Finding Him (Him Series Book 2)

18-God first

Hunter

Tearing his mouth from hers, Hunter dragged in a breath, his heart racing.

He'd never been so affected by a kiss. A tender, gentle one at that. As much as he'd like to blame his actions on lust, it wasn't true. He wanted Izabelle like a man wanted a woman, yes. But that wasn't why he'd kissed her.

Izabelle turned him inside out with her mixture of sweetness and vulnerability. Made him long for things he thought he'd given up on having. He craved the connection more than anything, the feeling that he wasn't alone in the world. She filled the emptiness he'd resigned himself to have for the rest of his life.

Most of all he was drawn to her quest to find God. He could look for the rest of his life and never find another woman who would want to read the Bible if they won a ridiculous bet.

Izabelle touched her lips with trembling fingers. She stared up at him with a look in her eyes that threatened to bring him to his knees.

"Izzy." Her name was thick with emotion. "I don't know what to say."

She released a breath she'd been holding. "I was afraid you'd apologize."

He'd thought about it, but he regretted nothing. "Should I apologize?"

"Only if you're sorry." She closed her eyes as if summoning courage. "I'm not. I've wanted you to kiss me since the first time we met."

The thick ice around his heart began to thaw. "You mean that night at the bar? The spilled beer?"

"No. The first time. I came to get Darryl. You wanted to protect me from him. Do you remember?"

"Of course, I do, but you were sixteen."

"Guess you're surprised to know you were my teenage crush." Her cheeks stained a pretty pink. "Now you have a better understanding of my behavior with the beer. I saw you. My heart grew wings. I knocked over a pitcher," she listed in a singsong voice. "History."

"Izabelle—"

"I didn't want to make this moment even more awkward." She threaded her small hands through her hair, clearly upset. "Think carefully about what you're about to say. We can forget this night. It doesn't have to ruin our friendship."

"That won't happen. You and I are friends." He wanted more. God, please help me here.

"Just friends?" she whispered, gazing up at him like he was some kind of hero.

"I thought with the bet and the dates that friendship was all you wanted."

"Oh, Hunter, no." She sighed, wet her lips, and her forehead crinkled with worry. "What if I want more?"

He fought the desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her again. "I'd say you should stop finding me dates with other women."

"Really?"

"If we were more than friends, I wouldn't date anyone else and I'd want you to only date me."

"Yes! That's what I want. I meant really as in you're open to the idea of more with me." The sheer hope in her eyes stole his breath.

"It's what I want too, Izabelle." This time he didn't stop himself and in the next heartbeat she was in his arms, but he didn't kiss her. "We should pray."

"We definitely should." He felt her nod beneath his chin. "God will know what to do."

Hunter was reeling from the surprise of his request for prayer. Where had that come from? He knew the answer without a doubt.