Rose Kirkland recently lost the man she most admired. She isn't ready for her life to change, but she begins to realize that her life is a series of other people's lies and interferences.
Cole Fuller needs a break. And his great-uncle's will has g...
Rose stared, wide-eyed, at the blurry face pressed against hers. His lips were warm and gentle, but she was frozen. Lightning flashed outside, the storm closer now, illuminating the room in bursts of white light. A rumble quickly followed.
"Sweeter than I dreamed," he said, moving back just enough that his mouth tickled against her lips.
"You...kissed me."
"Yeah, I did."
"You...you...you kissed me."
"I should have asked first?"
"Why did you kiss me?"
He caressed her jawline, starting above her ear, and moved down to her chin. "This was one of those things I thought of doing, but didn't."
"To kiss me?"
"To kiss you," he repeated.
"Why? I've purposefully called you Mr. Fuller to keep you from thinking anything like this!"
She saw his lips move again, but now he only smiled. "Mmm...especially when you call me Mr. Fuller." He sat back, removed his hands from her face, and leaned against the wall again. "But since you purposefully don't want me to think about kissing you, I promise not to act upon my thoughts again."
By habit, she began a berating by saying, "Mr. Fuller," but then stopped short when he gave her a crooked grin, and she inched back for fear that he might launch himself across the floor and kiss her again.
He kissed me...
"I mean, Cole," she corrected, and he grinned wider. Rose threw her hands up. "You still haven't told me why."
"I think the last twenty minutes have outlined the why," he said, leaning his head back so that he watched her through half-closed eyes.
"The last twenty—" She shut her eyes and took a breath. "This conversation will not get any better, will it?"
"Of course, it can get better," he said.
"How?"
"You could kiss me."
"Can we please stop talking about kissing?"
"Sure."
"And thinking about it, please."
"Not a chance."
She gathered up the tray of empty bowls. "I think I've overstayed my welcome."
"Never," he said quietly. "Come back anytime."
The bowls rattled when she picked up the tray, her hands shook so much. "That storm is getting really close. I should go check on Jeepers..."
"If you need any help tonight, just holler," he said. "With anything."
She peeked at him. He smiled, his eyes still half-closed, watching her through thick lashes. And the longer she looked at him, the wider his smile became. She barely caught the tray before it crashed to the floor, and escaped to her own apartment. Good lord...what's wrong with me? It was one kiss!
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