It’s only a date. A pity date, truth be told.

Yeah, right.

I didn’t come because I felt sorry for the man. I said yes because I hadn’t been able to purge him from my thoughts since bumping into Liam at the grocery store. Part of me was curious. What would a date with Ronan be like?

At seven, he showed up at my door in a midnight-blue pea coat and drove me downtown.

Nighttime in Danville looks like a Christmas card. Golden lights festoon the lanes and drape from tree to tree. Storefronts dazzle with color. People flutter in and out of the boutiques for last minute shopping. Swinging doors jingle, bells clap, snow paints a fine mist over parked cars, and a street performer plays saxophone.

He walks beside me, soaking in the night with a fresh-faced excitement that almost radiates off him. He’s happy to be here, and it’s rubbing off on me. A couple passes us on the sidewalk. I squeeze closer to Ronan, who gently wraps his hand around mine.

At his touch, a ball of heat pulses in my throat. "Where are you taking me?"

He hasn’t said much, which is bizarre for Ronan.

"A cool place."

"Short list on what that might be, considering this place has like…five restaurants."

"You’ll see."

"You’re quieter than usual. Not a single penis joke." I place my fingers across his forehead, and he grins. "You all right?"

"Dick jokes are bad form for a date. I’m trying to restrain myself. Here we go."

Ronan stops at a speakeasy with velvet curtains draped around the window. Inside, couples sit across each other at dainty wooden tables with candles flickering golden light. We squeeze into a spot at the packed cocktail bar, which is apparently a hit with locals. A chalkboard advertises drink specials. I order the Grinch, a greenish concoction with crushed mint leaves. Ronan asks for a single malt whiskey and takes my hand, leading me up the stairs into a quieter alcove with leather loveseats.

We sit together. I settle into the buttery soft blackness, my lungs tight. He slides the wool coat from his shoulders, so close to me the heat of his body warms me. I can count every eyelash. He shaved for me, too.

I’ve never seen him in black cashmere, but that’s all he should ever be allowed to wear.

He clinks his glass against mine. "To former enemies."

"Oh, I’m not so sure about that. We’re not square yet." I sip the mint julep, grinning. "I haven’t forgotten about the tree."

"Good. What did you do with the lights?"

"I kept them. It seemed wasteful to chuck them."

"Yeah?" He laughs, stretching like a cat. "And your gift?"

I still have that, too. "Let’s change the subject."

He winks. "You’ll have to tell me how it goes."

"No, I won’t, because it’s going in the trash as soon as I’m home. Why do I let you get away with so much shit?"

"Because I’m hot, and you don’t want to ruin your chances with me."

Why does everything that comes from his mouth sound so dirty?

"Maybe I should fill your underwear drawer with butt plugs." Alcohol burns my throat as he chortles. "And don’t get ahead of yourself. I am here to satisfy a curiosity, and nothing more."

Mischief twinkles in his sapphire pools. "We’re on an actual date, Gigi. That’s more than you ever said you’d do with me. So today, it’s a date. Tomorrow? Who knows."

Oh, there’s a lot I’m willing to do with you.

I’ve definitely had too much booze. It’s stifling in here, so I slide the coat off my little black dress. Ronan’s gaze rakes my exposed skin like hot coals. It’s as though he’s thinking about putting his hand on my thigh. Honestly, I might not stop him.

He doesn’t, though. Instead his arm snakes around my back and anchors my shoulder. I turn toward him, and his blue eyes take me in. A small smile plays his mouth as he drinks in my legs, lips, and hair. His desire ripples through me like a current.

Not touching him is torture. "Why did you ask me out?"

"Because I want you, and I’ve been trying to get you the wrong way."

"Hmm. Yeah, I guess the dildo was a bit untoward."

He reaches for his drink, but then his hand returns to my shoulder with tantalizing slowness.

I know what he’s doing. Why is it working?

He sips his whiskey, smiling faintly. "Do you remember when I taught you to catch grasshoppers?"

I recall those long summer days when I was too young to wander the woods and the streets alone. Our mothers used to make us play together. "You mean failing to catch them."

"You caught one and named him Andrew. We put it in a mason jar, and, if I remember correctly, it died three days later."

"And then we had a funeral for it. God, that’s embarrassing."

"Didn’t you have a cat—or save one?" Ronan squints at the ceiling, straining his memory. "It was white."

"Hero." An old tom dragged himself to our porch one evening, a huge burr stuck in his paw. Mom and I removed the thorn, cleared the infection, and he transformed into the most affectionate pet. "I loved that bugger."

