Free Kiss Me at Midnight (Entangled Flaunt) by Diane Alberts Page A

lovely, as usual.”
    “Thank you.” Her heart skipped a beat. “You look pretty great, too.”
    Ethan chuckled. “Thanks, babe.”
    He walked inside and handed her a bouquet of white carnations. She took them and watched him closely. Carnations had always been her favorite, but she hadn’t expected him to know that. It had been years since she told him. “You remembered?”
    “Of course I did.” He bent down and kissed her temple. “They’re your favorite.”
    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her entire body humming with life and lust at the small touch. It was time to admit it. She didn’t want this to be their last night together. That’s not to say she didn’t accept it for what it was, but it still sucked. She wished he could stay another day or two. As a matter of fact, she didn’t want him to leave her at all. Her eyes flew open at the thought.
    What. The. Hell?
    Where had that come from? And how could she shut that voice in the back of her mind up, once and for all? It had no place being so… there . She smiled up at him even though she was panicking inside at her inner thoughts. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re perfect.”
    “You’re welcome.” He ran his finger over her lower back. “But tell me. What is that delicious smell coming from the kitchen?”
    She grinned and followed him toward the kitchen. “I cooked for you. I thought it might be nice to have a quiet meal inside instead of going out, since it’s your last night home.”
    He turned to her, his brows up. “You cook ? The same girl that burned toast—and almost my house with it—in tenth grade cooks ?”
    “Ha. Ha. You’re real funny. Yeah, well, I learned. I figured if I could accurately diagnose most common ailments and, oh yeah, save a life, then I could manage a cooking class or two.”
    He lifted a pot lid and peeked in. “Spaghetti and meatballs? My favorite.”
    “I know. You told me in high school. If I was going through all this trouble,” she waved her hands towards the pots on the stove, “then I might as well make sure it was for something you liked.”
    He didn’t seem to hear her. Bending over, he popped the oven open and looked inside. “And apple pie? I can’t believe you remembered all my favorites, too, after all this time.”
    “Well…yeah.” She leaned against the counter, setting the flowers down. When he closed the door and turned back to her, his eyes intense and his mouth pressed tight, she went on the defensive. “What? You remembered, too. I’m not the only one.”
    “I know.” He closed the distance between them, lifting her chin up to him when he got close enough. He pressed her against the cabinet, his erection pressing into her belly. “But I was half in love with you and everyone knew it. I’m supposed to remember.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she’d had feelings for him, too, but what was the point? Her phone rang, breaking the staring contest they’d been having. She scrambled for it, flinching when she saw it was her mother. She sighed. It was the fifth call today alone. She held her finger up to Ethan and then raised her phone to her ear. “Hey, Mom. Now’s not—”
    “I forgot to take my medicine again, didn’t I?”
    She closed her eyes. “No, Mom. Remember? I came over earlier and gave them to you. You didn’t forget.”
    Her mother made a weird noise. “I think I did. I think I need to take more.”
    “ No .” She rubbed her forehead, wanting nothing more than to scream. “I gave you the medicine, Mom. Trust me. Besides, I have it all here at my place, remember?”
    “Bring them back to me,” her mom said, her voice pleading. “What if you forget?”
    Ashley shot Ethan an apologetic smile, then turned her back on him. He was watching her way too closely, and the pity in his eyes was loud and clear. “I won’t forget, Mom. I’m a doctor .”
    “But—”
    “Mom, you’re missing the news. Didn’t you say you wanted to