When We Kiss

Dropping my chin, I loosen my arms, sliding my hands to his forearms. I’m not sure what to say. Holy shit! is on repeat in my head.

“Sorry.” His voice is gruff, and he steps back, helping me off the bar and onto the stool again.

His eyes are diverted, and he walks around into the kitchen area.

“No need to apologize.” My voice is a little shaky, so I clear my throat. “I think we both participated in that.”

He turns to the refrigerator. “I think I’ll switch to beer. Want one?”

“Sure.” I reach for my sandwich, but I’m not really hungry anymore. Not for food anyway.

He places two bottles of amber in front of me. “Frosty mug?”

“Nah.” I take mine before he can pour it into the glass. “I’m easy.”

He does that sexy wink before taking a sip. “Is that so?”

“Not the way you said it.”

Setting the beer on the counter, he leans on his forearms. “Tell me, Tabitha Green, something I’ve been wondering about for a while.”

His forceful tone makes me shift in my seat. “Okay.”

“If Betty Pepper hadn’t called us, would you have gone through with it?”

I frown. “With what?”

“Jimmy, that night at the Plucky Duck.”

“Oh…” Blinking rapidly, I try to remember how I felt that night. “It’s hard to think of it now, knowing what I know about him.”

“You didn’t see right through that act?”

My cheeks are hot, and I press my lips together. “I wasn’t using the best judgment at the time. I was pissed off at everybody.”

When our eyes meet, his are still warm, searching for something. He reaches out a large hand across the bar and slides his finger down the inside of my forearm, starting at my tattoo and going to the bend of my elbow. “Why?”

It’s such a simple question, I feel silly answering it, especially in view of that kiss just now. Who was Travis again?

“I was dating this guy.” I pick at the label on the bottle. “He turned out to be a real jerk. Then he skipped town.” When I glance up, I notice Chad’s brow has lowered, and I can’t tell if it’s about Travis the Jerk or Jimmy. “I was having second thoughts, anyway. I wasn’t sure about the condom situation, and I wasn’t sure I was even into it anymore…”

He nods slowly. “You look out for yourself.”

“I’m not stupid.” Sitting up straighter, I feel defensive. “Sometimes it’s nice to be with someone, a warm body when you’re feeling lonely. I guess that sounds wrong… Sinful.”

I can’t believe I said that out loud. Am I drunk? I’m pretty sure I sound like a total slut right now.

“It sounds human to me.” Chad clears his throat and straightens. “I just wanted to know.”

Squinting up at him, I try to decide what to make of Chad Tucker. “You’re doing it again.”

“What’s that?”

“Being something else.”

“Something good?”

“Let’s play a game.”