An Instant Connection (Insta-Spark)

“No,” I agreed. “It’s not.”

“We can cook together. Here.”

I tilted up my head, meeting his eyes. “Sure glad you’re slowing your roll.”

He chuckled and kissed me hard. “When it comes to you, that simply isn’t possible.”

I sighed as I looked out the window. If anyone had told me yesterday I’d be there with Mitch, after spending the night with him, I would have laughed at them. Yet, there I was.

I rubbed my temples, still feeling disbelief. Mitch seemed too good to be true. Warm, open, caring, sexy. Frank and forward. Honest about what he wanted.

And it seemed he wanted me. But for how long?

His arms wound around me. “What are you looking so pensive for?” he murmured. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about things.”

“Nothing,” he scoffed. “Try again, sweetheart. You look worried.”

I was silent, and he spun me in his arms, his face serious. “Talk to me.”

“What am I doing here, Mitch? What are we doing?”

His expression softened. “You’re here because I wanted to make sure you liked the place I picked. I plan, I hope, you’re here with me a lot, so I wanted your input. As to what we’re doing—I’m going to call it starting a relationship. An important one. I know it’s fast, and I can see you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, but we’ll figure it out.” His arms tightened. “As long as it’s what you want. I know it’s what I want.”

I searched his eyes. In the bright light, they were clear, as blue as the sky, and reflected tenderness and understanding even if his expression was anxious.

“How can you be so sure?”

He smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I just do. You caught my eye with your whistle. You intrigued me with your wit and the way you brushed me off. You bowled me over with your smile once you let me in a little. I have never felt about someone the way I feel about you.”

“The lust you mean?”

He shook his head. “Not just the sex. Don’t get me wrong—it was hands down the best sex I’ve ever had, but it was more than simply sex. You felt it, didn’t you? That connection? The feeling as if you’d found something you’d been looking for and hadn’t ever realized was missing?”

I had felt it. I could still feel it. When Mitch was close, I felt safe and protected. Cared for. Complete. It was both heady and scary at the same time. I nodded hesitantly.

“But?” he pressed.

“It’s only for a while.”

He smiled and passed his fingers over my cheek. “We’ll figure it all out, sweetheart. I’m freelance. I can go wherever I want, stay however long I decide to stay.”

“That’s what worries me. You can leave anytime you want.”

He cocked his head. “My mom always told me one day I would find a reason to settle. I think, maybe I have found my reason. I think you’re my reason.”

I felt my eyes widen. “That’s a pretty profound statement to make considering you haven’t even known me twenty-four hours.”

“You get better every minute. I’m surprised I’m still standing with how much you affect me.”

The deliveryman called his name, and he pressed a kiss to my head. “We have lots of time, Mandy. I’m not going anywhere, and now I’ve met you, I don’t plan to. As long as we’re together, we’ll find our way. Now let me go sign off on the delivery and we can go find the most important item for this place.”

I nodded. “Right. You’ll need a sofa.”

He shook his head.

“A desk?”