Page 42 of Stolen Kisses
Time seemed to slow to an aching pace. Then, like a coward, Noah turned away.
—
She’d thought he was going to kiss her just now. But that was crazy. Noah would never kiss her. Even when she’d kissed him the other night, he hadn’t kissed her back. Not that she remembered, at least. And she was pretty sure she would’ve remembered if he had.
Krista scooted over the half inch that the swing allowed and looked out on the mountainscape. “I think I’m going to give online dating a try.”
“What? You’ve always said that stuff was silly.” He bumped an elbow against hers. Her traitorous body responded to his every touch.
“Yeah, well, now I’m thinking it makes sense.” The subject brought back some of her dignity. If she was talking about dating someone else, Noah wouldn’t think she’d wanted to kiss him just now, even though she really,reallyhad. “There are a lot of like-minded professionals on those dating sites.”
“ ‘Like-minded’ meaning men who want to get hitched and have kids?”
Krista swiped at a lock of hair rustling against her cheek. “What’s wrong with that? I’m twenty-eight years old.”
Noah nodded. “So? I am, too.”
Krista rolled her eyes. “Never mind. You don’t get it.”
“I get it. You have that biological clock–ticking thing.”
This made Krista laugh even though she was half past frustrated. “Actually, yes. And, news flash, some men out there have the same thing.”
Noah looked at her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, maybe he felt a pang of sadness, or regret, or…“Maybe one day,” he said on a nod.
“One day what?”
“You know, maybe one day I’ll get married, too.”
This was the first time Krista had ever heard him talk of such. “No way.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It might be nice.”
“I can’t believe my ears right now.”
He looked at her again, his gaze sticking. Was she imagining the heat between them? Was it just her? His gaze dropped to her chest and her head went dizzy with desire and anticipation and…“You still wear that silly fishing hook I gave you when we were seven.” He reached out and lifted the charm off her chest, his hand achingly close to her racing heart.
“It’s one of my favorite things,” she said, mouth parched. The space between them was hot as a sauna.
“I caught my first bass with this hook. That’s why it’s lucky.”
“And why you gave it to me before my surgery. It’s always brought me luck.”
His gaze lifted. “Good luck, I hope.”
“What?” Her head was spinning.
“Good luck and not bad.”
“Oh, right. Yes. I wouldn’t wear it if it brought bad luck.” A small laugh escaped her lips.
Get up, Krista…Kiss him, Krista…No, she’d kissed him first last time. She wasn’t doing that again. No way, no how…
His hand placed the charm back against her chest. He didn’t pull it away, though. Instead, he leaned in closer to her. Without thinking, Krista swallowed and rolled her lips inward to wet them. She was preparing for a kiss that couldn’t possibly happen.
There was no way. They were best friends, that’s all.
Then he reached up, pushed that unruly lock of hair behind her ear, and cupped the back of her neck, offering a gentle tug in his direction. Her body didn’t resist. Their gazes locked, a silent agreement that their lips were going to meet. “Noah,” she said, unsure if any other words would follow. A protest. A confession.
