“I would’ve gone with you.”
“Uh, hello? We weren’t speaking to each other.”
“I still would’ve gone with you. Tesla Teague could’ve stayed the fuck home. And hopefully, home is far, far away.”
“He lives fifteen minutes away,” Kris informed him, suppressing a laugh. “It’s cute that you’re jealous, but we’re not dating. You don’t have a say in who I see. You don’t have a say even ifweredating. I do what I want.”
Nate’s eye twitched. “If we were dating, no other man would dare touch you.”
Okay, the possessiveness was strangely hot, but they were going around in circles. “But we’re not.”
“We should.”
Everything went silent except for the quiet hum of the refrigerator in the background. Condensation dripped onto Kris’s hand, and she realized she was still holding her pint of ice cream. Phish Food had probably become Phish Puddle by now.
“You can’t be serious,” she said, a swarm of butterflies taking nervous flight in her stomach.
“I am serious.” Nate leaned against the counter. “Everyone thinks we’re dating already.”
“Noteveryone.Only my dad and Gloria.” Kris wrinkled her nose. “If this is your romantic idea of how to ask a girl to be your girlfriend, you need more help than I thought.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Nate solemnly. “How about this instead?”
Before she knew it, her ice cream was on the counter, Nate had pushed her up against the fridge door, and he was kissing her in a way that made her toes curl and stomach clench. He tasted like mint and coffee, and every hard ridge of his body molded against hers like they were made for each other. Two pieces in a puzzle.
She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. A minute? An hour? A century? All she knew was that it ended too soon.
Nate drew his head back and smiled down at her with smug male satisfaction. “How about that? Kris Carrera, will you be my girlfriend?”
“That’s not fair.” Kris resisted the urge to yank his mouth back to hers. “You cheated.”
“Never said I wouldn’t. I’m a complete scoundrel.”
She fought back a laugh. “We said we wouldn’t put a label on things.”
“We can change our minds.” Nate searched her face for the answer to a question she didn’t know. “Look, I know we haven’t known each other for that long, but Iknow that you have a good heart, and it’s made better by the fact you don’t flaunt it. You’re beautiful and smart and funny. We have fantastic sex.And—” He paused dramatically. “You have great taste in clothes.”
Oh, he wasgood.
“You’re correct. I’m all of those things, and I do have excellent taste,” Kris affirmed. She was wearing a next-season Valentino, wasn’t she? “But FYI, tell anyone about the ‘good heart’ part and the ‘fantastic sex’ part goes away. The acceptable explanation is that I have split personalities. Sometimes the good twin sneaks out and I have to lock her in her room again.”
A laugh broke out of Nate’s throat. “Got it.”
“Good.” Kris listened to the hum of the fridge, wondering if she was doing the right thing or setting herself up for heartbreak down the road. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t walk away from Nate now if she tried. “So we’re doing this, huh?”
“Yeah.” The smile lingered in Nate’s eyes as he curled a palm around her cheek. “I’m game if you are.”
“How would it work? We date until I leave for Seattle?” The thought of not seeing him again sent a sharp jolt of pain through her chest. “Full disclosure, I don’t do long-distance relationships. They never work.”
“I agree. Neither do I. But let’s cross that bridge when we get there.” Nate stepped closer, his scent filling her senses as he caressed her cheek. “For now, let’s enjoy the time we do have together.”
Yep, she was definitely setting herself up for heartbreak down the road.
“Okay,” Kris said softly.
His smile could’ve lit up all of Los Angeles.
“So, now that we’re officially dating…” He lowered his head. “I have a few ideas for how we could spend our first night as boyfriend and girlfriend.”