Page 97 of My Best French Wedding

He glanced over her shoulder, and Hildy saw him take in the full picture: the sheets neatly folded back, a trail of rose petals leading to the bed, the plastic hotel ice bucket on the desk with two cans of Ocean Spray.

“You. Uh.” He paused to take a breath. “You were waiting for me?”

“Yes, Walter.” In more ways than one, but she wanted this moment to be sexy, not sappy. “Is this okay?”

He nodded, still blinking more than normal, like she’d just set off a strobe light in his face. Hildy edged closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. That triggered a response, his arms coming around her waist. She felt the warmth of Walter’s palms through the satin at her hips.

“We finished the story.” She wasn’t whispering on purpose, but they were standing so close a normal voice would have felt like shouting.

Walter made a low murmur of agreement.

“You know what that means?”

His gaze strayed to the bed. “Possibly?”

Hildy tried to think of something saucy to say to erase any lingering doubts, but a smile broke free instead. When he smiled back, she forgot about planning her next move and stretched up to kiss him.

Walter’s mouth was warm and soft, with a hint of sweetness from the peanut butter and banana sandwiches he made himself for dinner every night. She was ready for it to be awkward, since they’d never done this before, but kissing Walter was as easy as having a conversation with him. Except their lips were less far apart—and all the parts of them below the chin were touching too.

The press of Walter’s body against hers felt so good, Hildy couldn’t stop straining to get even closer. She needed an assist from gravity, and a lot less clothing. When she reached behind her to untie the halter neckline of her nightgown, Walter put a hand on her arm.

“Let me do that.”

She shivered as his fingers skimmed up her back, slowing when they reached the midpoint. A crease formed between his brows as he moved his hand from side to side.

“Something wrong?” Maybe she had a previously undiagnosed spinal condition.

“I can’t find your bra.”

“I already took it off. You don’t wear them under pajamas.”

His blush intensified. “Sorry. If you’d given me more notice, I would have done research.”

She was focused on walking backward without letting go of him, so it took a second to catch on. “Like porn?”

“No!”

The light went on. “You were going to interview people. About sex. A little fact-finding mission. Maybe loop in a librarian.”

“Forget I said anything.”

“Not likely.” She kissed him again, because he was so earnest, and she could.

“Speaking of preparations,” he said, when they were standing next to the bed. “I don’t have any, um—”

“I have some. From the dorm.”

“Okay. Wow. I should have known you’d be on top of things.”

“And you’re cool with this?”

He laughed, just a little, so she could tell it wasn’t aimed at her. “I keep waiting to wake up.”

Hildy reached around him to pinch his butt. “Still with me?”

Walter nodded.

“Then I guess it’s not a dream.”