After the Kiss

by Lauren Layne

  Hell, this man could crush her with a word.

  And then he began to read.

  For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing something I’ve done an awful lot of. I’ve fallen in love.

  Then I went and did something crazy. Something wonderful. I stayed in love. I stayed past the first kiss, the first inside joke, the first fight.

  But I did it all wrong. I played it like a game, and I broke someone’s heart.

  And broke my own in the process.

  Julie blinked against a new rush of tears. Writing the words had been hard enough. Hearing them from his mouth …

  “Don’t,” she said quietly. “Please.”

  But he read on as though he hadn’t heard her protest.

  Does it hurt like hell? Yes. Do I miss him more than anything? Yes.

  But would I go back and fall in love with this guy all over again, even knowing it would end badly?

  Absolutely.

  Because despite what I’ve been writing all these years, the best part of love isn’t about the giggles or the flirting or even the toe-curling first kiss.

  The best part comes after all that. It’s that realization that he knows you can’t cook but pretends to let you try. It’s hating baseball but watching it anyway because it makes him smile.

  Real love—the kind that matters—is giving your heart to someone even after he tries to hand it back.

  And it’s knowing that you’d give him your heart over and over again. If only he’d ask.

  Mitchell’s fingers flexed slightly around the pages as he broke off.

  They sat in strained silence for several moments, and Julie hardly dared to breathe.

  Hardly dared to hope.

  “Did you mean it?” he asked finally, his voice sounding gravelly, not at all like the smooth, confident Mitchell she’d come to know.

  “I meant it,” she said softly. “The only way it could have been more heartfelt is if they’d splattered my blood over the page.”

  “A lovely visual,” he said casually.

  She tried to roll her eyes at his lame attempt at humor, but instead she watched as her hand found his on the park bench. “Mitchell. Would you … do you … just … please, please tell me if I’ll get another chance.”

  “Another chance at what, Julie?”

  She forced herself to look him in the eye. “You. Us. A relationship with someone I care about.”

  His hand slowly reached out and he ran a thumb over her cheek. “Care about?”

  Julie closed her eyes briefly at his gentle touch, not daring to hope.

  He spoke again. “I fell in love with you here, you know. On this bench, watching you eat a hot dog like a starving animal.”

  Her eyes flew open, but he set two fingers over her lips, preventing her from speaking. “The way I spoke to you that day at Kelli’s house was unforgivable.”

  She lifted a shoulder. Well, yeah.

  His eyes dropped to her chin as though unable to look her in the eye. “I held on to my mad for so long, hating you. But I read your article and realized you were hurting too, and I couldn’t stop replaying the things I said, and I—I realized I never apologized. Never asked you to forgive me.”

  He leaned his forehead on hers and took a deep breath. “The truth is, Julie, I didn’t think about the bet when I was with you. I tried. I tried all the time, but when I was with you there was no room for anything but you. For the first time I wanted a relationship for the person and not the security.”

  “Mitchell—”

  “Not done. You can write about relationships all you want. Get as personal as you want. Your serial dating days are over, Ms. Greene. From here on out, anything related to your personal relationships better be about me.”

  She nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “Me too.”

  He tugged at her ponytail, forcing her face up to his. “You told me you loved me, and I threw it in your face.”

  She gave a small smile. “Well, yeah. You’re a jerk.”

  “Try me again.”

  Julie swallowed. Took a breath. Took a risk. “I love you.”

  His eyes went bright and fierce. “You’d better. Because I love you so damn much.”

  “Forever?” she asked.

  “Forever. Or at least until I decide I can’t live without box seats at Yankee Stadium.”

  “Ah, so Wall Street’s a funny guy now.”

  “You bet your ass. Now, how about you write about this?” His lips found hers just as she felt something cool and firm slip onto the fourth finger of her left hand.

  Julie felt the blood drain from her face. Or maybe it rushed to her face. Either way, her thoughts were scattering in every direction, and her heart felt lodged in her throat.

