Timepiece

“You’re always taking care of people. You … I don’t know … observe, and then you give others what they need, by instinct.” Her right knee barely touched my right hip, but it made my skin tingle. “It’s not just an empathy thing. Physical actions go with it.”

I shrugged. “If someone needs something and I can give it to them, why wouldn’t I help?”

“You … are so confusing.” She laughed. “And I’m so tired.”

“Of what?”

“Of being interrupted, waiting for the right time, trying to figure all this out.” She leaned forward and slid her hands into my hair, resting her cheek against mine. “Not getting what I really want.”

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

“What do you really want?”

She placed a gentle kiss on the corner of my eyelid. If I’d closed my eyes, my lashes would have brushed against her lips. Then she leaned over to kiss my left cheek, pressing her body close to mine.

The breathing thing was getting more difficult.

“Lily. You’re messing with me.”

“No. Not yet.” She moved her mouth to my right jaw, then the left side of my neck, then back up to my chin.

As much as I was enjoying the buildup, I was certain that if there was going to be a payoff, it would outweigh it. But whatever happened next needed to be her decision.

“What do you want?” I repeated.

She hesitated for two seconds before I saw the power in her eyes, felt it coming off her in waves. “You.”

Exactly what I was waiting for.

We met halfway. Lips and teeth and the taste of her tongue, the heat of her skin against mine, unexpected through our rain-soaked clothes. Touching her was way more addictive than any substance I’d ever tried.

I wanted to unzip my skin and pull her inside.

Lily twisted her hands in the sleeves of my jacket and pushed back. Her eyes were wide, her voice unsteady. “This is more intense than I thought it would be. And I was banking on intense.”

I unpinned her hair and trailed my fingers over her collarbones, into the hollow of her throat. “How is intense working for you?”

She shuddered and grabbed my wrists. “More, please.”

I kissed her slowly, taking my time. My hands were on her neck, and I could feel her pulse beating in her throat. I moved my mouth across her jawline and felt it speed up.

“Wait,” she gasped.

I stopped, my mouth just below her ear. “I thought you wanted more.”

“I do. There’s just a steering wheel digging into my back.”

“Not enough real estate in here to kiss you.” I scooted over and wrapped my arms around her, cradling her, holding her as tightly as I could. “That’s a damn shame.”

“We could just go up.” She leaned back and pointed to her apartment.

I tried not to get too caught up in what arching her back did to her front.

“Although it might be too much real estate. Especially since Abi isn’t home.”

Lily. Me. Alone. Arching. I groaned.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“The way you feel, and taste, and empty real estate … sounds really tempting.”

“Yes. I’d like to take you upstairs and kiss you cross-eyed.”

“I’d like to be taken upstairs.” And do a whole lot more than kiss.

She read between the lines like a champ. “Then any real estate that involves an empty bedroom and a serious lack of supervision probably isn’t the wisest choice right now.”

“You don’t make me feel like being wise.” I touched my lips to hers again, pulled her body even closer to mine. “I want to be with you.”

“Kaleb.”

“Not because of this.” I gestured to her in my arms. “Because of you.”

A smile teased across her lips. “I have to go close up shop.”

“How long will it take you?” I asked. “I’ll wait.”

She raised one eyebrow.

“Just to make sure you get home okay.” I raised my hands innocently. “Swear.”

“It’s okay. I could be a while.” She bent down to the floorboard to retrieve her apron and slipped it over her head. “I should really do a round of baking prep before I leave.”

“I’m staying. I don’t want you here alone.” I didn’t want to give Jack any openings to do more damage.

“I do this all the time.”

“Now you don’t have to. Please. You know I’m excellent in the kitchen.”

“You’re probably excellent everywhere.”

“I look forward to testing that theory.” I grinned and leaned over to kiss her again.

“Stop,” she protested, but she was teasing. “I will resist your charms. For now. But if you want to help me bake, come on.”

“Wait.” When my phone rang, I grabbed her apron strings, not ready to let her go yet. It was Dune.

“Yeah?” I held up one finger when she giggled.

“Get over here. I managed to access the Skroll.”

The call disconnected. “I’ll help you close up shop, but no baking today. We have somewhere to be.”

Chapter 40

I went inside Murphy’s Law with Lily to do the basics, like double checking that all the machines were off and the doors were locked.

“Okay. We can go. We’re all good.” She hung up her apron. Before she could say another word, I slid my hand behind her head, pulling her in close for a kiss.

“Yes, we are,” I said, not letting her go.

“Do it again,” she murmured against my lips.

I did.

I helped her into the truck, backed out, and drove down Main Street, holding her hand. Pumpkins lined the sidewalk, fresh from the carving contest. They’d be illuminated through Halloween. After trick-or-treating, they’d be thrown into a fire for the Pumpkin Smash, a combination dance/bonfire/pumpkin demolition party that happened downtown.

Maybe everything would be resolved by then. It had to be.

I pulled into my driveway and parked close to the pool house. When I walked around to help Lily down from the truck, I took her hand again. “Is it okay if I hang on to this?”

“I’d prefer it.”

I held her hand all the way inside, and didn’t let go when everyone looked up from the table. Em and Michael smiled at us. Dune seemed disappointed.

“How did you manage it?” I asked, determined to concentrate on the task at hand, and not think about how smooth Lily’s skin was. “Did you just keep trying?”

“Do or do not, there is no try,” Dune said, looking wise.

Nate entered the living room, so quickly I couldn’t tell from which direction. “Seriously, you’re like … the antithesis of Yoda.”

“Oh, look at you, using the big words.” Dune clapped his hands like a proud parent.

“Okay, y’all,” Em said. “Sheathe your light sabers and let’s get down to business.”

Nate’s eyes grew as big as saucers. “I’m not going to make a ‘that’s what she said’ joke. I’m just telling you. I am not.”

I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh. I didn’t want to give Lily any reason to let go of my hand.