by Annie Rains
Noah glanced over at Krista who stared at the cabin for the first time. “I’ve heard you guys talk about this place, but your description never did it justice. This place is a tiny mansion.”
“With a mountain backdrop.”
“And you’re on a lake.” Krista pushed her Jeep door open and stepped out, stretching her arms overhead.
Noah looked at the ground to keep from noticing her curves, which were all too noticeable in the fitted jeans and T-shirt she had on. “It’s great for fishing.”
Krista frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “Fishing? Is that all you Sawyer boys ever think about?”
“Pretty much,” he said. Until recently. Now, all he seemed to think about was her and that kiss they’d shared. “Let’s go inside. I can’t wait to show you the place.” He hoisted her bag off her shoulder and onto his, then led the way up the stone walkway to the hardwood front door.
Krista looked to her right and gave a little squeal. “There’s a porch swing, too! I love this place already!”
Noah pushed the front door open and gestured her inside.
Krista squealed some more, moving from one room to another. “This is the perfect honeymoon setting. Who needs some fancy island resort when you have a place like this at your disposal?”
“And sex toys to boot,” Noah added, taking Krista’s bag to the main bedroom. “You get to stay in the big bedroom tonight.”
Krista followed him and immediately went to the window overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Are you kidding me? Why didn’t you guys ever bring me here with you?”
“Because you’re a girl.”
Krista glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve always been one of the guys to you, though.” A sadness shaded her blue eyes. Was he imagining that? Did she regret the relationship they’d had until now?
Setting her bag down, Noah walked up beside her to peer out. “Wanna climb later?”
Krista’s lips parted—and he couldn’t help but notice how plump that bottom lip of hers was. He wanted to take it in his own mouth and give it a little nibble. He wanted to hear her sigh into his mouth the way she had a few weeks back. “Are you serious?”
He shook his head. “Not often. And no. I don’t climb. I fish, canoe, and take up residence on that front porch swing while I’m here.”
“Sounds like heaven.” A smile lifted her rose-colored lips. “Grace and Jack are going to have a great time.” She turned around and crossed her arms. “Okay. So we’re here on business, not pleasure. What needs to be done?”
Noah shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “A little dusting, I guess. Change the bedsheets.”
“I brought silk ones,” Krista told him.
Noah narrowed his eyes. “Jack isn’t going to want silk sheets on his bed.”
“It’s their honeymoon and it’s romantic. And Grace will want them, so she wins.”
Noah frowned, but didn’t argue just yet. “We need to stock the freezer and the pantry. I brought a few things for you and me to have tonight. Tomorrow morning, we can head out to get supplies for the happy couple.”
“Okay.”
“And I need to cut some wood for the fireplace.”
Krista clasped her hands at her chest and got a dreamy look on her face. “A fire is romantic, too.”
“This is a new side of you I haven’t seen before. Since when do you like romantic things?”
Krista met his gaze. “Since always. In case you haven’t noticed Noah, I’m a woman.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed.” He didn’t intend the deep rasp in his voice. Coupled with the way their gazes locked, the space between them was purely electric. If he hadn’t gotten such a good handle on his impulse control when he was younger, he’d be pressing her against that wood paneled wall right now and kissing her silly. Pulling that plump bottom lip between his teeth and tasting her again. He cleared his throat, impulses locked down. “It’s supposed to get cold here this weekend. I’ll chop some extra wood for us. Not to add any romance, of course.”
Krista took a step back, a small laugh tumbling out of her. “Of course.”
Noah hitched a finger behind him. “I’ll just go change clothes and head outside to chop a few pieces. It’ll be dark in a couple hours and that’s when the temperature really drops. If I remember correctly, you don’t like being cold.”
“I’ve always said I’d rather be on a sunny beach. But I never had this to compare it to. I might prefer this.”
Noah watched Krista. Her excitement was contagious. “I’m glad you like it here.” And he needed to go chop that wood pronto because Krista was right. He’d never seen the romance in this place. It was just a cabin where he could appreciate the outdoors from a different view. Having Krista here with him, though, turned that view on its head, and he saw why his parents had come here on their honeymoon. And Sam and Abby, too, way back when they were a couple. Now it was Jack and Grace’s turn. “You can just put those items from Sugar and Spicy away. I’ll be back soon.” After he’d worked off his energy and his attraction to Krista.
Chapter 9
Krista watched Noah in the backyard for a long moment. He was wearing one of those mountain men flannel shirts with the sleeves rolled up over his massive forearms. And good grief, he was beautiful. Sweat beads rolled down his temple and he was tearing into that wood as if it’d offended him. With each forceful lift and lowering of his axe, Krista got a little more overheated. No worries that she’d be cold this weekend. None whatsoever.
She turned away from the window and blew out a breath. She’d wrestle her attraction to this man all weekend, but she would win. If she wanted a happily-ever-after in her own life, which she did, she needed to veer her thoughts toward someone else.
Her phone rang in her pocket and Grace’s name lit the screen. “Hey,” Krista answered.
Grace’s voice came across the line in broken pieces.
“Hey, Grace. I can’t hear you…Grace?”
