The Accidental Kiss

by Heatherly Bell

  “Charley,” Sean said. “Forgot to tell you. I’ve recommended you for the job in Paris, so you should make your plans soon.”

  Charley froze, afraid to move. She could feel Dylan’s entire body tense, and his hand was suddenly so still she half wondered if he still had a heartbeat.

  Charley glared at Sean. “I didn’t tell you that I wanted that job.”

  “Yes, you did. And it’s Paris. How could you not? Every chef has to visit Paris at least once.”

  “You couldn’t keep me away from Paris if I had half the chance,” Jenny said, adding a shoulder shimmy. “Lucky you, Charley.”

  “Tell me about it. Charley and I used to lay awake at night in bed, dreaming of going to all the places Julia Child lived and worked.”

  And there it was. Sean’s classy way of letting everyone within earshot know that he’d been with Charley. That she’d been with him. Not her proudest moment. Then, or now.

  Jenny glared at Charley. “Seriously? I didn’t know that.”

  “Charley and I dated for a while.” He turned to Dylan, giving him a nod. “I’m sure you knew that.”

  Charley wanted a snappy comeback because it was in her, somewhere, and she’d probably come up with the perfect zinger while lying in bed tonight. But for now, she had nothing.

  Dylan led her out of the ice cream shop and they left without another word.

  25

  “It’s not the pregnancy hormones. I’ve never liked you.” ~ Maternity T-shirt

  Good thing Dylan had a decent walk ahead of him up a hill in the brisk evening. He needed to run some of his stress and anger off, but the walk would have to do. Charley managed to keep up with his long strides, clutching his hand, her palm sweaty. He probably looked the picture of a jealous man and he wasn’t thrilled to hear about her and Sean. But the biggest problem for him was knowing that she’d been with the guy who used to make her feel like she was nothing. He’d have put a stop to that if she’d been in the city, but he couldn’t very well protect her when she was far away from him.

  “Let me explain.” She began to sound a little out of breath as she half walked, half jogged to keep up with his long strides. “Dylan.”

  Anger, hurt and frustration pulsed through his veins. “Not now.”

  Inside her apartment, she stood on her tiptoes, putting a hand on each of his shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Sean.” Her eyes were watery.

  “I didn’t think you were a virgin, but seriously…Sean? You hated that guy. You had me hate him.”

  “I know.” She covered her face with both hands, then lowered them. “I was lonely away from home. He wasn’t always mean to me. And…I think maybe he was all I thought I deserved.”

  “Damn it, Chuck.” He pulled her to him, till her head was flush against his chest. “I hate that you ever felt that way.”

  “That’s because you’re Dylan.”

  “No, it’s because I know what you deserve. And apparently it’s a lot more than you believe.” Maybe now he could face some other truths. “I’m afraid I kept you away from all those other dudes who were never good enough in my eyes simply because…they weren’t me.”

  She stared up at him. “You mean…you wanted me even then?”

  “I never let myself want you. You would think I’d be used to people coming and going in my life. Just never thought it would be you, even as much as you talked about Paris and Julia Child. The first time you left slayed me.”

  “Dylan, if I’d only known—”

  “Sean was right about one thing. Paris is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I want to believe that.”

  “Then do. This thing between us? It means more to me than anything. Even…even food.”

  “C’mere.” He hauled her into his arms holding on tight, fooling himself that he could always keep her close. There were warm tears against his neck. “We’re done arguing about this.”

  “Oh, good. Because I actually really hate arguing with you.” She licked his neck and sent a bolt of electricity straight to his groin. “But since this is confession night, I have something to confess. Something else that you don’t know because I’ve never told you. And as long as we’re talking about awkward stuff you didn’t know…”

  “Tell me.”

  She held up her index finger. “But first.”

  “Seriously?”

  She sashayed to the kitchen and brought him back a cold beer. “For you.”

  “Trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?” He winked.

