

And I’m done. My knees shake and threaten to toss me to the floor, but he tightens his grip on my hip and holds me steady. It’s impossible not to feel every inch of his hard body standing like this.

Every.

Freaking.

Inch.

“What are you doing?” I repeat in self-defense. I need a defense here. I’m floating out in the sea of Dillon without an anchor to hold me steady.

His lips ghost over my cheek, to my temple, and then he takes a small step back. Then another, until he’s leaning against the stove with his feet crossed at the ankles.

“Are you a planner, Penny?”

The sudden change of topic has my head spinning. Combine that with the loss of heat he created when he stepped back, and it’s a wonder I can even form a coherent thought, let alone speak.

“Yes. I try to be. Why?” With three kids, I have to plan. I need to schedule and prepare for every eventuality. I make mental lists for my lists.

He knows this.

We’ve talked about it.

A lot.

On Wednesdays.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a plan. Not one that I made myself,” he says lazily. Slowly. His Southern drawl is in full swing, like he has all the time in the world.

“I’m sorry?” I don’t know what to say, soI’m sorryis what pops out.

His eyes crinkle when he smiles. “Didn’t I tell you to stop apologizing?”

“Sor—Well, what would you like me to say?”

“I thought choices were for other people, but now I’m thinking that maybe I was waiting for the right choice to present itself.”

What the what?

“I’m not sure I understand,” I say. Needing something to do with my hands, I stab at the button on the slow cooker three times to turn it off.

“I like it here,” he says, changing topics again.

Hello, cyclone. I can’t keep up.

“I’m glad?” Where is he going with this?

“Are you?” His voice is low, nearly a whisper, and he’s studying me with an expression I’ve never seen before.

Is he nervous?

The muscle in his jaw flexes. He’s watching me watch him, and that flutter in my chest bursts into flames.

“I—I am,” I stutter. “Chance Lake is a great community. Close-knit. Kind, for the most part. I’m happy you like it. Especially since you got stranded here because of my son.”

“I have a feeling I would have ended up here eventually anyway.” That small crease appears between his eyebrows. “Actually, I know I would have.”

I tilt my head to the side and pluck the hair elastic that’s a permanent fixture around my right wrist. “Why do you say that?”

“Ashton asked me to stay at his place. He wants me to take on an opportunity here. One that would remove me from Envision, get me out of the city and closer to you.”