Page 47 of Welcome to Forever
She pulled her head back to look at him. Then she watched numbly as he dipped his head closer to hers, hovering at her lips and waiting for a signal that she wanted him to.
And hell yeah,she wanted him to.
She clutched his T-shirt and pulled him the rest of the way, moaning slightly as his tongue lunged into her mouth. His hands caressed her mid-back, then traveled up and around the curve of her breasts.Oh, God,she really wanted him to. Her body ached as his kisses lowered to her neck and then to the slight cleavage at the top of her blouse. Good thing he’d closed her office door behind him. She wanted him to unbutton her blouse. Wanted his mouth to cover her breasts. Wanted him to—
The phone buzzed on her desk. Kat’s eyes snapped open, locking on Micah’s. The machine buzzed again. Reaching over, she pressed the call-receive button. “Yes?”
“Kat?” Val’s voice blared into her office. “What happened with the mayor?”
Kat cleared her throat. She’d have to kill Val later.
“And is Mr. Peterson still in there with you?” Val asked.
Micah removed his hands from Kat’s body and straightened as Kat pulled her clothing back into position.
“Yes, he is,” she said, unnerved by the shaky quality to her voice. Val would know exactly what was going on in here. Val always knew. Her brain was wired toward romance and sex.
“What are you guys doing in there anyway?” Laughter played in her friend’s voice.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow night, okay? Over chips and salsa.” Kat pressed the hang-up button and looked at the dark hunk of muscle in front of her. She had no intention of confessing anything to Val. Not yet. Whatever was developing between her and Micah was private, and she didn’t need anyone else’s opinion about what should happen next.
“I, uh…I’m sorry.” Concern etched itself on his forehead.
“Sorry?” Her smile evolved to a small laugh. “I was just about to thank you.”
—
“If you want my opinion,” Val began.
“I don’t.” Kat dipped a tortilla chip in a small bowl of salsa at the center of the table. “But tell me anyway.”
Val smiled. “Take the money from the mayor and move on. Kimberly Flowers will always be a spoiled brat as long as she’s under those people’s roof.”
Those people, meaning the mayor and his wife.
A waiter stood at the end of their table and cleared his throat. “Are you ladies ready to order yet?”
Val’s gaze traveled over him, making no attempt to hide her inspection of his young, athletic frame. “Are you on the menu?” She giggled a little as his cheeks darkened. “I’m just teasing you, honey. You’re way too young for me.” She pointed at an item on the vinyl menu. “I’ll have the chicken enchilada special.” She closed the menu and handed it back to him.
“And you?” The waiter turned to look at Kat.
“I’ll have the same.” She handed her menu to the man and waited for him to leave before continuing. “I considered taking the money. More to save my job than to appease anyone. But I can’t. John was the one who convinced me I could do this job. I wasn’t going to apply for principal, but he said that I was a natural born leader. He had faith in me.” She took a shuddery breath. “Just before he went on deployment, one of the last things he told me was that he believed I could lead this school and make a difference in those children’s lives. If I backed down with Kimberly…” Kat circled her finger around the rim of her glass. “I don’t know, I feel like he’d be disappointed in me somehow.”
Val’s eyes held that sympathetic slant.
“I know he’s dead. You don’t have to remind me,” Kat said. “But I still feel him, like he’s watching over me.” Now, instead of sympathy, Kat saw worry in her friend’s eyes. “And I’m not crazy, either. I just want to make him proud, even if it means losing my job.”
Val reached across the table and grasped her hand. “You know I love you, but I willneverunderstand you.” She smiled, her usually teasing eyes only full of kindness now.
“I love you, too.” Kat stared at their interlocked hands and then at the solitaire diamond on her finger. “Did I tell you that I have a date this weekend?” she asked, changing the subject.
Val pulled back and bounced on her seat. “No, you didn’t! I knew this was coming. Details. I need details. I haven’t gotten juicy details about your sex life in over two years.”
“And you’re not getting any now, either. I said date, not sex.”
“Same thing.” Val waved a hand. “Where is he taking you?”
“The Veterans’ Center.”