  “Ha ha.” She led him to the couch and they both sat. “Now, I tell you.”

  “Whose DNA did you have processed?”

  “Oh, no! It’s not that. I told you I stopped, and I meant it.” She took a breath. “This is something about us. You and me.”

  He took a gulp of the cold beer, letting the cool liquid slide down his throat. “Something I don’t know about?”

  She nodded. “You know that I care about you and I would never do anything to trick you, or hurt you, or in any way take advantage of you?”

  Jesus. “What did you do?”

  “Remember last year? When you fell asleep watching Scarface and I got irritated and left you that note?”

  A night he wouldn’t ever forget, since the next morning he’d woken with the strange dream. “Yeah, of course. Still haven’t seen Letters from Juliet. By the way, thank you for that.”

  “You’re welcome.” She took a deep breath. “That night, I kissed you without your permission. You were asleep, and you looked so tired. I felt so bad about how hard you’d been working. I was leaving in a couple of weeks and already missing you. I just got carried away.”

  “That’s it? That’s what you’ve been wanting to tell me?” Waves of pure relief flooded him.

  She’d kissed him. That might explain why somehow subconsciously his brain had turned to thoughts of the two of them together. Because she’d made the first move and he’d reacted even in his sleep. He was still surprised a kiss hadn’t woken him up but at the time he’d been working long hours on little sleep. Then again, in another way the kiss certainly had woken him up.

  “That’s not all.”

  He stood. “Wait. What else could have done that didn’t wake me up? I’m not that heavy of a sleeper.”

  She went flush pink. “No, no. It’s not that. It’s just that…when I went into the kitchen, I looked out the window and saw the…the sunset.”

  “And?”

  She popped up out of her seat, joining him. “Dylan! The sunset kiss. I kissed you at sunset, which wasn’t fair to do without asking you. But I swear it was an accident!”

  “An accidental kiss?”

  “Well, no. The kiss wasn’t an accident. I meant that. But the sunset part…that wasn’t planned. It just happened. I swear.” She held up her palm.

  The thought was interesting if nothing else. Intriguing to think that a myth had anything to do with his feelings for her when he understood that sunset or not, that kiss did change everything. Because he remembered. It hadn’t been a dream at all.

  “I’m glad you kissed me.”

  “You’re not mad about the sunset?”

  “The important part was that the kiss wasn’t an accident.” He hesitated. “And did you say anything to me after you kissed me?”

  She hesitated. “No.”

  Interesting. That part, the “I love you” must have been added by his creative imagination. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “What?”

  “You actually kissed me first.” He grinned, feeling a little smug about this now.

  “But mine didn’t really count.”

  “Oh, it counts.”

  “How? You didn’t even know until just now.”

  “Still counts. I’m counting it.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.

  “I guess we could table this argument for anot
her time,” she said, her eyes brightening.

  He dumped her on the made bed and pulled off his shirt with one arm while with the other he started on his belt.

  She stared at him, already removing her top and unzipping her jeans. “I love when you do that.”

  “Take my shirt off?” He grinned, unbuckling his belt.

  “With one hand. Damn, it’s so sexy. Do guys practice that when they’re alone?” She tossed her bra and panties to the side, this time a shiny black set.

  She was quite sexy herself, lying on the bed completely naked. Waiting for him. He had to stop and study her for a minute, simply enjoying her curves and creamy skin. She drove him out of his ever-loving mind, but it was her incredible heart that slayed him. A heart for her sister, such that she’d risk losing Milly so that she wouldn’t have to be alone. A heart for him and his family. For their neighborhood.

  The same heart that he’d always wanted to protect.

  26

  “Food is memories.” ~ Kitchen magnet

  The next morning Charley’s internal clock woke her at four o’clock before her cellphone alarm. It was official. She’d become accustomed to baker’s hours. But she’d never get used to waking up next to Dylan, lying naked next to her. His muscular arm slung possessively across her even in his sleep. His breaths slow and even. She took a moment just to enjoy the view. To let her fingers glide down the arm curled over her waist. To brush her hand slowly down his chest to his rock-hard abs.

