Kash laughed. “Right. Boots.”

“Yup! So if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get those for her before she starts to worry. You know how she is.”

Another chuckle. “Sure. Don’t get lost in there. And tell Luke to be a gentleman, or I’ve got a shovel that wants to give him a little smooch.”

The loudest, most awkward cackle burst out of her. “Oh my God, whatever, Kash.”

I caught sight of her, the slanting light at her back and her face cast in shadow. And then the darkness swallowed her up.

My eyes had adjusted, and I could see her silhouette as she walked tentatively through the room and toward me, hands slightly out.

“Luke?” she whispered.

My relief was palpable. Because she’d come to me when I asked. She wanted to see me again, and I wanted to see her. Well, eventually—I wasn’t seeing much in the dark.

I snagged her hand and pulled, my smile widening at the little yelp of surprise that left her before she was in my arms.

And then our lips were too busy to make a sound.

She was stiff for a moment of hesitation, long enough to convince me she was going to push me away. But with a sigh, she melted into me like hot butter. Her arms wound around my neck, her lips parting to grant me all the access I wanted. She tasted like champagne, sweet and lush, her lips soft and pliant. But after a second, she broke away.

I smiled down at her, regardless of the fact that she couldn’t see me. “I’ve been thinking about that since you walked out the door last night.”

“Me too.” I could hear something else under the words. “But …”

“No buts. I want to see you again. I’d like to see all of you again. Do you want to see me?” I asked, my tone light and my chest aching.

“Might be kind of hard to see much of anything in here,” she hedged.

“Simple question, Tess. Do you want to see me again?”

A pause, heavy with her thoughts. “Yes, but—”

“I said no buts. Tonight. Meet me in the dahlias at ten.”

Another pause, this one laced with hope.

“Come on,” I coaxed, my desperation expertly masked. “For old times' sake.”

A little laugh. The weight of her hand on my chest sparked a flash of desire that didn’t want anything but a yes from her lips.

“All right,” she said. “For old times’ sake.”

And before she could change her mind, I kissed her to occupy those wayward lips of hers.

I was so preoccupied with those lips that I didn’t hear my dad until my tongue was deep enough in Tess’s throat to taste her toothpaste. We popped apart when he entered and flew apart like shrapnel when he flicked on the light.

On his face was a mild smile, and in his eye was a roguish gleam.

“Oh, hello,” he said genially, as if he hadn’t known we were back there.