When We Kiss

Emberly leans down to cut diamond shapes all over the now-flat white paste. “Technically, you had broken things off with Chad.” She straightens and holds her lower back a minute. “Were you ever even officially together?”

“Yes!” I answer fast, although Emberly has a point.

We only went on two official dates—the church fair was sort-of forced by Betty Pepper, and it ended up being annoying as hell. Then after our brunch, it pretty much turned into a week-long fuck-fest. My elbow is on the table, and I rest my chin on my hand, remembering those days. We were insatiable, stealing every moment we could get. In the ocean, in his cruiser, on my desk…

“What impure thoughts are you having right now?” Emberly is leaning over the diamond pattern again, but she’s looking up at me with a grin. “Your cheeks have gone all pink.”

I sit up straight on my stool. “I’m not thinking about anything!” It’s a lie. I was daydreaming about riding Andy and how good it feels.

The bell over the door rings, and as if it couldn’t get worse, Jimmy Rhodes saunters in wearing that black leather jacket and jeans with his motorcycle boots. He walks right up to where I’m sitting and stops, doing a bangs swish.

“What’s wrong with you?” I ask, crossing my arms just in case he has any ideas.

“I came to tell you goodbye, girl. I’m heading out.”

Emberly straightens and hurries over to where he’s standing. “Jimmy! Did you get the money? Are you going to Glendale?”

He straightens, swagger gone, and gives my best friend a big smile. “I got it. I’m heading out today. Just finished packing.”

Frowning, I look back and forth between them. “Get what? What’s in Glendale?”

Jimmy whips his face around and gives me a smolder. “College. Will you miss me?”

“Eh…” I don’t want to be mean, but my nose wrinkles involuntarily. “I think it’s really great that you’re continuing your education.”

“I helped him write a grant,” Emberly explains. “He’s studying auto mechanics so he can start his own small business one day.”

My eyebrows shoot up, and I nod. “Cool. Good work, Jimmy.”

“You can call me Blade.” He does a little head twitch. “Sorry we never got the timing right, boo.”

“Not your boo.”

Emberly pats his arm in a motherly way. “I’m really proud of you. I bet you’ll make a great mechanic one day.”

“Maybe I’ll come back here and open a garage.” He walks slowly to the door. “Maybe down by the filling station.”

“That sounds like a great idea!” Emberly is too encouraging in my opinion.

“Oh, and Tabby.” He points at me, and my eyebrows rise. “I give you my blessing to see the deputy.”

“Your blessing?”

He nods. “I think he really likes you. I’m sure he’ll be a better man once he gets a handle on that drinking problem.”

“Chad does not have a drinking problem!”

“Whatever you say, girl. Just remember, denial is more than a river in Egypt.” He pulls the door open and does a little finger salute at us. “Later, hot potatoes.”

The door closes, and Emberly and I explode with laughing.

“What the hell was he doing? Poor man’s James Dean?” I give her a finger salute. “Later, hot putater.”

“He gives you his blessing,” she calls, returning to the fondant.

“I’m so relieved.” The truth is I’m antsy as hell.

Ever since yesterday, all I can think about is Chad’s last visit. The stolen kiss that curled my toes and melted my panties. The dimple in his cheek when he grinned, and the heat radiating from his eyes. It was pure possession, and no matter what I said, he knew he had me.