Page 15 of Welcome to Forever
Kat’s warm hand reached for his, making his tension melt away.How the hell did she do that?
“How about I repay your favor in rescuing me tonight, and we have some fun with her?” she asked, as Nicole approached.
He wasn’t sure what Kat had in mind, but looking at the beautiful principal now, he’d be willing to plead temporary insanity with her, too. “Deal,” he said.
—
What was she thinking volunteering to pretend she was Micah’s new girlfriend?
She wasn’t thinking. She’d simply seen that look cross his face when he saw the redhead, and she’d reacted.
Kat looked down at their interlocked fingers, and then met the woman’s narrowed catlike eyes. The redhead wore a tight smile.
“Hi, Micah,” she purred.
“Nicole.” He turned toward Kat. “Kat, this is Nicole. She lives just down the street from you.”
Releasing his hand, Kat reached out to shake Nicole’s. “So, we’re neighbors. Nice to meet you, Nicky.” She’d gotten the name wrong on purpose.What’s gotten into me?
Nicole didn’t take her hand. Instead, she stroked the back of the white Persian cat in her arms and gave Kat an assessing stare-down.
Kat tried not to breathe; she was allergic to cats.
“Kitty needed a walk. Helps her sleep,” Nicole said, kind of looking like a cat herself with her narrow face and large, green eyes.
Micah stepped in closer to Kat. The woman standing in front of them had hurt him, which spiked Kat’s protective nature. Except she usually protected little children. Not muscular groundskeepers, who looked very capable of taking care of themselves.
Leaning into him, she looked up and met his intoxicating eyes. “Honey, you better get Ben home. It’s been a long night.” All eyes went to Ben, who was fast asleep in the back of the Jeep.
“You’re right. Long, but fun.” He winked, which did funny things to her stomach. Then he turned with a tight smile. “Nicole, it was nice to see you again.”
The beautiful redhead hesitated.
He wrapped an arm around Kat’s shoulders and squeezed. Even though she knew it was only for show, it felt good—too good—and she nestled into his hold. She liked her pillows soft, but resting her head against his hard pecs was nice, too. Only they didn’t invite fantasies of sleep, but something much more stimulating.
“Okay,” Nicole finally said. “Nice to meet you,Kate.”
Kat would’ve corrected her, but just as her mouth opened to speak, Micah’s other arm reached across her body, brushing against her breasts to open her front door. He hadn’t meant to touch her there, she was sure of it, but she shuddered with undeniable attraction. The attraction only intensified as she caught a whiff of his cologne, or maybe that was just him. He smelled like man—hot, sexy man.
Catching her eye, he smiled as his hand still rested on the doorknob. “Is she walking away?” he whispered, the sound of his voice gruff like the unshaven edge of his cheek. Kat suddenly wanted to feel that cheek brushing against hers.
She glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “Um, yes. Slowly…Oh, wait. She’s looking back—”
Before she could complete her sentence, Micah’s lips touched hers. She gave a little gasp, and then melted into the kiss, forgetting for a moment that they were pretending. That she was only repaying Micah’s favor and pissing off the redhead. That this had all been her idea, and the moment was fake.
Warm tingles ran through her body as his hand traveled up her arm and gently caressed her cheek. Her lips parted, inviting the kiss to rocket from sweet to sinful. Micah pulled back and stared long and deep into her eyes.
But holy Godiva.The kiss hadn’t felt fake.
“Is she still watching?” he asked in a low whisper.
She looked past him as she attempted to catch the breath he’d just stolen. “No.”
“Too bad. I was prepared to kiss you again,” he said, releasing her slowly and taking a step back. He held her gaze for a long, heated moment, and then tossed a glance in Ben’s direction.
Still sleeping. Good. The school didn’t need to hear about the principal kissing a student’s father.
Did Micah just say he’s going to kiss me again?
