Page 27 of Penalties and Proposals

Noah reaches his hand out slowly, his fingertips drawing a line on the edge of my jaw as he cups my cheek. It’s at this moment, as Noah’s mouth and its intentions come into clear focus, that I tell that nagging voice in my head to shut up and take notes.

The delicious satisfaction when his soft lips land on mine is something I want to hold onto forever. I feel his body tense as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me hard against his chest, but not in a rigid way, more like he’s restraining himself to some degree. As his mouth slides along mine, there’s a faint hint in his kiss of caramel, banana, and brown sugar. This man is oozing with sweetness coming out of his pores. I let one arm slowly snake its way behind his neck, pulling him and his mouth closer to me, parts of me responding in ways I didn't know they could.

This kiss is one that wouldn’t be seen as chaste, but it’s not like it’s over the top X-rated either; it’s two people, tangled up in one another, dipping their toes in the water. But, my goodness,the water is warm and I want to stay. This man’s mouth is skillful and inviting, and did I mention the brown sugar?

As the intensity ebbs, I pull away, not letting my eyes meet his. Touching my lips with my fingers, I bite back a smile, sitting back against the plush leather seats and sighing. As I take a big breath in, I catch notes of what I’d describe to be clean sheets. Must be from his laundry detergent. I need to know what it is, because it’s for sure an aphrodisiac, at least for me.

The window at the front begins to slowly wind down again, and the two of us fly apart to opposite sides of the back seat, like two heavyweight fighters breaking it up on the mat.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the driver calls out, “but Coach Strickland said that curfew is a real thing for you guys and I need to get you back.”

“Right,” Noah says. “Thank you.” He turns back to me, his hand gripping mine. “Before you hop out of the car and I turn into a pumpkin, can you tell me why you keep posting pictures in the park of the trees and birds while you’re here?”

“Are you stalking me on social media?” I tease. “Cinder-fella, I need you to calm down.”

“Does that make you Princess Charming?” He laughs.

“I’m okay with wearing the pants,” I manage to retort, grabbing my bag from its spot on the floor. I put my hand on the door handle to get out. “And I’m taking pictures because I’m trying to snap one of this rare bird that’s only been seen on this side of the country, the Blue Rock Thrush. The Smithsonian Museum is offering a monetary reward if someone can get a good shot of it. I figure, while I’m here I may as well try. It would all go to my mom anyway.”

I jump out, then turn back to find Noah scooting across the seat. He perches on its edge and pulls me in, close to him. His arms wrap around me and I let my hands rest on his knees, the heat of the SUV and Noah warming my front, while the chill of the night air hits my back.

“I’ll text you this week so we can figure out the next shoot. Begood to get some photos of you in town or maybe doing drills at the rink.”

He cocks his head to one side, tucking a stray piece of my hair behind an ear. “Sure, but I’d like to do this again. No camera, no agenda. Just Willa and Noah, talking. Can we?”

The warmth that rises from inside me gives me the response I need. His hands tighten on my waist and he places his lips softly on top of mine.

Pulling away, I bite my lower lip in an effort to keep the silly grin that threatens to burst forth in its place for now.

“I’d like that,” I say, turning on my heel and waving a hand over my shoulder.

“When?” he calls out as I skip up the steps to the hotel entrance.

When I reach the top step, I turn around and place a hand on my hip. “Are you asking me out on a date?” I call out, attracting the attention of at least a few passersby and the concierge who’s patiently waiting with the door open to let me in.

Noah laughs. “You bet I am. So?”

I’m grinning like the Cheshire Cat inAlice in Wonderland, and I’m feeling like I’ve fallen down my own proverbial rabbit hole. I take a few steps backward, in the direction of the hotel, but make sure not to leave him hanging.

“I’d like that,” I say, loud enough for him to hear. Why not? This man seems to have gotten his act together. When I think about it, even tonight, he held the door open for me, he made sure I was comfortable at every turn, and I even caught him with his arm on the back of my chair. And he admitted that I made him nervous when we met—because he liked me? “Have your people call my people, and we’ll make a plan.”

I don’t stay to see his reaction. I turn on my heel and flounce inside, headed to my room.

This night is going to live rent-free in my head for some time to come.

CHAPTER 11

NOAH

“Come on, you guys,”Coach Strickland yells, his voice reverberating around us. “Are you going to play like this when the time comes?”

Standing at one end of the rink with me is Ted, the other defenseman on the ice besides me, who rolls his eyes. “Please,” he grumbles. “What does the man expect—our team mascot is an otter, for Pete’s sake.”

“Now you sound like Cooper,” Dawson calls out as he leaves his spot in the safety of the net and glides to a stop beside us. “You guys gotta give the good otters of Pine Falls a break, man.”

Chuckling, I scan the stands, hoping to see Willa sitting there. She has snuck in the last few days taking pictures for the magazine, but had to leave almost immediately each time. I forget she’s not just here for me; she’s got other contracts and clients who want their photos delivered, and she has deadlines she needs to stay on top of. And, of course, there’s also her quest around that elusive bird.

“Beaumont, are you paying attention?” Scotty calls out as he skates over to huddle with our trio.

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