Page 58 of The Last Kiss

“What time is your train?” I really, really need to buy this damn teddy bear, but then I also need to spend any grasped moments with my mystery man… Henri. I taste his name on my tongue.

He shrugs.

Damn that man.

“Would it alarm you if I told you I was here for the weekend?”

I register his words, letting them sink in, like dropping low into a perfect temperature bath that encases you in luxury.

“A whole weekend?” My eyes are wide.

“Is that a good-scared look or a bad-scared look?”

“A whole weekend?” I repeat.

He laughs, tucking my hair, thumb brushing my cheekbone. “The whole weekend.”

We are causing a massive obstruction on the street, but still he leans down and brushes my lips with his. “What do you think?”

What do I think?

Oh, who cares. I’m pretty sure this is one of those life defining moments where you aren’t supposed to think. Like the first night we met. Or the time after.

Basically, I haven’t thought since we met.

“I think yes.” I launch myself into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist, peppering kisses on his face. He smells of spice and smoke, sunshine, lavender fields and all the unknown things I will probably never know.

He smells of what I hope heaven will be.

“Get a room.” I crack my eyes open at two teenage girls in tracksuits who strut by.

“I will when I’m good and ready!” I call after them to which one gives me the finger over her shoulder. Youths these days, don’t they have any respect?

Henri grins and lowers me to the floor. “You know if I’d known you’d be so happy to see me, I’d have come back weeks ago.” His smile is taunting.

“You’re really here for the whole weekend?”

“Yes.”

“And you want to spend it with me?” Let’s clarify this point.

“Yes.”

“I’ve got to go in there.” I point to the inner circle of hell, which is screaming children rolling on the floor because they can’t have the toys they want.

He crooks his arm. “Then let’s go.”

“Oh shit.” We’ve only walked one step and already there is a clanger in the plan. “It’s my niece’s birthday tomorrow. I’m so sorry.” I smack myself on the forehead and make him smirk.

“That’s fine.”

“I can see you as soon as the party is over if you’ll wait for me?”

He slips my small hand in his giant one and I give a little shiver when I remember what those hands can do. “No, I mean I can come with you, that would be fantastic.”

I stare at him wild-eyed. “But then you’d have to meet my sister.”

“Are we going in there or not?” He tugs on my hand.