Free Penny Serenade by Ann Cory

for his comfort. He’d never meant to go on about himself. “Ah well, listen to me. I’d rather hear more about you.”
    “There’s not much left to tell,” she said. “I’ve told you more about myself than I’ve shared with anyone else.”
    Normally he would’ve let that go straight to his head, but not with her. Like the stars at the planetarium, she’d opened a portal for him to get to know her, the woman she kept hidden from others.
    “Thank you for trusting me in that way.”
    “You made it easy,” she said.
    And right then Dominic knew he never wanted to see pain or hurt in her eyes again.
     
     
    Audrey couldn’t believe she shared such intimate details of her life with him. Things she didn’t expect to ever tell a stranger. Or whatever he was to her. She didn’t know how to think of Dominic. A friend didn’t sound right. A stranger, well no, she’d never felt like he was a stranger, even when he first walked into the shop. The connection she’d felt with him made things more complex than she was looking for.
    Betsy had always told her love happened when you didn’t look for it, but she didn’t feel like a candidate for love, and did her best to avoid it. Relationships required more of herself than she cared to give. Maybe she was too solitary and independent, but she liked things the way she wanted, and she’d worked hard to get past the grief from her youth. Everything had been a struggle in her life. She was finally starting to mend. Being around Dominic made her question why she closed herself off to people. He’d listened and empathized. He didn’t make her feel foolish. Somehow he’d gotten her to open up and she felt good. Not even good, but that a huge weight had been lifted.
    She looked at the moon and wondered what her father would think of this man next to her. Would he approve? Would he welcome Dominic with a fatherly embrace or a gentleman’s handshake? Pat him on the back and then threaten to cut off his balls if he dared do anything to hurt her? Audrey knew her father would want her to be happy and for her to choose someone who would treat her right. She’d been of the mindset that she didn’t need someone to take care of her. When had that changed?
    Audrey felt the tears return and forced them back. She refused to cry. What would Dominic think? He’d think her weak, and she couldn’t take that.
    She turned and at the same time, he leaned in. His mouth, sexier than ever, covered hers. Eyes closed, she allowed the bliss overtake her. Her body sizzled at the touch of his hands moving along her back until they settled at the small of her back. Aware her legs were ready to give out on her, she rested her hands on top of his shoulders. For a moment she felt his muscles ripple beneath her touch and it made her entire body swoon. Not wanting to part from him anytime soon, she gave into his deepening kisses. The guy might not be a smooth talker all of the time, but he wasn’t lacking in the area of lip service.
    Shivers followed the path of his hand up her side. He cupped his hand along her lower jaw and brushed his thumb along her cheek. Heat and longing filled her insides. The initial judgment of him faded fast, and in that moment she didn’t see how she could ever be angry with him again.
    Dominic withdrew his lips and rested his forehead against hers. It felt like days before she found her voice.
    “Um, you kind of caught me off guard. Did you…I mean, why did you kiss me? Like that, I mean.” Her cheeks burned at the way her words came out.
    “I couldn’t wait a second longer. I’ve wondered what those beautiful lips would taste like since I walked into your store.”
    “Really?”
    He’d felt the same way? He’d felt the same need and desire? She’d always balked at the scenes in movies where the characters met and fell in love with one another right away. Instant connections didn’t happen in real life, did they?
    She had to wonder now.
    “So, then, was it what