Page 38 of Ten Kisses

"It means I don't want to put a limit on the number of times we encounter each other. I don't find that desirable. Twelve would just extend it for two. Are you thinking that you're not going to want to ever see me again after this happens only two more times?"

"No, on the contrary, I'll just do or say anything to extend it at all. Remember, I'm the one who talked to you into this in the first place. I'm the instigator."

He sighed thoughtfully. "Thank goodness you were, Molly."

He wanted to say more. He wanted to tell her all that had happened when he prayed and heard about Isabel. He wanted to say those things, but he didn't want to bring Isabel up.

Molly came closer to him. Her hands had been on his arms, and now she slid her arms around his waist, gently holding onto him as she looked up at him. That dark glowing hair framing her face was just too much. He wondered what he had done to deserve such a rare beauty. She was a hundred times more beautiful than Isabel.

"I heard about that girl getting married," she said as if she was reading his mind.

"You did? How?"

"My sister told me. How long have you known about it?"

"I guess a couple of weeks."

She was quiet, thinking. She was holding onto his waist, but her touch was light and cautious.

Salem had been on edge about that landlord, but all of those feelings started to melt away as she stood next to him, holding him lightly. He could see that she liked him by her posture, and he felt protective, possessive, and all sorts of other masculine urges.

"After Sara told me about it, I was thinking back to that day in your shop. I thought something changed that day, and I wondered… I wondered if you knew about her then—that evening when Phillip came in and invited you to dinner."

"Something was different that day, but I didn't know about it, not when you came by. I went to Phillip's to eat, and that's when Addie mentioned it. I felt like that was just such a clear sign from God. But I tend to get in a hurry for things, and dang Molly, I've been making myself pump the breaks for the last two weeks."

"I don't think I quite follow what you're saying," she said, pulling back a little as if he was giving her some bad news.

"It's good," he said, holding her closer.

She held eye contact with him.

"It's just that… that night… I talked to God, and then Addie told me about Isabel, and I was just… relieved, honestly, Molly."

"Why would you be relieved? It's your life. You could've moved on anytime."

"I knew I could, but I didn't think I should… I thought… all I'm saying is that the news about Isabel came as such a relief to me that I wanted to run right out and just… grab you… and… take you home with me… forever and ever." He spoke in a silly, groaning tone, holding onto her lightly, which made her laugh and hold him back.

"You're making me feel like you like me, Salem."

He leaned in to the place where his mouth was near her ear. "That's the idea, Molly." He let the side of his mouth touch her soft cheek, relishing in the closeness, lavishing the feeling. The physical tension was palpable—she was almost shaking.

"So, what were you saying about pumping the breaks?"

"I don't know. I mean, I know we were texting recently, but that was holding back for me." He turned to the side and stretched upward. She latched onto him, hugging him, which made him smile. "I was happy she found someone. I am happy. I want to talk to you about liking you and stuff, and I don't even know where to start." She used her fingertips to touch his back, and he adjusted, leaning into her.

"I think you did pretty good just now," she said.

He looked at her, studying her face. "Because I like you. Did you know that?"

A smile played at the edge of her mouth. "I love that," she said. "Because, guess what, I like you too."

"Then what's that face?" he said, taking in her expression.

"What face?"

"Like you're thinking about it too much."

She smiled. "I probably am," she said. "I was wondering what you meant by like—I'm trying to define it, even though I shouldn't do that. Does that mean we get to go on a date sometime?"

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