Free True To You (Taking Chances #2) by Liwen Ho Page B

are in my favor again today.” Reaching over, he clasped her hands in both of his and gave them a gentle squeeze.
    Melanie couldn’t help but smile as Ben’s irresistible dimples emerged alongside a confident grin. “Well, it seems you had some help with that.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Over Ben’s shoulder she glimpsed two beaming faces staring at them from outside the restroom door. “Take a look over there.”
    He turned in time to see Sam raise her hands in a victory dance and Ashlynn clapping in glee. “Ah, I see what’s going on. We’ve had some conspirators working behind the scenes, haven’t we?”
    “Ones who have a tendency to use the bathroom at just the right times-”
    “So they can leave us alone. It sounds like a solid plan to me. We’ve got to hand it to them. They did good.”
    “Yeah, well, I knew sisters were good for something,” she quipped. “I think I’m finally learning to appreciate them.”
    For once in her life she wanted to thank Sam for challenging her. It had been too long since she felt this alive. Everything about the present seemed right, especially the way her fingers intertwined with Ben’s. Nothing could dampen her mood tonight.
    Not even the silver streaked head she saw out of the corner of her eye disappearing through the kitchen door.

SIX
    “These have been the best three months of my life, by far. You know why, don’t you?”
    Melanie leaned against Ben as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I think I have a clue,” she murmured as she breathed in the fresh scent of his aftershave. Tilting her head up, she answered with a hint of humor. “You’ve been feeling a lot healthier since you started dating a doctor. I bet it’s all those apples I make you eat. They’re packed with fiber, vitamin C and polyphenols that act as antioxidants. What’s that saying? Oh yes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Wait, that’s not a good thing in our case…”
    “Well, apples must have the opposite effect on me,” Ben replied with a chuckle, “because I definitely can’t stay away from you. Being with you makes me feel so alive. I wouldn’t be surprised if your kisses have some antioxidants in them, too.”
    “Actually, there’s scientific proof that kissing produces feel-good hormones like oxytocin-”
    Before she could finish, Ben lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers. He tasted a hint of peppermint on her lips and felt as giddy as a kid in a candy store. Warmth spread through his body as he pulled Melanie closer and deepened the kiss. He was certain nothing could be sweeter than being with this woman. Which was why he couldn’t wait to take their relationship to the next level.
    A heavily accented voice coming over the outdoor speaker caused them to break contact. “Number thirty-four, your table is ready. Number thirty-four.”
    “Is that us?” Melanie’s cheeks were flushed from a mixture of pleasure and embarrassment. She hadn’t expected Ben to kiss her outside the city’s most popular Chinese restaurant.
    Ben took out a small slip of paper from his pocket. “Almost. We’re thirty-five.” Placing a hand on her back, he pulled her flush against his body. “Sorry, I cut you off earlier when you were talking. I couldn’t help myself. You’re so cute when you speak in medical terms. It makes me want to make happy hormones with you all day long,” he said as he leaned in for another kiss.
    “Uh, let’s continue that later,” she pleaded as she took a step back, “in private.” The raised eyebrows of several people looking their way brought her back to reality. And reality was that they were breaking protocol with their public display of affection. Speaking in a hushed tone so as not to attract further attention, she informed Ben, “In my culture, people don’t kiss in public. We don’t kiss in private either. We’re not affectionate people, especially the older generation.”
    “You’re telling me your parents don’t