Better Than Chocolate (Sweet Somethings Book 1)

by Rowan, J. Lynn

  At the news, my stomach flips and my heart races. “And why would you do all that?”

  “Because I’m done avoiding this. I tried to move on. To live my life without you. And you know what? It sucked. And according to Sadie, you’re kind of playing a part, too, because your life sucks a little without me.”

  “I never said anything to her about―”

  “She extrapolated.”

  I pull in a breath as his hands frame my face. The touch, so familiar and yet so new, draws a rush of heat to my cheeks.

  “Would it make you feel a little better to know the job offer came first? But everything seemed to fall into place after that. I figured it was a sign of some kind of Divine Intervention, if you believe in that stuff.”

  I can hardly focus on what he’s saying for the hammering of my heart. “It makes me feel a little better, yeah.”

  He smiles, steps just a little closer. “And I thought maybe I screwed up the last time, jumped the gun on telling you how I felt.” His fingers brush through my hair. “How I feel. Because no matter how hard I tried to stop, I feel the same as ever.”

  “The same as ever,” I echo. My arms, which had been limp at my sides, rise to snake around his neck.

  “Then I got this idea,” he continued, “if you still feel the same, and now you’ve had some time to think and do whatever else you needed to do, maybe this is it, the right moment. And as long as you aren’t lost in a sea of fellowships and chocolate custards, we finally might be in the right place at the right time.”

  I am lost, but it’s in his eyes. They’re all I see, and all I feel is his arms around me. The satisfaction of it is better than any cupcake, custard, or chocolate cream pie I’ve ever made or eaten.

  Only one thing would be better than all of it combined.

  He bows his head, lowers his voice. “So I thought―”

  “Ryan?”

  His brows lift.

  “You’ve been doing way too much thinking. I think you should kiss me.”

  His lips stretch, half a smirk. “Anything you want, Carmel-cakes. As long as I get to keep kissing you, whenever and wherever I want.”