Page 52 of Stolen Kisses
Chapter 12
Noah was in over his head, but he’d decided to just go with it. That’s what Krista seemed to be doing. Ever since their little talk at the grocery store, she’d been back to her old self. Whatever was bothering her—and he hoped it wasn’t regret about last night—had melted away. The mountains tended to do that to a person. It was one of his favorite places, aside from being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
And in Krista’s arms. That was a new favorite place. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get back there again, but he sure planned on trying tonight, despite that little voice inside him telling him it was a bad idea. He’d never been able to listen to that voice, so why start now?
“Okay. The bathrooms are sparkling.” Krista walked out of the master bathroom—the one where he’d seen her deep in a bubble bath yesterday—and blew up a breath to lift the strand of hair that had fallen in her eyes.
“You must really love Grace,” he said. “Jack’s my flesh and blood. I’m obligated to do this dirty work, but you aren’t.”
Krista set a bucket of cleaning supplies down on the kitchen island and went to wash her hands. “I do love Grace, just like she was my own sister.”
“So when Joey gets married one day, you’ll do this for him, too?”
Krista rolled her eyes. “No, way. Joey is on his own.”
Noah chuckled. “Well, I’ve stacked the firewood and cleaned up outside. Tossed some mothballs around the place because we don’t want the honeymoon mood ruined by snakes.”
Krista’s eyes widened as she turned to face him. “Snakes?”
“Rattlesnakes mostly. The closest hospital is miles from here. You could die from a bite by the time you get there. Best to keep the hissers away.”
“You didn’t tell me there would be snakes.”
“I didn’t know I needed to. You’re an outdoors girl.”
“Ocean-outdoors girl. That’s a lot different than mountain-outdoors girl.”
Noah scratched his chin as he watched her. “Okay. Well, just so you know, there are bears out there, too. And coyotes.”
Her face grew a shade paler, which he found adorable…and sexy. Without thinking, he pulled her to him. “Lucky for you, I know my way around all the outdoors, ocean and mountains.” Holding her against him felt as natural as breathing. Feeling her heart beat against his made his pulse jump.
After a moment, she tugged out of the embrace.
Noah cocked his head sideways. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m, uh…I’ve been scrubbing tubs and toilets this afternoon. I don’t think you want to hold me.” She hooked a thumb behind her. “I should probably go get cleaned up.”
Images of her in that bubble bath yesterday flooded his mind. “Need help with that?”
This made her laugh.
“Just being a nice guy,” he added as she continued toward the master bedroom.
“Uh-huh. I won’t be long. I want to go out to the lake before dark because now you’ve got me worried about what’s scurrying around out there.” Her gaze went to the window.
“You’re such a girl,” he teased.
“Are you just now realizing that?” Before he could answer, she disappeared behind the bedroom door.
No, he’d always known she was a girl, but he’d been doing his damnedest not to notice what a sexy woman she’d become. Now he’d seen her naked. He’d been inside her, and she’d felt like velvet magic. He’d gotten a taste of that forbidden apple he’d been circling for years—and he wanted more.
He pulled a few supplies out to make her dinner, resisting the fear that had been edging in on him all day. He hoped to God that he hadn’t made one of the biggest mistakes of his life last night. Krista knew him, though, and there was no way she was going to start dreaming up her own wedding bells and happily-ever-afters. She wasn’t like that. They could deal with their actions and move past them, like two consenting adults.
He’d gotten a little squirrelly earlier but, out of his need to make Krista smile, he’d slipped back into his fun-loving, flirtatious self. They had a rhythm that came easy, that felt right and he never wanted to lose it.
Ten minutes later, Krista walked back into the kitchen, fresh and clean, and absolutely kissable.
“I’m going to teach you the art of fly-fishing today,” he told her, leaving the cooking supplies on the counter and gesturing toward the back door.
