The First Kiss...

Decidedly with Wishes (By the Bay #6) releases June 29th. Part of the story takes place in San Francisco like the rest of the rom com series (other than Decidedly with Mistletoe).

But the book also takes place in Copper Creek, Montana. This means you’ll have a chance to meet for the first time or revisit the some of the gang from the Copper Creek rom com series.

How about the first kiss from one couple (Once Upon a Cowboy)?

Jake

“What if I’m a terrible kisser?” she finally asks, surprising me.

“I doubt you’re a terrible kisser.” In fact, I would stake my life on it.

“You don’t know that, though. What if Ryan wants to kiss me and then decides I’m awful at it?”

“He won’t think that.”

“Maybe you can kiss me. Then we’ll know for sure. And if I’m a bad kisser, you can give me pointers.”

Employee plus boss plus kissing never equals a great idea. You don’t have to be a mathematical genius to understand that.

Her whole face brightens and she grins. “Actually, that’s a brilliant idea,” she says before I can voice my thoughts. “Who better to give me pointers than someone as experienced as you? You know what makes for a great kiss.” 

“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take that.”

“Take it as a compliment. So will you do it?” Maui could take lessons from Sophie on how to do puppy-dog eyes.

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

“All right. But you can’t tell anyone.”

Because I’ll never hear the end of it from my brothers if they find out.

I lean down and brush my lips gently against hers. Yes, they’re as soft as expected.

My heart thump-thump-thumps hard and fast in my chest, like a bird caught in a cage, eager to tell the world how great it feels to kiss Sophie.

As if sensing that, Sophie rests her hand over my heart. The heat from her palm ignites a fire low in my belly, the softness of her lips fanning the flames.

I should pull back and tell her the kiss was good. But I know she was referring to a kiss that’s more than the brushing of lips. She wants to experience something deeper, more heated, more soul-searching.

I part my lips and give her exactly what she’s after.

One hand cups the back of her head. The other moves to her hip. I long to pull her against me, but it’s probably not a good idea. I do, though, give in to the other craving…and thread my fingers through her hair.

With my lips still enjoying the feel of Sophie’s, I work the elastic free from her hair. I drop it onto the grass and knot my fingers in the silky strands as my tongue continues exploring her mouth.

Somewhere in the back of my head, a voice tells me I’ve sampled Sophie’s kiss long enough to give her a full report. My body and my mouth tell the voice to fuck off. This is the only chance I’ll ever have to kiss her. To hell with stopping just yet. 

Our tongues glide together, the erotic sensation waking every nerve in my body. I don’t remember the last time a kiss felt this amazing.

And I’ve kissed enough girls to understand the difference.

I’m just about to explore her jaw, the shell of her ear, her neck, when Sophie moans softly—and I’m reminded I need to stop.

She’s looking for feedback on her kiss. She wasn’t planning on me ravishing her.

I pull away and clear my throat. My heart is still thumping fast, bitching about me stopping so soon.

“So? How was that?” Sophie asks, her breath as ragged as mine.

When I don’t answer right away, because my brain isn’t currently functioning one hundred percent, she frowns. “That bad, huh?”

I shake my head, still slightly out of it. “No—it was definitely good. You don’t have to worry about Ryan thinking you’re a bad kisser.”

Me on the other hand? I’m ready to punch him in the face if he tries to kiss her.

Mine.

Except she’s not mine—and never will be.

I need to remember that.

Sophie smiles, her eyes slightly dazed, as if she’s daydreaming about him. Everything inside of me clenches at the thought.

I release a hard breath, attempting to unknot the tension inside me, and glance at Maui. He’s passed out at our feet.

“I take it we wore him out.” I chuckle. It’s a forced laugh, but I doubt Sophie notices.

She settles her hand on my bicep. Her thumb brushes against my shirtsleeve. “Thank you, Jake. Thanks for being such a great friend.”

I smile back at her, the movement genuine. “You’re welcome. But you’re forgetting it’s in the job description.”

“Job description?”

“Yes, as your fairy godfather.”

Sophie kisses my cheek and my skin tingles at her touch. “Well, job description or not, I appreciate it.”

This isn’t the first time she’s kissed me on the cheek. But unlike the kisses in the past, her lips linger a second longer, as if the action means more to her than before.

I shove the thought aside. Clearly when I kissed her a few minutes ago, it short-circuited my brain. Because Ryan is the man she’s interested in.…I’m just her friend.

Her wingman.