Hearts Through Time

ELEVEN

Nick jumped in his seat, his heart thudding so hard he was afraid it would leap out of his chest. A bright light shone inside the car. He squinted toward the beam as he tried to see who had interrupted his first kiss with Abby.

As the light dropped lower, he found himself staring into the gruff face of a policeman. Nick groaned. Of all the nights for this to happen. He pulled away from Abby and lowered the window. "What can I do for you, officer? Is something wrong?"

As the policeman shined the light on the passenger seat, his eyebrows pulled together and his forehead creased. Obviously, the cop couldn't see Abby, and Nick knew he must look ridiculous sitting in the car with his arms wrapped around—nothing—while he passionately kissed—air.

"Are you stranded?" the man questioned warily.

"No, I—" Nick glanced at Abby, whose hand covered her mouth, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I was tired, so I pulled off the road," he continued as he looked back at the officer.

The policeman narrowed his gaze as he focused his light on the passenger seat again. Shaking his head, he lowered the flashlight. "Well, this isn't a very safe street to take a nap. I suggest you move on."

Nick nodded. "Thank you, sir. I will." He bit his lip so as not to laugh out loud. Poor policeman, what he must be thinking...

Nick waited for the policeman to drive off, but the man of the law was clearly waiting for Nick to make the first move. He sighed, started the car, and pulled away from the curb.

Beside him, Abby laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm quite certain that policeman thinks he's going daft."

"I think you're right." Nick pulled her close to him once more. "I'm sorry we were interrupted, but maybe it's a good thing. Making out in a parked car isn't what I want to do."

Abigail stroked his arm. "What do you want to do?"

"If this would have happened to me several months ago, I wouldn't have a problem telling you what I want." He glanced her way quickly before watching the road again. "But things have changed. I have changed, and what I want to do and what I will do are two different things. I hope you don't think less of me if I take you back to my office now." He squeezed her knee. "As much as I want to be with you—intimately—I think we both need time to cool off. After all, you haven't kissed a man for nearly a century, and I—well, I just want to do things the right way."

She cuddled closer to him. "Why would I think less of you for being a gentleman? I know men in your century do things differently, but men in my century had high standards, and they respected women. You have always reminded me of the men in my time, and I'm very glad you said what you did."

He reached his office building, parked the car, took Abby's hand, and escorted her up the sidewalk. He knew he looked strange since nobody else could see her, but he didn't care.

Her beautiful eyes fluttered when she looked at him, and a blush stole across her cheeks. "Whatever it was that brought us together like this, I'm grateful for this time with you."

He smiled. "You took the words right out of my mouth."

They entered his office and he shut the door. Before turning on the light, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, her soft tresses cascaded over his hands seductively.

He brushed his lips over her eyelids and her nose, and then captured her mouth. The kiss he gave her this time wasn't as passionate as the one in the car, but it still left him breathless. When he pulled away, he said tenderly, "You were made to be in my arms."