Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

Leo's eyes met mine and one side of his mouth quirked into a smile as he shrugged. “I always thought you and Bastian would end up together.”

I couldn't help it. I snorted. The idea of me and Bastian was utterly ridiculous. “You thought I'd end up with Bastian?”

“I'm serious,” he insisted. I loved the way his arms were still wrapped around me, keeping me pressed into the strength of his chest. “I thought you two were supposed to be together. You're good together. He obviously respects and loves you. I just thought that it would be the natural outcome. I didn't want to ruin a good thing.”

“Leo, he's my brother. In every sense of the word except the genetic one. We grew up as siblings.” I shook my head. For someone as smart as Leo, that reason was rather dumb. Sweet, but dumb. “If I had known that was what was stopping you all this time...”

Leo bru

shed hair away from my face and sent my world spinning with the tender touch. Other than finding out we had never done this because he thought I should end up with my brother, this kiss was everything I had ever dreamed it could be. Yet, it still didn't feel real.

“But why now?” I pressed. “Bastian's had girlfriends before. There has to be more of a reason than just Bastian.”

Leo bent his head and kissed me again. His kiss stole all of my ability to think, sending me soaring to another, happier plane of being. I completely lost my train of thought as Leo kissed me, and damn if he wasn't an even better kisser than I had imagined.

“Why?” I finally gasped, unwilling to let him get off with just a kiss. I needed to know. I needed to know this wasn't just out of pity or if it was just going to be a one-time thing. I would take a one-time thing, I would take anything from Leo, but I needed to know so I wouldn't get hurt.

He stopped kissing me long enough to grin. “Because I don't want to wait anymore. I'm done waiting. I needed to kiss you, at least once.”

“Just once?” My heart stalled a little. I wanted to kiss him far more than just once. Billions of kisses wouldn't be enough.

“At least once,” he clarified, bending his head to mine again. “But I'm not sure that even a million would satisfy me now.”

“Ms. Page!” An urgent cry came as the door opened and interrupted my perfect night. Standing in the doorway was the party coordinator, looking incredibly flustered. Her hair was mussed and her cheeks red.

“Yes?” I asked, trying very hard not to be annoyed. She had no way of knowing what she was interrupting. Well, maybe she did since she found us hiding in the curtain earlier.

“I’m very sorry to interrupt, but I'm afraid there's a problem in the kitchen and it can't wait.” She then turned to Leo. “Also, Mr. Westbrook, Mr. Belrose is looking for you.”

“Of course he is,” Leo said under his breath. He still kept his hold on me.

“Ms. Page, it really is important,” she stuttered, obviously not willing to leave the porch without me.

I sighed. The last thing in the entire world that I wanted to do was leave Leo's arms. But duty called. My fantasies would have to wait. Next time, though, I was locking that door.

Leo reluctantly let me go. I took a step to the door before turning to look back at him. He was so handsome that my heart might explode out of my chest with joy. He had kissed me. That man with the beautiful hair and stunning eyes, that made me laugh and smile, had kissed me. He looked as flushed and pleased as I did, yet still managing to pull of debonair and smooth as well.

“I still get that dance, right?” I asked, stopping despite the coordinator's anxious movements.

Leo grinned. “I'm counting on it.”

Butterflies danced and soared in my stomach and I was light headed and just a little giddy. I would go take care of this kitchen thing in two seconds so I could come back to this. To have him kiss me again. Dance with me.

With one last grin, I turned and hurried after the party coordinator, leaving the love of my life smiling at me on the porch.

Chapter Seven

The kitchen was on fire.

Or at least, it had been.

The acrid scent of smoke lingered in the kitchen despite the open windows and the industrial fan sucking up as much of it as possible. Luckily, the scent had remained contained and wasn't frightening the guests.

The chicken however, was very frightening.

“I'm so sorry Ms. Page- the chicken flambé, it wasn't supposed to do that!” The poor caterer looked to be about two seconds away from bursting into tears. This was probably one of the biggest events on the island, and definitely not how she had planned on making an impression on our guests. “I've done this a thousand times and-”

“Are you okay?” I cut her off, putting my hands on her shoulders. “Are you or any of your staff hurt?”