If you want to go back and read the first short story Kali was in, click here!
Kali scowled over at where Dillon had easily withdrawn, her lips still a little tingly from his sneaky kiss. He had begun pulling out everything he needed to make homemade drinking chocolate.
“That kiss does not count. I didn’t agree.” She folded her arms and fought back the urge to go over and snatch the chocolate away from him. However, her rational brain was not letting her emotions trick her into getting too close to him before some rules were put in place.
He glanced over and shrugged, a smile dancing in his eyes. “Is this your way of agreeing and getting me to kiss you even more? Need I remind you that you are the one trying to not be kissed this weekend?”
His wink had her insides mushing a little. She disguised her almost gulp as a huff.
Dillon stopped gathering supplies and speared her with a smile that was much different than any other one she ever recalled him directing her way ever before. It was almost charming. “I’m going to assume that you still like drinking chocolate better than that watery hot chocolate crap.”
No, charming wasn’t the right word. It was more than that. She stared at him as her brain struggled to put a more fitting word to it. Not flirting. Not daring. Alluring? Yep. He had never, ever tried to draw her in before.
She stayed where he had left her and watched him work. As he moved to pull out the pot and light the stove, she moved a step further away. If he was planning to sneak in any more kisses like he had the last two, she was going to have to maintain a safer distance from his lips…him.
“So why haven’t I seen you around anymore, Kali?” Dillon laughed a little as he stepped back over to his gathered ingredients. “I know it isn’t because our families are seeing any less of each other. Your mom is pestering me about my grades and my social life as much as my mom is. Both of them get all riled whenever I tell them about any girl I date or even look at because it isn’t you I’m talking about.”
Kali huffed a laugh and flicked on the stove, setting the cream to heating, forgetting her need for distance. “I’ve been actively avoiding all things Anders. Especially their twerp of a son. It was working pretty well.”
“Until today.”
“True.” She watched as Dillon spun in another circle and laughed. “Dillon, are you lost?”
“Ha ha. I was looking for a glass bowl.” He stuck his tongue out at her.
She shrugged. “Don’t ask me. It’s not my cabin.”
“Do you want chocolate or not?” He began opening every cupboard.
With a dramatic sigh, she threw open the cupboard nearest her and leaned down to peer in. “It isn’t here.”
His voice came from directly behind her. “You sure?”
She shot up straight and turned to glare at him. Instead, she found herself in a quick peck of a kiss.
“Does that count as one?” He laughed as he moved in closer. “Or should I try again and be less sneaky so you know it’s definitely a kiss? Either way, I’m up for the challenge. What’s my tally up to? 5?”
“None! Those haven’t counted. You are going to extreme measures in order to get a girlfriend, Mister.” She squinted up at him. “Or is this to finally get our mothers off of the whole soulmates thing? ‘Cause kissing seems like the opposite direction.”
He shrugged and moved away, once again looking for the bowl. “Or maybe I just like winning. And if we haven’t started counting yet, when will we? Because I’m beginning to think you are just angling for free kisses.”
“ Free kisses! From you? You are the one that made this bet…deal…thing up! I haven’t agreed.” Kali threw open the next cupboard and it took her several seconds before she realized that she was glaring at a small glass bowl. “Found one.”
When he moved to take it, Kali stepped further away. “How badly do you want this bowl?”
“What?” His grin broadened as his arms went out wide. “You want a real toe curling kiss? Cause that can be arranged, even if you didn’t have the bowl. Or are you teasing me?”
She shook her head. “Taunting, maybe. However, I did not say anything about kissing.”
“Then what do you want in exchange for that bowl?” His eyes were twinkling as he remained there, only inches from fully pressing her up against the counter.
With the cabinets open next to her, she was boxed in even though he was still not touching her at all. She immediately hid the bowl behind her.
She saw her error too late. Dillon took an easy step forward and wrapped his arms around her, effectively pinning her arms behind her. His grip wasn’t tight. In fact, she was pretty sure he would let go if she attempted to break free at all. Her skin tingled slightly as his arms softly brushed against hers.
“If I agree to cuddle on the couch and watch a Jane Austen movie with you, can I have the bowl?” His breath sent wisps of air across her neck.
Her mouth dropped open. “How?”
A blush crept up his neck slightly before disappearing again as he shrugged. “I know all sorts of things about you.”
“My mother?”
He nodded.
Kali hesitated still. It had been a long time since she had some good solid friend time, snuggled up watching a movie. For a brief instant she thought back to when she and Dillon used to do that very thing, back before their mother’s had decided they were soulmates and began pushing. “We used to be friends.” She whispered.
He chuckled. “Kali, you were my best friend. I hated our moms for a long time for what they did. I lost my best friend to their conniving.”
“Ok.”
“Ok what?” His forehead wrinkled in confusion.
She nodded and looked up at him. “I will give you the bowl in exchange for a friend movie night…with no kissing.”
He whooped and pulled away. “Best deal I’ve ever made. Done! Let’s make chocolate.”
Come back next week for another snippet of Kali and Dillon and their kissing contest!
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