Soon Leo was lost in her kisses, which were enthusiastic at first, and then deep and slow. He angled his mouth to kiss her more thoroughly, cradling her face in his hands.

His heart was pounding, steady and fast. And half of his head was pushing the panic button. He was feeling too much, allowing himself to cross a line that he never crossed. He pulled back a little. “Maybe we should talk about where this is going, because I want to be honest, I’m not sure—”

She interrupted him. “I’m okay with doing this just for fun,” she said a little breathlessly. “Because when our agreement is done, I’m moving. Whether I get into pastry school or not. I want to experience a different place. And I want to learn to bake. So maybe I’ll move to Chicago and get a job in a pastry shop.”

“Oh.” Just what he wanted to hear—which was also what he’d never expected to hear from her. But…she was moving? Definitely?

“I wanted to tell you something else,” she continued. “I owe you a thank-you. You helped me get back something really important that I’d lost for a long time.”

“What was that?” His mind was still stuck on I’m moving.

“Myself,” she whispered. “I was…I was stuck. You showed me what was possible. I mean, it seemed impossible, but we actually have a shot at this. And did I tell you my mom’s already gotten three new clients based on your dad’s connections?”

He shook his head. “Tessa, you would’ve done everything anyway. Just on a slightly different time schedule.” He believed that with all his heart. No one he knew worked harder or was more determined than she was.

“You gave me the courage to put my dreams front and center again,” she said with feeling. “I can’t even tell you the difference that’s made.”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t one-sided. You took a chance on me, on this wild scheme. You believed it was actually possible.” She’d believed in him.

She smiled. “Well, I really believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”

“Tessa, you’re a force. Anyone who can move my father—”

“He just has a soft spot for me. Because of the cannoli.”

He circled his hands around her waist. “So do I,” he whispered.

He bent his head to kiss her. Her lips met his, the contact soft and lush and electric. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he took in the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her, sweet and addictive.

The contact made him dizzy. Points of light danced behind his eyelids like the tiny lights that dotted the valley before them. What is she doing to me? He’d known a lot of women. He knew a lot about sex. But this…this felt…