"I was so jealous."

"Really?"

"Yep." He sighs. "Mom wouldn’t let us have a cat, because Liam was allergic. I wanted to play with Hero, but we were enemies at the time. Remember when he went missing?"

God, how could I forget? It was the worst week of my life. "Yeah, he vanished for days, and then somehow showed up in our house."

He smiles knowingly.

"Did you have something to do with that?" I ask.

"I’m the one who found him."

I stare at him. "No way."

"I saw your posters and wanted to help. I was upset over the damned cat, even though I’d only petted it a couple times. So I started walking the street with my flashlight."

"So why didn’t you tell me?"

"Why are teenage boys stupid? They just are." Ronan shakes his head, sighing. "Anyway, one night I was strolling past Wisteria, and I heard a meow. It was coming from a locked garage. I knocked on the door, and there he was. He was fine, only hungry, I bet. He purred in my arms as I walked home. When I got to your place, I pushed him through the screen door. It was unlocked. I found Hero, and I’ve wanted to tell you for years. So there."

It’s the weirdest thing; I want to cry. "I can’t believe you did that for me. Thank you."

Ronan leans close, his hand on my cheek. "I didn’t tell you that story to make you upset."

I blink away the tears. "No, I’m happy."

"I wasn’t always a prick. You just didn’t know."

I knew he was capable of being nice. A memory kicks to the surface. They’re only images: Ronan’s bright-green Ninja Turtles backpack, his grubby hand holding mine, those first, gigantic steps into the school bus. We used to point at cars we saw through the window and say, that one’s mine.

Lost in memories, I smile. "How long are you home this time?"

"Until the first. I tried to get a longer break, but football."

"Are you still considering quitting?"

"Football’s not really on my mind." A smirk tugs at his lips. "Been too busy wearing a fat suit that weighs five-hundred pounds simply to appease some girl."

Patches of heat rise to my cheeks. "Stop being so charming."

"I can’t. It’s in my blood."

My breath stills at the promise simmering in his eyes. "What do you want from me?"

"I’m looking at what’s in front of me. You’ve been here all this time. All this fucking time—right next door. And I haven’t treated you the way I should."

No, you have not.

But he is now—he’s behaving like a gentleman and trying so hard to change my mind. I never imagined he’d do anything kind for me, but he found my cat and brought him home, and he’s sorry for what he’s done, but I don’t care anymore. All I want is for him to kiss me.

And he must be a mind reader, because that’s exactly what he does.

Ronan kisses me once, so soft I barely register the graze of his mouth across mine. Then his arm wraps my waist, and he deepens the kiss. I cling to his neck, my body responding in ways I never knew. It’s exciting. Euphoric.

Ronan drags me onto his lap, our bodies molding together as though we’ve wanted this our whole lives. His hands slide up my back, two pads of heat.

What would it be like to be held naked?

I bury my fingers in his thick hair, mussing his perfect wave. Our lips crash as the background disappears. We might as well be on a sofa at home, with all the privacy we need. But we aren’t alone. We’re in a bar, packed with dozens of people.

Ronan seems to come to that same realization. He pauses, mouth parted and eyes closed to half-slits as though under a spell. His erratic pulse throbs against my fingers.

I might be two beats away from my heart bursting. Shockwaves roll through my body held tight by Ronan. "I didn’t expect that."

"Sweet Jesus, neither did I. Now I’ll never leave you alone."

Ronan kisses me, his lips hard and insistent. I open to him as he feeds an ache I never knew I had. Before this night ends, I’ll want more and not having it will be torture.

I sweep my tongue over Ronan’s bottom lip before nipping him.

He responds with a feral growl. "Gigi."

"Sorry." My face burns. "I’m acting like a horny teenager."

"I should’ve kissed you years ago."

The regret pounds through his voice, and it cuts through me. The look he gives me strikes my core and resonates sadness.

I expected this date to be painfully awkward, filled with boring conversation and zero chemistry. I didn’t anticipate to have my heartstrings tugged all night. But then Ronan kissed me, and I liked it so much I’ve climbed onto his goddamn lap. And now that I’m wrapped in his arms, I have no desire to leave.

No, I’ve let this go way too far. I was supposed to let him down easy, not start a make-out session that has left us both panting for more.

"N-now what?"

"I have a few things in mind. Most of them involve ripping off your clothes though, and I’m trying to be a good boy."

"What if I don’t want you to be?"

Ronan’s eyes widen before a smile breaks through his shock. "Well, it’s about damn time."

