Page 54 of Stolen Kisses
Noah took a few steps into the water and waited for her.
A soft squeal tumbled off her lips as she dipped her big toe and then her foot into the chilly water. He pulled her out a few feet, positioned himself behind her, and wrapped his arms around her under the pretense of helping her hold the pole.
“I know how to hold the pole. You could just tell me what to do,” she said, but she didn’t try to pull out of his embrace, he noticed.
“Thought I’d keep you warm in the process. And there’s a trick to fly-fishing.” He gripped her hand on the pole and led her arm back over her head. Then in a quick movement, he guided her to flick the line forward and out into the water. The bait pierced the lake’s smooth surface, causing a ripple effect.
“Now we wait,” Krista said, shivering in his arms.
He held her tighter, his mouth just beside her ear. She smelled like lavender and honey, and he breathed her in for a long moment until the line tugged and Krista squealed excitedly.
“We got one, we got one!”
“Hold on.” Noah jerked the line back up and out of the water, revealing a small trout, wiggling and wrestling against the air.
“Wow! I forgot how much I love that feeling,” Krista said, as Noah reached for the fish, securing it tightly in one hand. “She’s so beautiful.”
“It’s been a while since you’ve gone fishing with me. Wanna kiss her before I toss her back?”
She scrunched her face. He’d always threatened her with kissing the fish when they were kids. “The answer is still no. And as much fun as that was, I’m f-f-freezing.”
He gently placed the fish back into the water. Once released, it swam away like its life depended on it. Noah could learn a lot from that fish. “Well, you got a little taste of the action here at least. Guess I’ll have to bring you back in the summer time when the water is just right. We can even go skinny dipping if you want.” He waggled his brows as if he was teasing, but he was mostly serious.
Krista rewarded him with a laugh. The sound, like the fishing lure, pierced through him, causing a ripple effect of its own. This whole weekend had been one series of ripple effects.
“C’mon. Let’s go warm you up,” he said, taking her hand and helping her back to dry land.
—
Thank God she could feel her hands and feet again.
Krista leaned over a plate of hot pasta at the kitchen table. She lifted her gaze to watch as Noah headed to the table holding two candlesticks and some matches. He lit them both, then sat down in the dimly lit room. “Who says I’m not romantic? I give you a candlelit dinner and wine.”
“You’re doing well.” Krista reached for her glass and started to take a sip.
“Whoa, hold up. Let’s toast.” He raised his glass and waited for hers to meet his. “Since you’re teaching me a little bit about the subject this weekend, let’s tap our glasses to romance.”
“To romance.”
They drank and then dug in.
Krista closed her eyes as she tasted the food.
“Good?”
“So good. I had no idea you could cook like this.”
“Well, you were coaching me on that, too. I can’t take all the credit. We make a good team. We always have.”
Krista twirled a forkful of pasta above her plate. “I dread leaving here tomorrow.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “It’s going to be a busy next three weeks. I had no idea there were so many maid-of-honor duties.”
“Jack only gave me this, and this isn’t so bad. I’m kind of having a great time. And by kind of, I mean a whole hell of a lot.”
Krista shifted on her chair. “I promised Grace I’d help with the gift registry and the reception they’re having afterward, too. Jack has no interest in filling out a registry and Grace’s mom isn’t really healthy enough to help because of her Parkinson’s disease.”