  “Mitchell—”

  “If you need time, take time. But don’t say no just yet,” he said quickly, urgently. “I know it’s soon, and I know it’s crazy.” He put a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up. “But it’s right, too,” he added softly. “Isn’t it?”

  She glanced up into his navy eyes, reading both the hope that she’d say yes and the panic that she’d say no.

  It was soon. And crazy …

  The thoughts racing through her head slowly came together to form one cohesive picture. Of her, and Mitchell … maybe a whole fleet of cross-country-running toddlers.

  She let herself try on the image for size. Hell, wasn’t that what she’d been doing over the past few weeks? Trying Mitchell on for size and realizing that he fit her perfectly?

  And knowing he always would?

  Julie smiled up at him, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “That’s a yes?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said softly, sliding her hand into his hair and pulling his head toward hers. “That’s a yes.”

  He kissed her under the setting sun, right there for the world to see, and Julie’s heart soared with the perfection of the moment.

  Now this was a story worth telling.

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thank-you to Nicole Resciniti, my fabulous agent, who insisted quite forcefully that I take this tiny seed of a story idea and write it immediately. You were right. You always are.

  Thanks to Sue Grimshaw, whose unwavering confidence I can only hope to live up to. To Lesley Parsons for catching all the awkwardness and incongruity that we authors unfailingly miss.

  And to all my friends and family, for the constant support and the occasional kick in the butt to go for it.

  Photo © Anthony LeDonne

  LAUREN LAYNE lives in Manhattan with her husband and their horribly behaved Pomeranian. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a BS in political science, which she has yet to put to official use. After dabbling in an e-commerce career in Seattle and Southern California, she happily adjusted to life as a full-time writer on the East Coast. When not writing, Lauren’s probably reading, wishing for a rainy day (it’s those Seattle roots), or inventing new reasons why wine is always better than a run in the park.

  THE EDITOR’S CORNER

  Welcome to Loveswept!

  I truly believe that one of the best things in life is spending long, leisurely days curled up with a book. Whether it’s a novel of erotic discovery and hidden desire like Stacey Kane’s scorching e-original CLAIMED, a sizzling small town romance like Elisabeth Barrett’s fourth e-original Star Harbor book, SLOW SUMMER BURN, or an electrifying story featuring hockey hunks like Toni Aleo’s contemporary e-original BLUE LINES … it’s a wonderful feeling to be transported to a new and exciting world … especially one filled with sexy heroes and vibrant heroines. Pick up these reads and lose yourself in romance and love.

  And for more wonderful reads, don’t miss:

  Sandra Chastain’s SURRENDER THE SHADOW – an enthralling classic of secrets and suspense; Katie Rose’s charming historical romance, COURTING TROUBLE – where an attorney and a determined suffragette butt hea
ds; Adrienne Staff and Sally Goldbaum’s CRESCENDO – a sparkling story about a princely society man and his everyday princess; Iris Johansen’s blazing YORK, THE RENEGADE – where passion takes a man and woman on a wild ride in a rough-and-tumble mining town; and Ruth Owen’s BODY HEAT – an alluring tale of love, betrayal and murder.

  If you love romance … then you’re ready to be Loveswept!

  Gina Wachtel

  Associate Publisher

  P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming soon: September arrives with more timeless stories for you – Three enticing stories from Sandra Chastain, THE JUDGE AND THE GYPSY, FIREBRAND, and THE LAST DANCE, beloved author Iris Johansen’s THE DELANEY’S OF KILLAROO, Fran Baker’s enchanting SEEING STARS, Julie Ortolon’s irresistible DRIVE ME WILD as well as three original stories: another fantastic installment from Ruthie Knox’s ROMAN HOLIDAY serialized novel, Lauren Layne’s seductive AFTER THE KISS, and Mira Lyn Kelly’s sexy and sweet TRUTH OR DARE. October has more e-originals in store: Maggie McGinnis’s brilliant THE ACCIDENTAL COWGIRL, Megan Frampton’s sweltering WHAT NOT TO BARE, and Katie Rose’s delightful MISTLETOE AND MAGIC, as well as some wonderful reissues: Connie Brockway’s dazzling stories, DANGEROUS MAN and MY DEAREST ENERMY, Ellen Fisher’s memorable THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, Ruth Owen’s riveting works, SMOOTH OPERATOR and SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, Iris Johansen’s delicious ACROSS THE RIVER OF YESTERDAY, and three breathtaking books from Sandra Chastain, THE MORNING AFTER, FOR LOVE OF LACEY, and GABRIEL’S OUTLAW. Don’t miss any of these extraordinary reads. I promise that you’ll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come.…

