Blame it on the Kiss

by Robin Bielman

“Are you sure Honor will still want you?”

  “Have I told you what a pain in the ass you are?”

  “Numerous times.”

  “You really need to get your own love life so you stay out of mine.”

  “You’ve no idea.” Danny’s shoulders slumped.

  Bryce narrowed his eyes at his friend. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Danny quickly masked whatever it was Bryce had seen. “You heading to White Strand?”

  “The thought crossed my mind.” Honor might have technically walked out on him, but he’d been the one to let her go without telling her what she meant to him first.

  “Go big or go home.”

  Bryce scratched under his chin. How many times had he said that? How many times had he heard it? “Thanks for the reminder.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Danny stood. “Any other problems I can solve for you this afternoon?”

  “I’m good.”

  Danny gave a salute and left. Bryce laced his fingers behind his head and stared at the signed hockey stick leaning against the corner of the wall. His gaze shifted to other signed memorabilia on the bookshelf.

  On his desk sat a framed note from his sister. She’d given it to him after his bike accident. Used colored pencils to spell out his name vertically, then attached a nice word to each letter.

  Words alone didn’t always go the distance. But words combined with action could do some serious damage. And he needed to do something serious to convince Honor to give them a chance. He jumped to his feet.

  “I need your help,” he said, barging into Danny’s office. Bryce staggered for a second, seeing boxes packed up.

  “You okay?” Danny stood from behind his nearly bare desk.

  “Yeah.” He let out the breath he’d been holding since the day Danny told him about his new plans. “I’m just going to miss you around here.”

  Danny grinned. “Aww.”

  “Shut up.”

  “So, what kind of help?” Danny eased back into his chair.

  Bryce launched into what he envisioned, watching Danny nod in agreement. They made a plan and on his way out of the office Bryce called Zane and Sophie. To make this work, he needed them, too.

  And a small town named White Strand Cove.

  …

  “Could you slow it down to a human pace, please?” Honor said, trying to keep up with her brother. When she’d agreed to go grab coffee and a fritter with him she hadn’t realized she’d signed up for a speed walk, too.

  “You really need to get back to exercising,” Coop said, not slowing down in the least.

  “I’ll have you know I went running last weekend.”

  “Really?”

  “And I walk all the time. But jeez, what’s the rush this morning?” The sun shone, birds sang, flowers bloomed. Spring had sprung and she wanted to enjoy it.

  Those seemed to be the magic words because he lagged enough for her to join his side. “Sorry. I’m just hungry,” he said.

  She bumped his elbow with hers. “You’re always hungry.”

  They turned the corner onto Main and Honor sighed as the smell of baked goodness and coffee hit her nose. “Where is everyone this morning?” she asked, not really expecting Coop to give her an answer. It was just awfully quiet for a Friday morning. Usually the line for fritters busted out the door.

  Weirder still, when they pushed open the door to the Beach Café not a single person stood inside. That had never happened in Honor’s entire existence. If Rachel hadn’t smiled from behind the counter, Honor would’ve thought she’d entered some alternate universe.

  “Morning!” Rachel said, a little too perky.

  Then Coop ran back outside like someone had yelled “fire.” What the heck was going on? The way the hair on the back of her neck stood up, she was about to get punked or enter the Twilight Zone.

  What she didn’t expect was to hear Bryce’s voice from somewhere behind the counter. In the kitchen maybe?

  Her pulse hammered. She’d thought to reach out to him this weekend and here he was, like her wish had been granted.

  “Have a seat,” Rachel said. “There.” She nodded to Honor’s right.

  That’s when Honor noticed a computer sat on one of the round tables. She walked over and took the chair in front of it.

  “Don’t move,” Rachel said before disappearing into the back.

  Not a problem, since she’d decided to stay glued to her seat until someone told her what to do. Because all of a sudden it seemed vitally important she not make one wrong move.

  Bryce.

  Was here.

  Why?

  “There’s a song from the Beatles,” he said, coming out from behind the register.

  Honor blinked several times and swallowed. She’d dreamed about seeing him over and over again, but coming face to face with him for real was a gazillion times better.

  “The first verse is, ‘Say the word and you’ll be free.’”

  She didn’t know the song and still goose bumps popped up on her arms. Their eyes met and she gave silent thanks she had a chair underneath her because the sight of him made her weak in the knees. His hair was neat and tidy and she wanted to mess it up with her fingers. His blue button down shirt—the exact same color he’d worn the first night they’d met—was pressed and she wanted to wrinkle it. The top buttons were open and her pulse raced at the peek of smooth skin. But what really accelerated her heart was a glimpse of ink on his chest. Over his heart maybe? That killed her almost as much as the sexy cleft in his chin.

  “Hi,” he said, standing on the other side of the table, behind the computer.

  “Hi,” she said back.

  “There’s a second and third verse and then the fourth verse goes, ‘Have you heard the word is love?’”

  The love she had inside her for Bryce, it hadn’t stopped. It wouldn’t leave. She’d tried. And failed.

