“It was justified. His girlfriend wasn’t his soul mate.”

My cheeks flame but with the broken streetlamp and the burnt-out bulb behind me, I’m pretty sure he can’t tell. I smile. I mean, how can I not when he’s speaking about destiny? Lifting on my toes, I close my eyes and kiss him under the stars.

When our lips part, and my heels hit the pavement again, I will my knees not to go weak from the presence of this man. I ask, “What’s the plan?”

“You kiss me like that again, and we’ll stay in for the night.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

He shrugs. “Good or bad, life is what we make it.”

We walk to the car, and I ask, “Did you watch the movie for me?”

Opening the door, he says, “Yes. I’m taking a crash course in the study of main characters.” After I get in the car, he shuts the door, but when he slides into the driver’s seat, he adds. “I want to perform my role to the fullest.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

He leans over the console. I run the tips of my fingers over the day’s scruff shadowing his cheek, and whisper, “To me, you’re already an Academy Award winner for making me feel so special.”

“You are special. I’ve never met anyone like you, Lark.” He puts a finger on my lips. “And because I know you were about to ask, that’s a good thing.”

His lips replace the finger, and we kiss until the windshield starts to fog up.

I’ve never had the luxury of being someone special. Believe me, I’m not the girl to think poorly of myself. I was raised to know my worth, and I know I’m attractive, but I’ve also never been the girl who outshines all the others.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere as long as it’s with you.”

God, he makes it so tempting to stay home and invite him in, which is so unlike me. Amanda calls me sweet and innocent, but I can be wild and spontaneous. And tonight, Harbor is making me second-guess my inhibitions. The jaw that ticks when he’s in thought, the brown eyes that anchor trust in the centers like a haven, and that muscular build of his have me feeling the opposite of sweet or innocent.

And I haven’t even had a drink yet.

What about him has me ready to trade my V card for more experience?

It might be these soft seats and the fancy car. Although I’m not usually superficial like that, I’m impressed. But it will take a lot more than a Maserati to get me into bed. I glance over at him, and that smirk, the perfection of his face, and those eyes looking at me like I’m something he wants to devour have me feeling this way.

He’s no boy and not a guy.

Harbor Westcott is all man.

Oh my, oh my, I don’t stand a chance. “You’ll do anything I want to do? That’s very amenable of you.”