Page 22 of Coming Home

Those full lips of his lifted in a cocky grin. “Oh, there will be a second date.”

“Aren’t we confident?” Smirking, she pulled out her keys from her purse and unlocked the door.

He stepped closer, holding the Jeep door open for her. Bending, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and murmured, “Not only will there be a second date, but I’ll kiss you in a way that will obliterate anyone’s kiss that came before… even mine.”

The air caught in her lungs, stifling her ability to say anything.Oh, my goddess.

“Good night, Natalie,” he said, shutting her door and walking away.

Her gaze followed him into the shadows of the parking lot. Not once did he turn back to look at her, but her eyes remained transfixed.

Had that just happened? Shaking her head, she started the Jeep and headed home.

Frustration and giddy expectation battled for control as she drove up the driveway to the Little Red Barn. Duncan had left her topsy-turvy. She was both wanting and angry. How could he declare he wanted her with one breath and walk away when he had her with the next?

Sliding out of her Jeep, she shut the door and leaned against it. Her stare was drawn to the glow of white light from the farmhouse porch. The turquoise door opened, and Noah emerged.

“What is he doing here?” she asked aloud to the inky sky, which remained tight-lipped.

No doubt, he was heading home after an evening with Clayton. Through the darkness between the farmhouse and the Little Red Barn, Noah’s trademark dimple-punctuated smile popped. Hands in his pockets, he descended the stairs. Bypassing his parked SUV, he strode down the stone path to her.

The rapidthump, thumpof her heart rattled in her chest.Why is he coming this way?

“Nat.” He grinned, reaching the border of the stone path and gravel driveway.

He calls me Nat.Her fingernails dug into her palm. Was she Nat or was she Natalie? More importantly, which did she want to be? Nat was the girl-woman in a flirty fuchsia dress. Natalie would be the sophisticated sexy woman in a slinky black dress. Nat was the girl who pined, while Natalie would be the woman who devoured lovesick men.

With each jackhammered beat of her heart in his presence, she knew she was still Nat. All pining. No being pined for.

He cleared his throat. “How was your date?”

“Did Elle tell you?”

Elle had likely told Clayton, who told Noah. The two men may be plotting Duncan’s demise. No wonder she’d not dated since returning home. One hard-to-impress giant big brother was bad enough. Let alone his Marine Corps veteran best friend. Together, they’d intimidate any man who dared to date her.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Did you have fun?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” His tone was quiet.

Strangled stillness enveloped them. The silence between them was pierced only by the shuffling of his sneakers at the edge of the stone pathway. Each movement seemed to communicate indecision; whether to step over to her side or not.

“You look beautiful.” His earnest blue eyes shimmered with regret.

Why is he looking at me like that?Fidgeting with the skirt of her dress, she looked down. A languid want in her belly pushed her eyes back to his as if starved for his gaze.

“Thank you.” She tucked her hair behind her ears, hoping the motion would calm the anxious whirlwind inside her.What the actual fuck was happening?

“I…” He stopped and swallowed thickly. “I should go. Goodnight.” His soft footsteps tapped on the stone as he walked away.

“Goodnight, Noah.”

It was barely a whisper, but he stopped and turned back to face her. His mouth opened and then closed. With a nod, he pivoted and left.

For the second time tonight, she was left confused by a man.

CHAPTER EIGHT

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