  “Today I’m here to tell you, and show you, how much I love you, Honor Mitchell.” He flashed that sexy smile of his, his eyes twinkled with admiration and affection, and she gripped the edge of her chair to keep from sliding off. He loved her!

  “I love your hallux.”

  She burst out a laugh. He couldn’t have started with a better word or better reminder of how much they just clicked.

  He loved her big toe.

  “Press enter on the keyboard, Honor.”

  Blinking back tears of joy, she did as he asked. The dark screen blinked to life and revealed a frozen image of the park in Town Square with… she looked a little closer… people holding some type of block.

  “Hit play,” he said.

  Her breath caught as she watched Sophie, Zane, Coop, Danny, Jules and Dylan line up side-by-side on the monitor. They each held a large pale wooden block with a black letter painted on the front to spell out the word hallux. The blocks looked like Scrabble pieces with small numbers in the bottom right corner denoting point value.

  “I love your smile,” Bryce said next.

  Sophie and the hallux gang put their blocks down on the grass and dispersed just as Midge and the Street Team, along with Mr. Case, hurried onto the screen with letters in their hands to spell out s-m-i-l-e.

  “I love that you care more about others than you do yourself.”

  Honor continued to watch the video in awe as an overhead camera angle showed Midge’s group put the letters down on the ground vertically, using the second “l” in hallux. Mr. Case took his “l” and hurried away as the mayor and his wife and others she’d known her whole life spelled out s-e-l-f-l-e-s-s.

  Oh my god. Bryce was playing Scrabble, right there in the middle of town to show her what he loved about her. Tears pricked the back of her eyes again. Her whole body shook.

  “I love your mind and your spirit and your laugh.”

  Using the “s” in smile, the blocks spelling selfless were laid on the ground just as a new group showed her l-a-u-g-h.

  Honor covered her mouth with
her hand. Some major filmmaking, not to mention coordination had taken place to bring her this piece of magic.

  “And I really love the way you osculate.”

  “In English please!” someone shouted on screen and she marveled that Bryce had timed his speech so perfectly with the video. He must have practiced.

  “Kiss,” Honor muttered, her eyes lifting to lock on Bryce’s. She wanted to kiss his whole face. Hide the two of them away in her house and kiss him until next week.

  The osculate group put their letters down and then the video cut to an overhead shot again. Honor stared at the screen, the words on the grass linking to form the most beautiful Scrabble puzzle she’d ever seen. Her heart leaped into her throat.

  “I love you,” Bryce said.

  She looked back up to find he held his own block letter—U. His eyes sparkled with mischief and passion as he stepped around the table and took her hand to lead her outside. Then he slid the lid off the block and a bunch of colorful butterflies fluttered free. Her mouth fell open, she sighed in more happiness than she thought possible.

  “Let me love you, Honor. Fly with me for the rest of our lives.” He put the block down and took her in his arms. She could barely breathe, so overwhelmed by what he’d done.

  “I love you,” he repeated. “I know you’re scared, but you’re it for me. The love of my life.”

  “What about Cooper?” she asked.

  “Cooper is fine with it!” Her brother shouted from a few yards away. In fact, the entire town had come out from hiding, huge grins on their faces. Uncle Tuck, Sophie, Dylan, the Street Team, Tango…

  Bryce took her hand and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “I’m asking for a chance. Stay with me and we’ll figure things out. No pressure.” One side of his sexy mouth lifted. “At least not yet.”

  He wanted her and Lord knew she wanted him. “I do want to try. With you. Only you.” Her life was better with him in it. So much better.

  “Yeah?”

  She cupped his cheek with her free hand. “I love you, too.” She’d never said that to anyone before and feeling the euphoria inside her chest, she knew it was because she’d been waiting for him. “And was going to find you and tell you that this weekend.”

  “Well?” Uncle Tuck shouted. “What’s the verdict?”

  Bryce brought her closer and kissed her. Hard. Hoots and hollers rang out as his tongue pushed inside her mouth and he kissed her like they didn’t have an audience. She didn’t care. Too lost in the incredible sensation of having this man devour her and claim her as his.

  “Thanks for coming to get me,” she said breathlessly when they needed to come up for air. “I was secretly hoping somehow, some way, you would beat me to it.”

  “Always.” He touched his forehead to hers.

  He lifted away and family and friends zeroed in on them with hugs and pats on the back and words of praise for Bryce. Shirley told him he was better than the heroes in her romance novels.

  Honor grabbed his hand and pulled him around the corner for some privacy. “I forgot to say thank you for that incredible video. It was amazing.”

  “You’re amazing.” He pushed her up against the side of the building and trapped her between his arms, his hands flat on the wall on either side of her head.

  “I’ll probably make a few mistakes.” More like dozens, but he already knew that, right?

  “Then I’ll be there to catch you. And you’ll be there to catch me.”

  “I will. Promise.”

  He lowered his head and kissed her neck, her collarbone. Her insides went all gooey. “Think anyone would notice if we got out of here?”

  “Why Miss Mitchell, do you want me all to yourself?”

  “Yes, I really do.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Six weeks later…

  Honor stood at her dresser mirror to put on the yellow diamond earrings Bryce had just given her. “They’re beautiful,” she said, eyeing their sparkle.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. “Because of the person wearing them.” His hands slid down the sides of her legs and under her dress.

