Page 30 of Stolen Kisses
Krista stopped walking, her heart rate skyrocketing as if this morning’s walk had been a sprint around the town. “Oh, my God,” she said in a low whisper.
“What?” Grace and Abby sandwiched her, concern written on their faces. “What’s wrong?” Grace asked.
Scattered memories started to push in on Krista’s mind. Grace was right. She was able to think clearer and suddenly she’d remembered something. Something she absolutely didn’t want to share with the women beside her. Because it was too fresh, too raw, and she needed to process it. “N-nothing. I just think I left the curling iron on at home.”
Grace frowned. “Don’t you have one of those automatic-shutoff ones? They’re a lot safer.”
“Yeah. You’re right. No big deal.” Krista laughed lightly and continued walking, moving quicker now. She couldn’t get to her car fast enough. No wonder Noah had been acting so weird lately, like a skittish dog who’d been abused somehow.
Abby dropped off when they passed her restaurant again. “See you all later. The walk was nice.”
Krista and Grace waved and continued until they reached the parking lot where they’d started. “Bye, Grace. This was great,” Krista said quickly.
“Liar.” Grace dipped inside her car and came back up with a box of granola bars. She offered one to Krista. “Here’s breakfast.”
Krista reached for one. “Thanks. You rock.”
“So we’re on for Sunday night?” Grace asked.
Krista nodded absently.
“And then we’ll do this again on Monday morning because you love me and want me to look beautiful on my wedding day.”
Krista cocked her head to one side. “Yes, I do love you and you’ll be a beautiful bride no matter what.”
When Krista was finally in her driver’s seat, she took a moment to breathe and explore the memory she’d had. Or maybe it’d just been a bad dream. Flashes of her lips coming in swift contact with Noah’s hit her with a shattering force. Without warning, she’d leaned forward and kissed him, and it hadn’t been some innocent, friendly, best-friend kind of kiss. Nope. There were wet lips and a splash of tongue.Did he kiss me back?She tried, but couldn’t remember.
Krista banged the back of her head against the headrest of her car.No, no, no, no, no.Noah’s sudden change in demeanor made sense all of a sudden.
She rubbed her forehead and cranked her car. Then she ripped open the wrapper of the granola bar and ate while she drove. She’d never told Noah how she felt because she was afraid he wouldn’t reciprocate. And her fears were all but validated now. He didn’t feel the same. If he did, he wouldn’t be acting so strangely right now. She parked at the hospital and carried the bag with her change of clothes inside.
“Have you been working out?” a voice asked as she entered the building. Chandler was exiting the hospital gift shop with a Mountain Dew in hand. “Did you do an extra workout for me?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
Krista couldn’t help but smile. He was handsome in his own right. And charming when he wasn’t bragging about how wonderful he was. “I went for a speed walk with friends…I had fun with you the other night, by the way.”
“Me, too.” He twisted the cap off his Mountain Dew and took a long pull. “We should do it again. Maybe tonight?”
Krista hesitated. She needed to get over Noah and she needed him to think that the other night was just a mistake. Because it was. Just her drinking too much and doing crazy things that meant absolutely nothing. She looked up at Chandler. She didn’t like to use people, though. She didn’t want to hurt the man standing in front of her. “If I say yes, it might be for all the wrong reasons,” she told him honestly.
He lifted a shoulder, his friendly smile unwavering. “Then I’ll have to give you all the right reasons to say yes the next time.”
Krista hugged her bag to her side, wishing she felt more for this guy. He was definitely wonderful in his own right. Maybe another date would do the trick. “Okay then. I’d love to go out with you. Tonight would be great.”
—
On Sunday night, Noah rang Jack’s doorbell at five-thirty for the mysterious dinner he’d been invited to. He was right on time for a change. Mostly because he’d been waiting for this dinner all day. He usually spent Sundays on the water or out and about with Krista. He and Krista hadn’t spent much time together lately, though. She’d been off seeing Dr. Doolittle and he’d just needed time to get his head on straight. Maybe he’d call her tomorrow.
Jack opened the front door. “You’re on time? This is a miracle.”
Noah shook his head. “Is this how you treat your dinner guests?”
Grace waved him in. “Ignore him. Come inside and have a beer.”
“I won’t say no to that.” Noah offered Jack a smug look. “Good thing you’re getting married, so you’ll actually have a better half.”
Jack crossed his arms at his chest. “Really? Is that how tonight is going to go?”
Noah grinned.