The reception here was apparently nonexistent. “Grace, the connection here is bad,” she said, hoping Grace could at least hear her on the other side. “I’m going to hang up, but this place is amazing! You’re going to love it!…Okay, well, I’ll try to call you later. Bye.” Krista ended the call and set her cellphone down on the counter, then cast one more look at Noah because the sight of him chopping wood was just too good to pass up. Her body grew warm, hot, hotter. Who needed a fire when he was around?
Krista marched toward the main bedroom where she would be sleeping and emptied the bag of items from Sugar and Spicy onto the bed. Handcuffs, blindfold, massage oils, one large pink feather, For Her Pleasure condoms, and…
Wait, where did that come from?
Krista’s face scrunched at the pink toy. It was circular and made out of a jellylike material with a metal rod puncturing one end. She couldn’t even fathom what it was for. Noah must’ve tossed it in at the cash register.
Krista pushed a button and the toy buzzed to life in her hand. She squeaked and jumped back, tossing it on the bed as if it’d attacked her. Hearing the cabin door open and shut in the kitchen, she hurriedly reached for it and turned it off. Then she scooped it up and placed it inside the drawer with the other items. She didn’t want Noah to walk in and realize she had no idea what the toy did and highlight her inexperience in an area where Noah was obviously an expert.
“What are you up to back here?” Noah asked, poking his head into her bedroom door.
Krista nearly jumped five feet off the ground. “Me?” She whirled away from the dresser drawer where she’d placed the items and blinked back at him.
He grinned. There were beads of sweat all over his forehead. Sexy beads. “You found the surprise item, didn’t you?”
She shook her head, but she’d always been a bad liar. “No. No, I didn’t find any surprise items.” Her gaze averted. She pulled her lower lip in reflexively. Realizing she’d done her tell, she spit her lower lip back out.
“Yeah, you di
d. The extra thing in the bag is for Jack’s benefit.” He laughed. “If he can figure out what it is.”
Krista rolled her lips together, bouncing her gaze anywhere but Noah’s eyes. She did not want to admit that she didn’t know, either. She was so inexperienced in the sexual arena, it bordered on pathetic. She was well on her way to being thirty years old. Of course she should know what that pink jelly vibrating thingamabob was.
“Wait a minute.” Noah narrowed his eyes and she knew she was busted.
Changing the subject, she placed a hand on her hip. “It’s a little weird that you bought your brother a sex toy, don’t you think?” she asked, talking quickly.
His grin fell flat. “That is weird, isn’t it?”
She pressed a hand to her chest. “Grace is my friend. That’s different. And she asked me to.” Krista headed out of the bedroom, leaving the subject of her sexual inexperience there. “But Jack is your blood relative, so buying him a sex toy is a little creepy.” She continued talking. “So, did you chop enough wood?”
“Uh, yeah. Thought I’d shower off and then we could make some dinner. Sound good?”
Krista nodded, heading into the kitchen for a cool drink of water. Her throat was suddenly the Sahara Desert.
“Then we can talk about what else needs to be done while we’re here.”
Krista dipped into the fridge, stayed there a moment to let her flushed skin cool, and came back up. “Oh, Grace called, but my reception was awful. Is your phone working?”
Noah shook his head. “It never works up here. Part of the charm of this place is being disconnected from reality and the world.”
“What if there’s an emergency?” Krista asked.
“I have my own personal nurse.” He winked. “Going to shower now. See you in a minute. Then I’ll explain exactly what that item in the bag is if you want,” he called down the hall.
Krista groaned. “I know what it is,” she called back, lying and hoping to God he didn’t call her out on it.
—
Noah let the hot water run over his face. He’d always enjoyed teasing Krista, but now it felt flirtatious, when it never had before. He guessed it was the shift in how he was viewing her these days. And dammit, he didn’t want to view her any differently.
The thought of her holding up the enhancer ring he’d purchased at Sweet and Spicy and trying to figure out what exactly it was made him chuckle under his breath.
Krista was so innocent. And adorable. And sexy as hell.
And he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
He grabbed the bar of soap and ran it over his body working through his irritation at himself. He didn’t need a hot shower, he needed an ice cold one.
He turned the water off, grabbed a towel, and dried off. Pulling on some fresh clothes, he headed back out to find Krista…nowhere to be found. “Krista?” He walked through the house, glancing in each room. Then he opened the front door and found her swinging on the front porch.
“My favorite spot, too,” he said, closing the door behind him. “Mind if we share?”
She looked so relaxed. He liked seeing her this way. She usually had a hard time relaxing after a busy day at work. Her heart was so big that she often took her work home. He’d always admired how much she cared about her patients.
“Sure.” She scooted over, giving him room. The swing was built for couples, though, and their thighs touched as he sat down.
Should’ve taken that cold shower.
“This is the best spot to see the sunrise,” he said. “If you wanna see an unforgettable sunset, you go out back near the lake.”
“What time does the sun set here?” she asked.
“ ’Bout an hour from now. I’ll make sure you see it. It’s not something you want to miss out on.”
Krista grinned. “I’m glad I’ll be here a couple days. I know we’re here to work, but I really needed a mini getaway.”
“Work problems?”
