Only One Kiss (Only One 1)

I have to admit that when he kissed me on the counter, I forgot everything, including all my rules. That is what he did to me. With just one touch, I let go of my sanity. I took off fast so I could think, knowing that if I stayed close to him, I wouldn’t be able to.

“Who is at the door?” I see the look on Ralph’s face, and now it really does take everything for me not to go to him. “Jesus, I’ve been waiting,” Miller says from behind me and steps beside me, putting his hand around my shoulder like he always does. “Hey, man,” he says, smiling at Ralph. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” he asks, but his tone is just a touch pissed off, and I hear the crinkling of brown paper as he squeezes the flowers in his hand. “What are you doing here?” He puts his hands on his hips, and I tilt my head and side-eye Miller, who looks a bit shocked and surprised at his tone.

“Well, I had a meeting with Candace,” he says, now taking his hand off my shoulder. I look over at him as Miller looks at me and then at Ralph as he tries to figure out what is going on. And I guess he’s not the only one. “Wait a second,” Miller says. Putting his hand up, he points at the flowers in Ralph’s hand. “Hold on.” Then he points at me and then he takes his hand and pushes my head. “Eww, no, no, no.” His face grimaces. “Gross.”

“I’m right here.” I push his head back. “And you are the gross one.” Then I look over at Ralph. “Now that this is out of the way.”

He just looks at me, not saying anything, and then looks at Miller. “Aren’t you leaving?”

He laughs now. “I think that is my cue to get the fuck out of here, or he’s going to kick my ass.” He looks down at Ari. “Sorry for swearing, pretty girl.” He looks at me. “If you need anything, call me.” Then he looks at Ralph. “And I mean about work, not a booty call.” He puts his hands up. “You can be rest assured that there is nothing that Candace has that I want.”

I roll my eyes now and huff out. “Again, I’m still standing right here.”

Miller walks past Ralph and slaps his shoulder. “Good luck, dude.” He then looks at me. “She looks angry.”

“Miller, so help me God,” I say with my teeth clenched together as he now jogs to his truck and takes off.

“Candace,” he says, and I make the mistake of looking at him. “I got these for you,” he says, handing me the flowers. “We got them for you.” I bring the flowers to my nose and smell the roses.

“Come in. It’s hot outside, and Ari is going to get fussy,” I say, moving aside, but he doesn’t move.

“Are you sure that you want me to come inside?” he asks, and I just stand here. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

“You are not interrupting, and even if you were, he left.” I point at the empty spot in my driveway that Miller just vacated. Bending down and grabbing Ari out of the stroller and bringing her in the cool house, “I’m sorry,” I say, “for just running out before.”

“I want this,” he says. “This thing with us, whatever it is, whatever it’s going to be? I want it.” He looks at me. “Whatever happens in all of this, all I want is for you to be happy.” He steps closer. “Whatever happens, I want you to find love.”

“You can’t do that,” I say, blinking away my own tears. “You can’t just come in here and say all the perfect things when I’ve been sitting and staring into space all day long, thinking about you and this and us. And everything that will go with it, if we actually do whatever.” I don’t want to say the word dating, but he closes the distance between us and puts his hands on my face. I don’t think my heart could beat any faster. I don’t think I could fall for a more complicated man. I also don’t think I stood a chance.

“Also,” he says, bringing his head closer to mine, “I was about to throat punch Miller.” He laughs, and I look down, smiling and then look back up. “Imagine how that would have been.” His thumbs rub my cheeks. “I don’t think I would be able to explain that to Nico.”

“Does that mean that this thing”—I feel Ari playing with my hair, so I turn and kiss her cheek—“is exclusive between the two of us?”

He glares now. “Pretty much saying we are exclusive,” he says. “Now, before you say anything else.” He licks his lips and puts his forehead on mine. “Can I kiss you?”