"Kiss me again."

Ronan cradles my chin, lips melting into mine as the hottest sensation zips up and down my spine. He gives me butterflies everywhere. I’ve never had a kiss do this to me.

We break apart, breathing hard. Ronan sucks in his bottom lip as though savoring the taste of me. "Gigi, you are—" he pauses, face whitening. "Oh no."

Alarmed, I whirl. "What?"

A depressed-looking Lance in rumpled blue plaid stomps up the stairs, gripping his drink. I slide off Ronan’s lap as he spots us, jaw agape.

"Fucking Lance." His hand curls around my shoulder. "We’re obviously on a date, but here he comes anyway. Rude bastard."

Lance flashes us a rosy-cheeked grin. "Hey, man!"

An unsmiling Ronan nods his head. "Sup."

"How are you guys doing?" Lance boozily sinks into the chair opposite the loveseat, apparently unaware he’s crashing our date. "Been so long since I heard from you. Now I understand why."

Lance winks at Ronan, who doesn’t look pleased.

"Dude—"

"Hey, want to see a movie or something? That new Marvel movie looks sick."

"We’re on a date." Ronan’s glare adds a silent, Get lost.

"Bullshit."

"All right. Time to go." Ronan leans into me, whispering. "Sorry. He’s an ass."

Dizzy by the sudden rush of warmth, I take Ronan’s hand. Lance’s narrowed gaze follows us. "Oh, so now you’re too good for me?"

Ronan exchanges a bewildered look with me. "Gigi and I have plans."

"Yeah, like what? You were going to wow her with your trophy collection before banging her or after?"

Ronan seizes Lance’s collar and slams him against the wall. "If you weren’t a drunk waste of space right now, I’d fucking punch you."

"Do it! I bet it’ll score you even more points." Lance swats his hand away, readjusting his clothes. "Don’t touch me!"

Bar patrons gawk at the scene. I’m surprised, too. Ronan defending me from another man feels alien.

I take his hand. "Let’s just go."

"Yeah." After an eternity, Ronan tears his gaze from Lance. His movements thick with rage, he tugs me toward the stairs.

Bewildered, I follow him into the blistering cold, pulled relentlessly forward.

"Ronan!" I catch his arm, and he wheels around. "Slow down."

The ferocity lining his jaw softens. "I’m sorry about that. I’m not sure what his problem is."

"He’s jealous." It’s not hard to figure out why. "You’ve got it all. A blossoming career. Fame. Girls and glory."

"Enough about me." Ronan walks me to his car, thumbs hooked in his jeans. "Christ. Everything was going so well until he showed up."

"He’d have to do a lot worse to ruin our date. I’ll probably never forget that kiss."

Did I just say that?

Ronan pushes himself off the car, hands sweeping inside my coat to take my waist and pin me against the door. "I’m ready to get you alone."

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

Liquid courage—that’s all this is. But Ronan’s touch is nothing like the alcohol spider-webbing warmth across my body. It’s an attraction so strong, it makes my former engagement a joke.

No one’s home. "We could hang out at my house."

"And I had a whole evening planned. I thought you wanted me to wine and dine you."

"You thought wrong."

Eyes blazing, Ronan opens the passenger side door. We drive the home in tense, happy silence. My insides knot. I wipe my palms on my jeans over and over, anticipating the moment we’re alone.

Are we really doing this?

Before long, we arrive at my mom’s. Ronan parks in his driveway. The engine cuts. His stare warms my cheeks.

He follows me to my house. "Wait."

He grabs my arm, pulling me into his chest. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I can’t think of anything I want more."

"I’d be fine hanging out, right? We don’t have to—"

"Ronan, I know. Can we do this, already?"

He smiles, a heart-stopping grin that dials my desire to eleven. Then his lips crash into mine. It’s like I’ve never kissed him before, or perhaps I’m still recovering from shock. He really wants me. He’s not letting me breathe. It’s as though he’s unleashing years of pent-up craving in one kiss.

And I want him too. My fingers glide up his stubbled chin, stroking his cheeks, and his thick mane. It’s so surprising—this wave of passion for a man I hate.

A porch light flares. The door opens. "Gigi? Is that you?"

We spring apart, Ronan breathing heavily in the darkness. A wildness in his expression tells me he’s likely to throw me over his shoulder, mother be damned.

I palm his chest. "Sorry. Gotta go."

He closes his mouth and nods tightly.

Mom’s voice rings out again. "Is that Ronan?"