Read Online Kiss Me by C. C. Wood - Free Book Online

asked.
    Jake looked at her strangely for a moment.  “Yes.  Why do you look like you’re confused?”
    She made a face at him.  “It just seems surreal.  I’m a little worried I’ll wake up and realize that I’ve been drooling on my couch and I dreamed all this.”
    He smiled a little and hugged her tighter.  “No, you’re not dreaming.  I think we’re finally both where we need to be.”
    She looked into his dark eyes.  “I just don’t want to rush into anything, Jake.”
    Jake frowned at her for a second.  “It’s been years.  How is that rushing?”
    Kaylie cupped his face.  “Exactly.  We haven’t been together for years.  We’ve both changed.  I’m just saying that I want to take it slowly and not jump into something based on our past rather than who we are now.”
    The unhappy look on Jake’s face cleared.  He nodded.  “I understand what you’re saying, but how slow are we talking?”
    She shrugged.  “How about we revisit this in three months?  If things are going well, we take the next step, whatever that may be. If not, we accept that we’ve both changed too much.  Maybe then we’d be able to actually move on.”
    “Okay,” Jake answered, “I can accept that but I reserve the right to bring up the future between now and then.  I’m not going to do this if we’ re pretending there’s an end date.”
    Kaylie nodded.  “That’s fine with me.”
    “Good.  Can we just relax now?” Jake asked.
    She laughed.  “I guess.”
    Kaylie let him pull her head back down to his shoulder.  She still didn’t pay much attention to the television show he’d picked out, but she felt happier than she had in years.  Hope filled her as she snuggled closer to Jake and drifted off to sleep.

Epilogue
    Six Weeks Later
    “ Kaylie, get a move on!” Blair bellowed.
    Kaylie emerged from her bathroom, scowling at her best friend.  “Stop shouting, Blair.  I’m ready.”
    Her best friend put both hands on her hips.  “I’ve been waiting for your slow ass for twenty minutes.  The boys have been waiting in the living room for half an hour.”
      Ignoring Blair’s obvious annoyance, Kaylie went to her dresser and spritzed perfume on her wrists and neck.
    Her friend sighed loudly.  “Kay, this is just a double date, not a state dinner.”
    Kaylie turned to face her.  “That’s easy for you to say.  With Jake’s schedule, we never get to go out.  He always has to cancel or reschedule because of work stuff.  I think we’ve been out on actual dates three times in the last six weeks.  So, for me, tonight is a special occasion.”
    Blair rolled her eyes.  “Just hurry up.”
    Kaylie went to the bed and grabbed her clutch.  “I’m ready.  Let’s go.  What are you waiting for?”
    They both giggled as they left the bedroom and went down the hall to the living room.  The guys were sprawled out on the furniture, each drinking a beer.  Kevin grinned when he saw them come in.
    “I think the wait was worth it, Jake.”
    Kaylie smirked at Blair when Jake said, “Hell yeah.”
    They all left the house and loaded into Blair’s sedan.  When they arrived at the restaurant, the maitre d’ seated them immediately.  The meal was fantastic, as was the company.  Kaylie loved seeing her brother and her best friend so happy.  She even enjoyed hearing their good natured bickering in regards to their wedding.  Blair wanted something small and elegant, but Kevin didn’t want to wait.  He wanted to go to Vegas.  When Blair looked to her for help, Kaylie just shrugged and laughed when her friend gave her a go-to-hell look.  Jake was quiet all night and she wasn’t sure what was going on.  Blair and Kevin didn’t seem to notice, but Kaylie couldn’t help wondering if maybe something was going on with him. 
    After the night they agreed to wait three months, things had been fantastic.  They argued just like any couple, but Kaylie even enjoyed that.  Jake never fought