  He was so gorgeous, his tanned skin such a contrast to hers. His dark hair was tousled with an adorable morning look, and he had sexy bristle dusting his chin and jaw.

  She managed to slide out from under Dylan’s arm carefully so as not to wake him. If she planned this right, she’d be back here before he even woke up and leave the morning rush to Naomi. She’d bring coffee for Dylan and his favorite scone for when he woke up.

  Checking in on Milly, who for once was sleeping, she fed Rufus and then headed downstairs. Naomi had already let herself in and started mixing in the giant industrial mixer.

  “I got here early and started the coffee and the mixing.”

  “You’re a lifesaver.” Charley went for a cup of the magic beans. “I was up so late last night that I’m surprised I didn’t sleep through my alarm.”

  “No problem. I—” Naomi stopped talking.

  Charley turned to see the number one reason she’d been up so late. He must have gotten up seconds after she’d left him. His hair was wet from a shower, and he was dressed in yesterday’s clothes.

  “Hey,” Charley said. “I was going to bring you coffee.”

  “I’ll take it to go. Joe and I are going to meet for lunch and I need to head home for a change of clothes.” He smiled at Naomi. “Hey.”

  “Hi, D-Dylan,” Naomi said, still wide-eyed, jaw slackened.

  Charley filled a Styrofoam cup, came out from behind the counter, and handed it to him.

  He took the cup and tugged her in for a quick and tender kiss. Charley thought he was being sweet in front of teenage Naomi, all up until the moment he cupped and squeezed her bottom.

  “I was going to come back up in a few minutes and make it worth your while,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Raincheck.”

  “Okay,” she said, reluctantly letting him go. “Stay safe.”

  “See you soon.” He slid her his tipped grin and was out the door.

  “Wow.” Naomi stared after him. “You and Dylan Reyes?”

  Rather than join Naomi in the “let’s see who can stare at Dylan’s ass the longest contest,” Charley decided to be the grown-up in the room. She got busy in the back by the large mixer and warming ovens, Naomi at her elbow waiting for Charley to give her the clean and wholesome version of last night. Problem being, there wasn’t one.

  “Yes, we’re seeing each other.”

  “But I thought he was engaged to a seventy-year-old woman!”

  Seriously, no one could keep their fake facts straight around here. Charley cleared her throat. “Ugly rumor.”

  “Tell me all about you two. And not just the PG version. Let me at least have the PG-13.”

  “See, we’ve known each other for a long time. He’s a good guy, not just drop-dead handsome, because that’s important. And we’re both grown-ups. I feel safe with him. Do you know what I mean?”

  Naomi gave a horrified look. “Omigod, you’re not going to lecture me about safe sex, are you?”

  She was going to do just that, in fact, but now Naomi had her second-guessing. “Do you want me to lecture you about safe sex?”

  She covered her ears. “No!”

  “Okay, then. All you have to do is say so.” She moved to the giant bags of flour. “Glad we cleared that up.”

  “Actually,” Naomi said. “If you’re in the mood for advice, I kind of have this good friend of mine. A boy. He’s really hot.”

  “Just say no,” Charley said and then caught herself. She sounded way too much like Coral Monroe for her liking.

  Oh, crap. It was much easier to avoid talking to a teenaged girl about complicated things like love. And sex. For the first time in her life, Charley felt actual sympathy for Coral. She’d raised two teenage girls, both of them boy crazy, with one of them who didn’t follow anyone’s rules.

  “I mean,” Charley quickly corrected herself, “so, you have this friend. And…?”

  “Here’s the thing. I mean, I really think I want to kiss him.”

  “And the problem is?”

  “He’s my friend. I mean, he doesn’t see me that way.” At this, her shoulders drooped in misery.