Krista blew out a seemingly endless breath. “I’m not getting that promotion.”
Noah glanced over with concern. “Who is?”
“Well, I don’t know. It’s not been decided yet. But it’s definitely not going to be me. Karen thinks I’m too young, that I get too close to my patients, and the other night she showed up on my date with Chandler from Cardiac. Dating colleagues is frowned upon.”
Noah guessed he should be thankful that she was discussing Chandler with him again. She’d been so tight-lipped on that subject. Then again, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the status of Krista and Dr. Dale’s relationship.
“I know you’re not a fan of Chandler,” she said on a sigh. “He’s really a very nice guy, though.”
A sickening feeling moved over Noah’s stomach. The kind he had when he entered the fish house sometimes. “Yeah, of course. I’m just glad you found someone who makes you happy.”
Krista twisted her mouth to one side. “That’s not exactly the case. I told Chandler I just wanted to be friends.”
“Oh, yeah? Why is that?” Relief hit Noah like a cool mountain breeze.
“Because he’s just not the one for me. But I’m determined to find the person who is.” She looked over. “I want to get married, just like Grace and Jack. I want kids. I want it all.”
“Easy there.” Noah held up his hands and Krista laughed.
“Sorry. I know that stuff scares you.”
Noah straightened. “Does not.”
“Does too.”
They looked at each other and for a moment, Noah had the undeniable, irresistible urge to lean in and steal a kiss. Krista’s lips looked so effing inviting. She was sitting so close, and her scent lingered on the mountain breeze like a wildflower that he wanted to pick.
Her chest lifted on an inhale as their gazes held. It was turn away or kiss her, and they both knew it.
Time seemed to slow to an aching pace. Then, like a coward, Noah turned away.
—
She’d thought he was going to kiss her just now. But that was crazy. Noah would never kiss her. Even when she’d kissed him the other night, he hadn’t kissed her back. Not that she remembered, at least. And she was pretty sure she would’ve remembered if he had.
Krista scooted over the half inch that the swing allowed and looked out on the mountainscape. “I think I’m going to give online dating a try.”
“What? You’ve always said that stuff was silly.” He bumped an elbow against hers. Her traitorous body responded to his every touch.
“Yeah, well, now I’m thinking it makes sense.” The subject brought back some of her dignity. If she was talking about dating someone else, Noah wouldn’t think she’d wanted to kiss him just now, even though she really, really had. “There are a lot of like-minded professionals on those dating sites.”
“ ‘Like-minded’ meaning men who want to get hitched and have kids?”
Krista swiped at a lock of hair rustling against her cheek. “What’s wrong with that? I’m twenty-eight years old.”
Noah nodded. “So? I am, too.”
Krista rolled her eyes. “Never mind. You don’t get it.”
“I get it. You have that biological clock–ticking thing.”
This made Krista laugh even though she was half past frustrated. “Actually, yes. And, news flash, some men out there have the same thing.”
Noah looked at her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, maybe he felt a pang of sadness, or regret, or…“Maybe one day,” he said on a nod.
“One day what?”
“You know, maybe one day I’ll get married, too.”
This was the first time Krista had ever heard him talk of such. “No way.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It might be nice.”
“I can’t believe my ears right now.”
He looked at her again, his gaze sticking. Was she imagining the heat between them? Was it just her? His gaze dropped to her chest and her head went dizzy with desire and anticipation and…“You still wear tha
t silly fishing hook I gave you when we were seven.” He reached out and lifted the charm off her chest, his hand achingly close to her racing heart.
“It’s one of my favorite things,” she said, mouth parched. The space between them was hot as a sauna.
“I caught my first bass with this hook. That’s why it’s lucky.”
“And why you gave it to me before my surgery. It’s always brought me luck.”
His gaze lifted. “Good luck, I hope.”
“What?” Her head was spinning.
“Good luck and not bad.”
“Oh, right. Yes. I wouldn’t wear it if it brought bad luck.” A small laugh escaped her lips.
Get up, Krista…Kiss him, Krista…No, she’d kissed him first last time. She wasn’t doing that again. No way, no how…
His hand placed the charm back against her chest. He didn’t pull it away, though. Instead, he leaned in closer to her. Without thinking, Krista swallowed and rolled her lips inward to wet them. She was preparing for a kiss that couldn’t possibly happen.
There was no way. They were best friends, that’s all.
Then he reached up, pushed that unruly lock of hair behind her ear, and cupped the back of her neck, offering a gentle tug in his direction. Her body didn’t resist. Their gazes locked, a silent agreement that their lips were going to meet. “Noah,” she said, unsure if any other words would follow. A protest. A confession.
“I’m going to kiss you now, if that’s okay with you.”
She swallowed again, unable to think fast enough. She nodded. “Yes.”
Before she could take a breath, his lips brushed against hers and his hand ran down to her shoulder, holding her in place, grounding her to the moment. She parted her lips for him, allowing him to go deeper…because it felt right. This felt right.
And wrong on so many levels.
She didn’t want to think about that right now, though. She’d been waiting years for Noah to kiss her. She wanted this. She’d always wanted this. And hadn’t Noah just told her that he might want the same things she did one day?