  Read on for excerpts from more Loveswept titles …

  Read on for an excerpt from Toni Aleo’s

  Trying to Score

  Prologue

  Fallon Parker had done it.

  Even with all the negativity from her parents and sister about leaving Nashville to go to school out west, she had done it. Fallon had completed her first year at Stanford University. Yeah, she had gained the dreaded freshmen fifteen, but it didn’t matter.

  She had done it.

  Without anyone’s help — not her parents, her sister, her friends — she had kept her 4.0 grade point average.

  On cloud nine, Fallon jumped into her Charger and drove down to San Jose to meet her friends. They were all going out to celebrate and she couldn’t be more excited about the fake ID in her purse. Fallon had been such a good girl her freshman year, but now she was a sophomore and she was gonna live this summer. Fallon was on a mission.

  Get drunk, find a guy, and hook up. Maybe not sex, but at least make out some. It was simple really, and Allison, her roommate, had said that the Trails Pub was the place to do all three.

  After parking her car beside Allison’s, Fallon headed inside.

  “ID please,” said a big black man standing as high as a giant who, according to his nametag, was Pinky. Fallon had no clue what was so pinky about him, but she had learned quickly that in California, ya kinda just go with it. Fallon smiled nervously as she opened her clutch and pulled out the ID she had made. “Thanks Amanda, have a nice night,” Pinky said with a grin as he handed her the ID.

  Fallon looked confused but then remembered her name was Amanda on the ID. “Why thank you so much, have a nice night yourself.”

  Pinky smiled again as Fallon made her way into the bar. She spotted Allison with Hannah and Kristin, the girls from the dorm room across the hall from hers, at a corner booth by the bar and she made her way to them with a big grin on her face.

  The Trails Pub was packed wall to wall with every type of person imaginable. As Fallon made her way toward her friends, she noticed guys glancing her way with appreciative looks on their faces. She smiled confidently, knowing the short jean skirt and dark red tank that matched her boots was a great combination for man-catching.

  “Damn Fal, looking good!” Allison said when Fallon reached their table. Hannah and Kristin smiled and waved as Fallon sat down. They weren’t used to sexy Fallon. The Fallon they knew walked around campus in sweats all of the time.

  That was freshmen Fallon, sophomore Fallon was sexy.

  “Thank you, thank you,” Fallon gushed as she looked around the bar.

  “A round of tequila, Teagan!”

  The bartender smiled over at the girls before very efficiently pouring four shots and handing the drinks to a waitress. As the waitress set each shot on the table, the girls picked them up, bringing the glasses to the middle for a toast.

  “Here’s to the first of four years done!” Allison exclaimed as all three girls joined in with her, clanking their glasses together and taking the shot quickly.

  It burned down Fallon’s throat. She wasn’t sure what the awful liquid was, but Lord it was disgusting. Fallon looked off to the side, seeing that there were some good looking men in the bar that night. Fallon was giddy with excitement at trying to pick one up — she was so used to keeping to herself over the past year and was ready to branch out.

  As Fallon’s eyes skimmed the bar, they met with a pair of smoking gray ones. Fallon blinked twice as her eyes were held hostage by his. He was gorgeous. Shaggy dark brown hair framed his face, and his nose was wide but fit his face perfectly. His lips were thin, she noticed as he brought his bottom lip in between his teeth. He had a very ‘boy next door’ kind of look to him but with an edge. A dangerous edge, Fallon decided as he slowly stood. He was tall with big arms, one covered in tribal tattoos, the other bare. His eyes never left hers as he went around the bar, away from the table of equally huge guys, to lean against the bar as he watched her.

