Page 45 of Fly's Path

“Sure.” I’ve almost given up on finding her before the event. She must be one of the ones who is just showing up for the cake tasting.

The clubhouse has several kitchens, but this one is attached to the common room and used for big events. It’s full of commercial-sized everything. Several old ladies went to town on it a few years back. “Someone need some help carrying stuff?”

“Back here.” A familiar voice echoes to me.

It’s her.

Finally.

She’s way back in the corner at one of the utility sinks, filling up vases. “If you could grab the box next to me. But careful, they’re half full of water.”

Yeah. No. The only thing I’ll be doing for the next few minutes is kissing you. “We meet again.”

The woman in front of me jumps a little before spinning around with a partially filled one in her hands. Water sloshes on her and the floor. “Um. Hello.” Her nervous smile is just as tempting as the flirty one from the other day.

“There are lots of women at the clubhouse today.” I take a step forward.

“Yeah. Dylan’s cake tasting is today.”

“That means I’m in need of protection that only you can afford me.”

“What—” Her mouth snaps shut, and her eyes widen.

A smile spreads across my face as a blush runs up hers. I take the vase from her fingers and set it on the stainless-steel countertop next to her. Then my hand goes to her waist, slowly at first, giving her time to say no or pull back. “Did you think about me?”

“More than I should have.”

Fair. “You were all I thought about the last few days.” I pull her close to me.

She leans forward and stops. “You do know it only takes one kiss to protect you. Just like it only takes one to tell if you’re a toad or a prince.”

“And which am I?”

“Neither. You’re Fly.” She lifts her arms up, wrapping them around my neck like she’s getting ready to settle in for a kiss.

Which is fair, since I plan on doing the same. “And what are you?”

She tilts her head to the side.

“What’s your name? What do people call you?”

“Does it matter?”

Yes. Yes. It does. “Why would you say that?”

“Whatever this is…it’s not going to last. I’m going to leave town in a little over a week. All this can be is a few stolen kisses and some nice memories.”

“You’re blunt.” It’s not like I didn’t realize she would leave, but all I thought about was getting back to this point.

“I’m being practical.”

Am I ready to think past a simple flirtation? “So am I. I’m going to see if the last kiss was a mirage or a prequel. Depending on the answer, I plan on repeating it as often as possible.”

“Just as long as you know there’s no future.”

There never is. “Understood.”

“Well, since you’re not the prince and I’m not the princess, you can call me Sheri.”