Page 24 of Stolen Kisses
When their meals were deposited in front of them, they ate like they hadn’t tasted food in ages. Noah was nearly done and considering licking his plate when he heard a woman laughing somewhere behind him. It was a familiar sound—not the most graceful laugh he’d ever heard, but one that had always quickened his heart and made him smile.
Turning, he looked for Krista. She came here sometimes with coworkers. She loved Abby’s food as much as the next person. His gaze landed on her. She sat several tables away, laughing with her hand on her chest as if she couldn’t breathe. She was wearing her lavender-colored scrubs today, which he knew were her favorite. Her hair was down, making soft curls that framed her now flushed face. Whoever she was with had a knack for making her laugh. Jealousy speared through him. That was his job.
Noah inspected her lunch partner now. Broad-shouldered, thick necked. It definitely wasn’t one of the female nurses she usually had lunch with. This was a man. As Noah watched, the man leaned across the table and swiped a smear of ketchup off her cheek as she laughed harder.
Noah’s teeth clicked together in the back.
“What are you looking at, bro?” Jack asked then.
Noah blinked and looked at his brothers. Jack and Sam trailed their gazes where his had been and then they both gave a knowing glance.Screw their knowing glances. They don’t know anything.“So she’s having lunch with a man. So what? I hang out with women all the time.”
“Not just any man,” Sam said. “That’s Dr. Dale, a cardiologist at BBM.”
“Built and rich,” Jack said, that teasing quality back in his voice.
“I’m built and rich, too,” Noah said. “And I’m not jealous.”
“Could’ve fooled us.” Sam shared a look with Jack.
“I’m not. If I wanted to date Krista, I could. She kissed me the other night, you know.” Noah regretted telling them as soon as the words had left his mouth.
His brothers’ jaws dropped. “What?”
Noah held up a hand. “That’s between us, okay? She was a little drunk and she doesn’t even remember that it happened. Which is probably for the best.”
“Oh, man. You lucked out. If she did remember, that could be disastrous,” Sam said.
“No.” Jack put his fork down. “It would be good because it’d force Noah to admit that he has feelings for her, too.”
“I’m not admitting anything.” Noah pointed a finger. “And I’m sorry I told you two. Don’t you even think about telling Grace,” he said to Jack.
“Can’t very well start a marriage keeping secrets.” Jack lifted his fork and continued eating.
“If you want to keep your face you can.” Noah looked at Krista and Dr. Dale again. It looked like a date, and Krista hadn’t dated in a long while. He should be happy for her.
So why the hell wasn’t he?
