No, Not that Jane Austen Read Online Free PDF Page B

breath touched my neck. Funny how warmth can send chills down your body. I closed my eyes, allowing the heated shivers to cover me. His breath smelled like spearmint and if he moved closer to my lips I wouldn’t be able to deny tasting him.
    I opened my eyes as he kissed my cheek.
    "Was that okay?" he said.
    I nodded, now eighty-nine percent wanting his kiss.
    "Well." He opened the door and swung one leg out. "Thank you for entertaining me today. It's been a day of all sorts, and you've made it a bit less dreadful." He swung the other leg out. "And happy birthday."
    The cannons erupted at the end of 1812 Overture and I nearly jumped out of my seat. Hilarious timing. A quizzical look appeared in his eyes as the end of the song burst forth. I shrugged. He smiled and stood outside of the car.
    I liked that he didn't force himself on me. And I liked that he didn't give me his phone number or email address or even try to draw out the conversation to stay in my car longer. I liked it so much I wanted him to stay.
    "Thank you," I said as he shut the door.
    He leaned into the window, smiled, and held my gaze for what felt like minutes. Then he tapped the door and walked away, disappearing behind glass doors without so much as a nod back in my direction. His hands-in-the-pocket stride carried him out of sight. Out of my life.
    My pulse should have slowed, but it quickened again.
    And so that's it....
    I almost—not quite almost, but almost almost—went after him for that kiss, but More Reasonable Me said, “No, let it go. It was nothing more than an interesting afternoon and now it’s time to go back to normal life.”
    “Yes,” Less Reasonable Me said. “But…”
    I shifted the car into drive and noticed a ripped paper on the passenger's seat. I turned it over, pulled off a mint candy taped to the paper, then read:

    If we are meant to kiss one day, let's call it The Big Day, then we will meet again. This day, May 17th, four years from now. The Big Day . You'll be 21 then. That should be enough time to consider a kiss, yes? If you are willing and we are both as single as we are now, I will be at the airport on May 17th, your 21st birthday, and you will be there too, and I will kiss you like I want to right now.
    Let’s see where life takes us...
    Till then, Alistair Anonymous

    I glanced back at the glass doors, hoping to see him standing there, but he was gone and you know, I kind of liked it. Autumn and Donovan would never believe me. I’m not sure I even believed it myself. Did I really spend an afternoon with someone I just met?
    I drove away, smiling as 1812 Overture ended with full-bodied emotion.
    Yes, four years. That was plenty of time to consider falling in love. And I would … I would at least consider it before The Big Day.

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