  “Bryce,” she said in warning.

  “Yes?”

  “We need to get going. I can’t be late to my own opening.” She’d done it. Finished all the preparations for Driftwood and tonight she’d invited everyone to help celebrate. Pride had been building steam inside her all day and she owed so much of that to Bryce. He’d helped her believe she could do it.

  He pushed her in the right direction when she needed it, supported and listened to all her ideas, no matter how out there, and encouraged her to be the best version of herself. Her. Self. Not anyone else.

  Following through on the business she and Payton had dreamed about meant more than words could say. More confident than ever, more committed than ever, her fears had all but disappeared. Tonight was only the beginning. And she knew without a doubt, Payton would be there with her in spirit. She twirled the infinity bracelets on her wrist.

  “I’m thinking under five minutes, beautiful.” He pressed his warm lips to her temple as his very skillful fingers marched up to her panties. Her skin sizzled. It took him all of three seconds to get her hot and bothered. If she were honest, she’d gotten turned on watching him dress. The way he buttoned a shirt? Zipped and buttoned his pants? It was like foreplay in reverse and she’d wanted to strip his clothes off him.

  The tattoo over his heart didn’t hurt either. Honor, it said.

  “This is just mean.” The best kind of mean. Keep going.

  Their eyes met in the mirror. He cocked an eyebrow.

  “You know I can’t”—he grazed his thumb over her aroused center—“say no to you when you touch me like this.”

  “Want me to stop?” He dropped a kiss right by her earlobe.

  “Don’t you dare.”

  He smiled. “I do believe there’s one spot left to christen.” Really? She thought they’d christened the entire house since Coop moved out and Bryce moved in.

  “Where’s that?”

  “Right here. Put your hands on the dresser, Ms. Mitchell.” She did and he did the rest, sliding her panties down her legs, freeing himself from his dress pants, and lifting her dress to her waist. She heard the rustle of a condom and then he was at her opening. “Look in the mirror,” he whispered.

  His heated gaze met hers and with one smooth thrust he was inside her. Filling her. Loving her. He brushed her hair over one shoulder and rocked against her with a slow, steady pace. She gripped the edge of the dresser. They didn’t once look away from each other. His hands roamed over her breasts, her stomach, the curls between her legs.

  All his devastating kisses, his supportive words, the way he loved her body and her thoughts…She wasn’t the same person she’d been a few months ago. He’d confessed he wasn’t either, told her she was the something else to make his life worthwhile.

  “You feel so damn good. But I promised to be quick,” he murmured.

  “Mmmm,” was all she managed to get out. A whimper followed. With each stroke she grew more restless, her arousal more intense.

  With his left hand he cupped her breast, rubbed his thumb over her nipple. With his right, he found the bundle of nerves just above where they were joined.

  “I love you,” he said.

  Her body on fire from those three little words and his touch, she hit the point of no return and moaned his name as she came. He pressed his hips more firmly against her and followed right behind.

  A sigh escaped him as he kissed her cheek. She turned her head and kissed him more fully. With one last taste of his lips, she pulled away. “Love you, too.”

  “It’s time to go?” he asked. His tone suggested he wished they didn’t have to, but she knew he was as excited about her store opening as she was.

  She turned and tapped her nose to his. “Yes.”

  They righted themselv
es and hurried out the door. On the short drive into town he held her hand and told her how proud he was of her. She hoped by the time they got to the store, no one would notice her blush. Bryce’s words from a few days ago flitted through her mind for the hundredth time.

  I don’t want or need a fence. I want to live free, he’d told her. With you.

  For always.

  She’d finally found where she belonged.

  With him.

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  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my amazing husband for supporting me, encouraging me, and always making me feel like I matter more than anything else. I love you.

  Thank you to my awesome editors Wendy Chen and Stacy Abrams. You guys are the best and I am so grateful to you for your tireless input and guidance. Especially when it comes to help with the “C” word. Wendy, you’re also the rock on which I rely, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your always kind words, support, and friendship.

  Thank you to Debbie Suzuki, Tara Quigley, Alycia Tornetta, Jessica Cantor, and the entire Entangled team. You guys are fantastic and I’m so lucky to have you.

  Thank you to Roxanne Snopek, for her tattoo expertise. Thank you to Cole McCade and all my FB friends who suggested a name for Honor and Payton’s antique store. Thanks to everyone who chimed in and offered fun phrases. I can’t get sha-to-the-zam out of my head!

  And last, but not least, thank you to my readers. This is my tenth book. Ten! Which is crazypants. And all kinds of crazy good. And it wouldn’t mean nearly as much as it does without you guys. Thank you so much for reading my books.

  About the Author

  When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman can almost always be found with her nose in a book. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun and inspiration. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts all of her story ideas. She is a 2014 RITA Finalist, loves to frequent coffee shops, and plays a mean game of sock tug of war with her crazy-cute dog, Harry. She cherishes her family and friends and loves to connect with readers. Get the scoop on Robin, her books, and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com