My heart raced as Matt took a step closer. His hand twirled mine upward and against his chest.
“Would you like to come over for a bit?” he ventured. “I could make us some coffee, or a nightcap.”
I smiled, but I simultaneously gave a shake of my head. “That sounds really nice, but I’m going to hit the hay. I’ve got a big day tomorrow working on the greenhouse. I’m going to get that sign hung back up and maybe even plant a flower.”
Matt’s eyebrows shot up. “Sounds like a big day to me.”
I laughed. “Thank you for this evening, Matt. It was wonderful. And thank you for bidding on me so that I didn’t have to become a social outcast and stick my head in the sand for the rest of my time in Blueberry Lake.”
“The rest of your time?”
“Maybe a lifetime,” I said. “Who knows?”
Matt gave a nod. “Jenna, what I’m about to say next has nothing to do with the auction.”
“What do you mean?”
Matt inched so close we couldn’t possibly get any closer to one another. “I’d love to kiss you.”
My breath hitched in my throat as I looked up into his eyes. There was something there, a kindness, the sheer loyalty that had bound us together since the day we’d met, that melted my insides. And I realized in that moment I wanted it too.
I gave the briefest of nods, and even before I’d completed the nod, Matt leaned toward me and pressed his lips to mine. His kiss was soft and sweet. He circled his hands around me with gentle firmness, holding me against him until my body felt lit on fire from my head to my toes.
When we stepped apart, my eyes widened. “Wow.”
“Wow,” he echoed with a grin. “I liked that.”
“I—uh,” I hesitated. “I should be going probably. But, um, thank you for everything. I had a magnificent time.”
Matt gave me a cheeky smile and waved as I let myself inside. Once I’d locked the door behind me, I sunk against it and closed my eyes, sliding to the floor.
Magnificent? I thought. What sort of person said they had a magnificent time?
I hauled myself up to bed, climbing under the covers as my brain overloaded with emotions and questions and what-ifs. What did this mean for me and Matt? Cooper? My singlehood? It was one kiss. That didn’t make us a couple, right? After all, I’d been morally obligated to go on a date with Matt because he’d paid a thousand dollars for the privilege.
But I hadn’t been obligated to kiss him. That had been good, old-fashioned hormones. That, and the fact that a very attractive man had leaned toward me and asked to kiss me, and I was weak and powerless to say no. Especially because he was a nice guy on top of it. And definitely not a murderer.
I closed my eyes, the thoughts still swimming in my head. I dreamed of cops and firefighters, kisses under the moon and lakeside walks filled with ice cream and laughs. When I woke up, I was more confused than when I’d gone to sleep.
The sound of knocking drew me out of a restless slumber, and I gratefully arose from a sleep that was only making me more tired. Throwing on my purple robe once again, I padded downstairs and checked the window beside the front door.
I sighed, but I wasn’t surprised. I pulled it open.
“Gentlemen,” I said diplomatically. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Matt said first, holding up two mugs of coffee.
“Good morning,” Cooper echoed, holding up two Styrofoam cups from June’s cafe.
I studied both men evenly. “You’re never going to believe this,” I said eventually. “But I made my own coffee this morning.”
Matt and Cooper looked at one another. I pulled the door open wider and let them into the kitchen where, to my intense pride and joy, an automatic coffee maker, freshly ground beans, and real filters, sat puffing out fresh coffee thanks to an automated timer. It even smelled appropriate.
“That looks...” Cooper began. “Drinkable.”
“I’d even try it,” Matt said, appearing quite surprised. “I’m impressed, Jenna.”
“Thank you, gentlemen,” I said, gesturing for them to set their offerings on the table. “But since we’ve got coffee sorted out, and you two clearly don’t have anything better to do, who’s up for a little manual labor on the greenhouse?”
THE END
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed a return to visit Jenna and the folks of Blueberry Lake! For more information on new releases, please sign up for my newsletter at ginalamanna.com!
Thank you for reading!
Gina
Now for a thank you...
To all my readers, especially those of you who have stuck with me from the beginning.
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List of Gina's Books!
Gina LaManna is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Magic & Mixology series, the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries, The Little Things romantic suspense series, and the Misty Newman books.
List of Gina LaManna’s other books:
Women’s Fiction:
Pretty Guilty Women
Murder in Style:
Secrets and Stilettos
Lipstick and Lies
Wicked Never Sleeps
Wicked Long Nights
Wicked State of Mind
Wicked Moon Rising
Wicked All The Way
Lola Pink Mystery Series:
Shades of Pink
Shades of Stars
Shades of Sunshine
Magic & Mixology Mysteries:
Hex on the Beach
Witchy Sour
Jinx & Tonic
Long Isle Iced Tea
Amuletto Kiss
Spelldriver
MAGIC, Inc. Mysteries:
The Undercover Witch
Spellbooks & Spies (short story)
Reading Order for Lacey Luzzi:
Lacey Luzzi: Scooped
Lacey Luzzi: Sprinkled
Lacey Luzzi: Sparkled
Lacey Luzzi: Salted
Lacey Luzzi: Sauced
Lacey Luzzi: S'mored
Lacey Luzzi: Spooked
Lacey Luzzi: Seasoned
Lacey Luzzi: Spiced
Lacey Luzzi: Suckered
Lacey Luzzi: Sprouted
Lacey Luzzi: Shaved
The Little Things Mystery Series:
One Little Wish
Two Little Lies
Misty Newman:
Teased to Death
Short Story in Killer Beach Reads
Chick Lit:
Girl Tripping
Gina also writes books for kids under the Pen Name Libby LaManna:
Mini Pie the Spy!