Page 106 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
Trying to avoid the awkward conversation oh hey your lips were just on mine, I turned around and picked out a tie-dyed T-shirt and handed it over to Henry.
“Here, this should be fine. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
I started to walk away when Henry pulled on my arm and wound me back into him like a yo-yo. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not walking away from me like that.”
“Like what?”
He didn’t answer. Instead he gripped my chin with his thumb and index finger and brought his lips back to mine. In the most sensual way, Henry once again explored my mouth and I kissed him back even though I probably shouldn’t have.There was no refusing his lips. I wasn’t stupid.
Just as quickly as he kissed me, he pulled away again and put the shirt on that was one size too big and two decades too old, but he still looked good.
“Let’s go, love,” he said, grabbing my hand and entwining our fingers together. “Time to beat your parents at Yahtzee.”
Stunned from his drastic change in mood, I whispered while we walked down the stairs so my parents couldn’t hear.
“So, you’re just going to kiss me and then act like nothing happened?”
Before we were in plain sight for my parents to see, Henry turned and pinned me against the hallway wall.
His impressive body pressed up against mine while his hands found my waist again. “There is no way I can act like nothing happened. Right now, I’m on fucking cloud nine from that kiss, and instead of hashing it out like you probably want, I’m going to enjoy it and play some Yahtzee. Sometimes you have to let things happen, Rosie, and not overanalyze everything. Live a little.”
“I’m living,” I said defiantly.
“That you are, but live a little with me, Rosie.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Are you two coming?” my dad called out this time.
“Yup,” Henry said as he pulled me behind him.
They were on their deck where they had Yahtzee set up and a special set of dice for each person.
“Look, honey, we found cat dice for you,” my mom said excitingly.
No matter how many times I told my mom I didn’t like cats, she still insisted upon getting me cat mugs, T-shirts, and calendars. She had it in her mind since I worked at a cat magazine, I was in love with cats, when in fact it was the opposite. If I worked at a golf magazine, she would probably be stuffing golf balls in my stocking every year.
“Wow, thanks, Mom,” I said, sitting down. Henry sat right next to me, scooting his chair over so he was practically on top of my playing space. He wasn’t letting up, and hell if I secretly didn’t want him to.
“That shirt is very becoming of you,” my mom said to Henry.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bloom. I’m sure Mr. Bloom does it more justice than I do.”
“I would say that’s true,” my dad said, chuckling.
“Oh Dave, don’t be jealous of the boy.” She clapped her hands together and said, “Ready for the roll-off? First to roll a six gets to go first. And, go!”
We all grabbed one die and started rolling until one of us got a six.
“Aha,” my dad called out, fist-pumping the air. “Looks like the old man has the upper hand.”
It actually didn’t matter who went first, but my mom insisted on a roll-off at the beginning of each game. I wasn’t as into it as much as my parents were, but looking at Henry lightly smacking the table, I could see he was disappointed he didn’t win the roll-off. He was too damn cute.
“Next time,” I whispered to him, causing his hand to once again find my thigh.
It was as if his hand to my thigh injected some kind of stupid serum, because my mind went blank and everything around me went fuzzy. He had that effect on me.
“Honey, you’re up,” my mom said just as Henry squeezed my thigh and leaned over closer to my ear.
