Glorious.

“Hey, the tree still looks good,” Isaac says when he notices it, sounding surprised.

“My mother makes my father change out the water every single day. She said you recommended fresh water,” I tell Isaac.

He glances over at me. “I did tell her that. I’m glad she’s taking such good care of it.”

I have the image of him taking good care of me in bed and my heart starts to thump heavily against my chest. “Look, I don’t normally do this sort of thing, but…”

“But what?” he asks when I don’t finish the sentence.

“You don’t mind following me to my apartment?”

Isaac nods. “If that’s what you still want.”

“I want,” I whisper, a thrill moving through me when he leans in and brushes his lips against mine.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for that kiss all evening. The moment our mouths connect, I want more. I slip my hand around his nape, keeping him there as I kiss him again. And again. He parts his lips, his tongue meeting mine, and the next thing I know, we’re wrapped around each other, full on making out in front of Lee’s Fine Jewelers.

Oh, if my parents saw me doing this, they’d flip!

We don’t come up for air for what feels like hours, but it can only be minutes. When he finally breaks the kiss first, he’s breathing hard. So am I. We stare at each other in wonder, our lips parted, my head spinning.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says, pushing me away from him gently. “Go get in your car.”

“Okay.” I lean in and kiss him quickly, making him groan when I pull away.

“Go. Seriously. I don’t want to fuck you in my truck,” he admits, and oh my God, his words are like an aphrodisiac.

And they’re like alarm bells that get me springing into action.

I slip out of his truck and practically run to my car, struggling to find my keys in the bottomless depths of my purse. Once my fingers curl around them I’m frantically hitting the unlock button, a sigh leaving me when I settle into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

Once I pull out onto the main road, I check my rearview mirror, sweet relief filling me.

He’s right behind me. He follows me all the way to my apartment.

I can barely contain my excitement.

We make it back to my apartment in record time. It helps that it’s later in the evening and the streets are mostly empty so we don’t have to contend with traffic. I wait for him once we’re in the parking lot, standing by the back of my car and feeling like a fidgety bundle of nerves. I haven’t brought a guy to my apartment since I first moved in here. I haven’t been with anyone else since my ex.

Tonight is a first in lots of ways. I’m trying to put no pressure on myself, but let’s be real. The pressure is on, even if it’s only self-inflicted. If Isaac and I end up doing…things, great. Fabulous. If not, that’s okay too.