  How many times had this scenario played itself across the halls of high schools all over the country? The world? What she did know was that not all boys or men were Dylan Reyes. Not all boys would refrain from taking full advantage of the situation. The proximity. Hence the term friends with benefits, which she understood went both ways. But Charley was grateful that Dylan hadn’t ever made a move when they were younger because timing was everything. She didn’t think that teenage Charley would have been a good match for Dylan for anything more than friendship.

  Of course, the jury was still out on whether she was a good match as a full-grown adult, either. She had to admit, though, she now had a pound of hope. And a stick of butter.

  “How good of a friend?”

  “Pretty good. I mean, he’s in my tight circle of friends.”

  “Would you say he has your back whenever you’re in trouble?”

  “I don’t get in trouble.”

  “Right.” Charley took a different approach. “What’s his family like?”

  “Dude, I’m not going to marry the guy! I just want to go out with him.”

  “I know. You’re far too young to think about getting married. I’m too young to think about it.”

  Naomi squinted. “You are?”

  Charley scoffed. “Never mind, Naomi!”

  “Well? What should I do?”

  “Just tell him how you feel and see what happens. You could be surprised.”

  As the morning customers came and went, Charley came to terms with the obvious fact that she, Charlotte Rose Young, was plenty old enough to get married and maybe even old enough to…gulp…have kids. The thought made her grip the edge of the counter. But Dylan wasn’t…he didn’t seem ready to…okay, deep breaths. In and out. In and out. She was getting way ahead of herself. No need to worry. They were new, still trying this thing out which so far was going wonderfully.

  Because if she’d been afraid for Milly to raise a child, Charley was simply terrified of the idea. What kind of a mother would she be? Would she be like Maggie or like Coral? Somewhere in between? The Google searches Charley had performed claimed a mother-to-be’s wacked-out hormones made her, well, wacky. Crazy Town. Milly had (ahem) become psychic. Maybe Charley would become Maggie through the freaking magic of hormones. No, no. That wasn’t possible. It didn’t work that way. Pregnancy didn’t change a woman or
her brain. It didn’t change who they were at their core. And Charley loved her family and her friends and wouldn’t abandon a pet, much less a person.

  Later that morning when Charley had gone to feed Milly lunch and then carried more trays filled with paninis downstairs, there was only one customer left in the shop.

  “He’s been here a while.” Naomi nodded in the man’s direction. “Just drinking coffee and using the free wifi.”

  “Well, if he’s still here in a few minutes maybe we can talk him into having lunch.”

  Naomi eyed the covered trays. “What’s all that?”

  “The future.” She peeled back the tin foil. “My paninis. Smoked salmon, sliced roasted turkey breast, prosciutto and marinated chicken breast. Help me move some of these pastries over so we can put these out.”

  “Milly said this was okay?”

  “The crazy thing is, she did. She’s okay with us trying something new.”

  “How’s she doing? Since you guys stopped fighting, I never even see Milly anymore.” Naomi nodded to the lone guy at the table. “Actually, that dude was asking about her.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him she’s not here today. I mean, he could be an ax murderer for all we know.”

  “Seriously?” Charley said.

  Naomi just shrugged.

  Once the set-up was complete, Charley wondered if it would be pushy to walk over to the guy and inform him they were now officially serving lunch. One thing she didn’t like in bistros was a server who pushed a particular dish. Recommendations were one thing, but it should always be up to the customer. Always. No pressure. She glanced at the old-fashioned hand clock hanging on the wall. Milly had left it up in Coral’s memory. Their mother had been worried people would eventually forget how to tell time. Five minutes. She’d give him five minutes. After all, free wifi was something no customer should take advantage of for too long.

  Ten minutes later, Charley was kind of irritated with the guy. He hadn’t so much as looked up from his laptop, earbuds firmly in place. What could be so fascinating? He had better not be watching porn in here. But no, he looked much too unhappy to be watching porn. Finally, the man caught her eye and smiled in her direction.