Unfortunately, Kiera pushed me away. I was happy to see she was breathless when she did. “I’ve got to get back to work,” she said, biting her lip and studying my face. From her expression, it was clear she wanted to say fuck it just as much as I wanted her to say fuck it. But she was right, and she did need to get back to work. Sometimes, being responsible really sucked.

She started to pull away from me, but I grabbed her hand to keep her close by. The look she gave me was adoring, but adamant. “I’ve got to go, Kellan.”

Nodding at her, I said, “I know, I just wanted to tell you that we’ve got plans tomorrow.”

“Do we?” she said with a smile. “And what plans are those?”

Giving her a crooked grin, I said, “Bed shopping. I’m done with that futon. In fact, I might burn it when I come over tonight.”

Laughing, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t do that. Then we’d have nowhere to sleep.”

“And who said we were sleeping?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Her smile both amused and intrigued, Kiera rolled her eyes at me before she walked away. From behind me, Rita said, “I’ve got a bed I can sell you, Kellan.” The sultriness in her voice left no question to what she was really offering.

Turning to look at her, I tossed a smirk her way. “I’m sure you do, Rita.” Not that I would ever go there again.

The night went by slowly. I was too eager to test out my key, too eager to get Kiera a new bed in the morning, too eager to start moving forward. I ended up leaving Pete’s before Kiera’s shift was over—only because Anna was home, and Kiera had driven Denny’s old piece of shit Honda to work. If she hadn’t taken it, I would have stuck by her side until closing time. My girl didn’t have to scrounge for a ride, not unless I was out late playing a gig somewhere. Unfortunately, on those nights, she usually got off work before me. Not always though. Picking her up was a priority to me and the guys knew that.

After leaving Pete’s, I made my way to a 24-hour grocery store. Kiera needed flowers. She would say she didn’t, of course, but I disagreed. She did. Whatever it took to make her day a little brighter. I picked up some wine too. I didn’t usually drink the stuff, but…it felt romantic, and I wanted a little romance tonight.