Page 61 of Blame it on the Kiss
Honor put her finger out next to a leaf like she hoped the butterfly there would climb aboard. Its turquoise blue and brown wings were stationary, but then it moved a little to the right and tickled her skin. She bounced up and down with excitement and the butterfly quickly flew away.
“You must keep very, very still, Padawan,” Bryce said.
Honor whipped around to find a butterfly on his shoulder, his finger, and his arm. “You’re a Star Wars fan?”
“Who isn’t?” His grin widened. “Now don’t move. There’s a red and yellow butterfly in your hair. And another about to land on your shoulder.”
Super slowly, she dropped her chin and darted her eyes to her left. The tiny creature had orange wings with black trim and white polka dots. “Hey there,” she murmured without moving her lips.
Bryce watched her in fascination before breaking his butterfly connection and saying, “Come on. I think I see a butterfly orgy going on and they’ll definitely want you involved.”
“I don’t know. You were the first one to get some action.” She followed his lead, her little friends fluttering away. “A guy who smells as good as you obviously attracts attention.”
He stopped and brought her flush against him. “I could breathe you in all day, Honor. You’re like sunshine in a bottle and I can’t get enough of you.”
She touched her nose to his. “I’m kind of stuck on you, too.”
“I didn’t mean for this happen,” he admitted.
“I didn’t either.”
And then like some enchantment had been cast over them, butterflies by the bunch flew in circles around them. He and Honor kept perfectly still, eyes locked on one another, until the free flying creatures moved elsewhere and broke the spell.
“That was awesome,” she said.
Happy he’d been the guy to bring her awesome, Bryce grinned and took her hand. They explored further, discovering furry caterpillars, more spectacularly colorful species of butterflies, and plant life that blossomed the most unique flowers.
Once they’d walked the whole cobblestone path, they settled on a concrete bench. Honor sighed with pleasure and leaned against his side.
“I’ve only had one boyfriend,” she whispered. “A long time ago.”
Every time she shared another piece of herself Bryce wanted to pump his fists in the air. And foolish or not, he cared more deeply with each revelation. “How long ago?”
“High school.”
Bryce turned his head, but she kept her gaze forward. “What happened?”
“He wanted forever and I freaked out. I stood him up for his senior prom and the next day he…” She coughed into the bend of her arm before a swallow visibly made its way down her throat. “The next day he tried to kill himself.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Bryce wrapped her in his arms, cupping the back of her head with his hand. “I’m sorry he did that to you.”
“I did it to him,” she said, her face in the crux of his neck.
“No you didn’t. He did it to himself. To breakyou.”
He felt her blink against the skin above his shirt collar. “Lance did break me and you’re the first person to recognize it.”
Jesus. How had no one realized that? No one deserved retaliation like Honor had suffered. No wonder she didn’t want another relationship. She not only had doubts about herself, but about putting her certainty in another person.
Which made him the last guy she should be with. He was still waiting on Cooper’s decision. Still keeping a hold on his heart, not sure he had it in him to let someone in again. The man Honor learned to trust should be in it for the long haul.
Not someone who could do her wrong because he didn’t know what his priorities were anymore.
Chapter Eleven
Honor’s entire body quivered. Bryce messed with all her practiced habits big time—had from the very beginning. Maybe she could trust herself to be with someone again. Maybe, like her favorite movie touted, “people do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance anybody’s got for real happiness.”It felt right with Bryce.
That thought-bomb, though, needed some getting used to. She hopped to her feet. “I’m hungry. You hungry?”
