Page 69 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"Justin, you're making it hard to say no."

"Then don't say no."

She stared back at him. "I do want to kiss you. I've been thinking about it since this morning, which seems like a very long time ago now."

His gut clenched at her unexpected admission. "Well, stop thinking about it and take what you want. I'm right here."

"It's risky."

"You're not afraid to take risks, Lizzie. You did it with this inn."

"That's different."

"Is it?"

At his challenging question, she sat up and framed his face with her hands. She took her time, her gaze moving across his face, dropping to his mouth, and damned if his body didn't grow harder with each passing second. She was a spectacularly pretty woman and every nerve on his body was tensing with anticipation. If she wanted to kill him slowly, she could probably do it.

Finally, she moved forward, touching her lips against his. She started out tentative, gentle, and exploring. Then desire took over and they moved into each other's arms, kissing with a hunger that couldn't be denied. The connection between them deepened with each kiss. He felt like he was addicted to her. Every taste made him want more. His heart was pounding, his body humming, and as his hands roamed over her sweet curves, he couldn't even conceive of stopping. He wanted to take her into his room. He wanted to get rid of the clothes between them. He wanted to lose himself in her and for her to lose herself in him.

"Bed," he murmured, as they came up for air. "Yours…mine…doesn't matter." She stared back at him with her beautiful green eyes that were filled with emotion. "Don't say no." The words slipped past his lips before he could stop them. He didn't like sounding so desperate. Even worse, he didn’t like feeling so desperate. But he needed her. And he had to have her.

"There are a thousand reasons why I should say no," she said.

"But at least one good reason why you shouldn't. I want you, Lizzie. And if you want me, too…"

"Then we should go to your room, because it's closer."

A relieved smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "Good choice." He kissed her again and then jumped to his feet, pulling her up along with him. They'd only taken one step away from the couch when a scream lit up the air.

They froze for a split second and then ran toward the door. They heard someone scream again, and they dashed down the stairs. There, on the third-floor hallway, they found Noah passed out on the floor. Patty was on her knees next to him, trying to shake him back to consciousness, and a dark-haired woman wearing a dress and heels, a suitcase on the floor stood next to her.

"What's going on?" Lizzie demanded as she reached the group first.

The woman turned her face into the light. "He saw me, and he passed out," she said.

Lizzie sucked in a breath. "Oh, my God! Alice? Is it you?"

Chapter Fourteen

Justin could not believethat Noah's long-lost love had just appeared, the way Noah had always thought she would. It had been ten years, and now she'd come back. No wonder Noah had passed out cold. Hopefully he hadn't had a heart attack. "Should I call 911?" he asked, pulling out his phone.

"What's going on?" Carlos Rodriguez asked, as he came out of the adjoining room. "Is he all right?"

"He's waking up," Patty said, as Noah opened his eyes.

Noah gave Patty a bemused look. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Patty asked. "There was a knock on the door, and you opened it."

Noah's gaze moved past Patty and connected with Alice. His eyes widened, and he struggled to sit up. "Am I dreaming?" he asked. "Is it you?"

"It's me, Noah. I came back." Alice's gaze took in the couple in front of her. "Maybe I shouldn't have. You're with someone else now. I should have guessed you would be. I should go."

"Hold on." Noah struggled to his feet. "You can't leave, Alice. I've been coming here every year for ten years."

"I didn't really believe you'd be here," she said. "It has been so long. I thought you would have forgotten about me."

"Never. How could I?"

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