  He was just staring at her like he didn’t care who noticed or if it was rude. It was as if he saw what he wanted and he was waiting to pounce. It was the craziest thing ever!

  “Jeez, that dude is staring at you hard Fal,” Hannah said.

  “Like really hard,” Kristin said.

  Fallon looked back at her friends, but only for a second before turning back to the dangerous guy at the bar. He was wearing a nice tailored suit and had left his jacket at the table. The shirt was a pale green that was rolled up to his elbow showing off his tattoos. The first couple buttons were open, and she could see that there was writing on his chest. She wondered what it said, and she wondered why his friends were wearing suits too.

  Who were these guys?

  “Go talk to him Fal!” Allison yelled, “He’s flipping hot!”

  He sure was.

  “I don’t know,” Fallon said nervously, as the thoughts from the ‘freshman Fallon’ intruded her mind. What if he was some guy with the mob or something? Hewas muscular and dark and sexy and … mmm …

  “Don’t be a wuss! Go!” Allison said, interrupting Fallon’s thoughts.

  Fallon looked back at the guy, and then looked at Allison. She nodded before slowly getting up and making her way towards him. As she sauntered towards him like a girl on a mission, his face broke into a grin so wide that she was blinded by his straight white teeth. He had dark hair dusting his chin. He looked rugged, lustful. Fallon didn’t say anything as she leaned against the bar, feeling him rake his eyes over her body before returning to her face.

  “What can I get for you sugar??” the bartender asked.

  “A beer, please,” Fallon said before a beer appeared in front of her.

  “Four bucks.”

  Fallon went to get cash out of her pocket when, out the corner of her eyes, she saw the guy shake his head and say, “Put it on my tab, Teagan.”

  “Yup,” Teagan said before going off to help another customer.

  Fallon looked up at the guy, a sexy smile on her face. “Thank you.”

  “Sure,” he said as he held his beer out to her. Fallon clanked her beer to his before taking a hefty sip. The cool liquid went down her throat and she wanted to gag.

  It was her first time drinking beer, and she decided that it too was disgusting.

  “Don’t like it?” he asked. Fallon shook her head.
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  “I usually only drink wine.”

  “No wine here, baby girl. Teagan, a Mule please.”

  “A Mule?” Fallon asked as the bartender nodded and went to work on her drink.

  “Yup, good stuff. Tequila, ginger ale and lime juice. Drink of champions.”

  “So I guess you’re not one since you’re drinking a beer?”

  They both looked down at the beer he held in his hand; he then chuckled before looking back up at her. “This is my warm up drink.”

  “Oh is that right?”

  “Sure is, try it,” he said as the bartender laid the drink in front of her. She picked it up and took a sip.

  It was fantastic. Fallon couldn’t even taste the tequila.

  “It’s good, no bite at all,” she said with a nod.

  “No bite now, but tomorrow, you’ll be singing a different tune if you have too many.”

  Fallon laughed as he chuckled along with her. “I’m Lucas, by the way.”

  Lucas held out his hand, and Fallon took it. He had huge hands, they swallowed hers and people said she had big hands. “Fallon.”

  “Fallon? Interesting.”

  “Thanks,” she said with a grin.

  “You live around here?”

  Fallon looked up and her eyes were drawn to his again. Before when she was across the bar, she couldn’t see how gray they were. Now that she was closer, she could see his eyes were like smoke or maybe a dark rain cloud. They were so captivating, hypnotic even.

  “I do. I’m a sophomore at Stanford,” she said, while still being dazed by his eyes.

  “Oh really, a smarty pants then?” he asked with a lazy smile.

  She giggled, “Something like that.”

  “Wait! If you are a sophomore, you’re what? You’re not 21.”

  Shit on a shingle.

  “Um, well,” Fallon sputtered as she looked towards Allison for help, but Allison was giggling and flirting with a guy who had come over to the table. When she looked back up at Lucas, he was leaned in close, a naughty grin on his lips.