Page 46 of Stolen Kisses
She opened her eyes and looked at him. “You’re right. It smells and looks delicious. I guess you don’t need me.”
He handed her a glass of wine. “You’re cut off after one glass tonight.”
She took it and brought it to her lips. Before sipping, she said, “Why? You afraid I might do something crazy?”
More afraid thathemight do something crazy. He’d walked away from her kisses twice now. Given a third chance, he wouldn’t be able to resist sweeping this woman off her feet and carrying her straight to that king-sized bed down the hall.
He cleared his throat and avoided the question. “It’ll be ready in about twenty minutes. I want to let the vegetables get a little softer.”
Krista nodded, taking another sip from her wine. “I could start cleaning.”
“Let’s save that for tomorrow. It’s been a long day. You should enjoy your first night in the Sawyer cabin.”
She leaned against the counter where he worked. “I guess I won’t argue with that.”
“So how’s that kid?” he asked, needing a neutral, non-sexual subject to latch onto.
“Adam? He’s doing well right now. I’m going to babysit him sometime soon for his mom. It’s gotta be tough being a single parent. And I don’t mind. I love that little guy. He’s been in and out of my floor since he was in diapers. I think his immune system just can’t take this world.”
Noah leaned against the counter beside her. “You know what I think?”
She lifted her brows in question. “Hmm?”
“I think the hospital would be crazy not to promote you to head nurse. You’d be a natural leader. I know you would.”
She blushed with the compliment. “Thanks for saying so. We’ll see what happens. If I don’t get it, well, I’ll be devastated, but I’ll still get a chance to work with the kids, which is all I’ve ever really wanted to do anyway.”
“Why kids?” he asked, realizing there were actually some things he still didn’t know about his lifelong best friend.
Krista set her half-empty wineglass on the counter beside her. Her hand absently wandered to the charm around her neck as she thought on her response. “I guess because the only thing they expect is love. I have that to offer in spades. They’re not as easily disappointed as adults. I like that.” She met his gaze. “Okay, your turn. Jack left the family fishing business last year. What makes you stay?”
“Hmm.” He tipped his glass back and finished off its contents. He was enjoying this game of twenty questions. “I like the thrill of not knowing what’s out there and when it’ll bite my line.”
She grinned. “I totally knew that would be your answer.”
“Yeah?” All he wanted was to lean in and take Krista into his arms again right now. What the heck was wrong with him?
“There’ll always be something bigger and better, and you’ll always keep looking for it,” she said.
That comment set uneasy with him. Mainly because it was true, and he didn’t like that about himself. Why couldn’t he be satisfied?
The timer beeped behind them. Noah turned to lift the lid off the pot and inspect his creation. Krista stepped up beside him and leaned in, too.
“Yum.” She tapped her belly, luring his eyes there. Her cotton shirt was slim-fit, showing off her narrow waist.
He wanted to anchor his hands there, one on each side, and tug her over. Forget the stew, it could keep on stewing. “Okay. I’ll grab the bowls and you get the silverware,” he instructed, pointing her to a drawer. “Then we’ll sample the goods.”
He mentally talked himself down all the way to his seat at the small wooden table. He’d been good not to sample the goods all these years. He’d kept his hands and his thoughts off the brunette seated across from him, and now suddenly each second that passed seemed like a small feat. The romance of the cabin and the way the woman in front of him looked and smelled and tasted was going straight to his head.
“Noah?” Krista tapped the table and he snapped his gaze up. “Did you hear me?”
He shook his head. “Did you say something?”
Humor twinkled in her eyes. “You’re either thinking about that kiss or me in the bathtub. Which is it?”
He cleared his throat again. He could deny it if he wanted to, but what was the point? “Both,” he answered honestly.
Her chest lifted as she sucked in a breath. He guessed she’d expected him to pretend that wasn’t the case. He was tired of pretending not to be attracted to each other, though. “Oh. Well.” She giggled nervously, casting her gaze down to the table in front of her.
