Welcome to my world. John removed his hand from her thigh and leaned back to his side of the cab. “That settles it,” he said, unclipping his seatbelt. “We’re going to ignore this palpable lust and pretend to enjoy ourselves in a crowded restaurant.”

Her laughter came out in a snort. “Yes, okay.”

John got out and trotted around to her side as she opened her door. He took her by the hand and eased her down. They held hands while he closed her door, hesitant to release one another. He pulled her closer to his chest and dipped his head. “In the meantime, do you mind if I kiss you?” he asked.

Her face tilted upward. There was mischief in her eyes. “You’re so polite.”

“No harm in asking,” he murmured against her lips. Her eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks as her soft curves molded to the contours of his lean body. Their bodies, like their lips, fit one another perfectly, keeping a quiet, barely imperceptible rhythm that John felt with every heartbeat. Victoria’s tongue moved against his in a delicate dance and when she felt comfortable enough, she reached upward and rested her fingertips against his jaw. John liked her fingers there, he liked them anywhere on his person. At last, when he remembered they were on the street, he parted a few inches from her.

“That was nice,” she breathed as she opened her eyes.

The corner of John’s mouth quirked. “You almost sound shy about it.”

Victoria gave a tiny shrug. “I’m not used to this kind of public attention,” she said, lowering her voice to a near-whisper.

He leaned closer. “I think I’ve already proven that I’m happy to give you any kind of attention you need.”

She gave a tiny nod.

“And that I’ll drop whatever I’m doing to give it to you.”

Heat flared in her cheeks as she gave another nod. “Yes, you’ve proven that,” she said with a grin.

“Ms. Reese?” said a man’s voice from behind them. John straightened up and turned around to see an older gentleman wearing a tweed jacket and ratty scarf. His white hair flew in different directions as his gray eyes narrowed on them both. Victoria’s body stiffen against his and her hand pulled away from his grasp.

“Kenneth,” she said in a tight voice. “Hello.”

“Catching a bit of lunch?” he asked, peering from her to John. He let his gaze wander up and down before returning to Victoria.

“My...associate and I were taking a break from work,” she said in a hurried voice.

The man extended his hand towards John. “Your associate?”

John was confused as well. I couldn’t even get “friend” status? “The name’s John Donovan,” he said, taking Kenneth’s gloved hand. “Head of the Children’s Department at the Farmingdale Public Library.”