Page 85 of Secondhand Smoke
Barrett’s smile didn’t falter, exactly, but itdidfreeze and turned uncertain. Like her.
“I’m sorry it was like that.” Pursing her lips, she contemplated whether she should say the next part. “I imagined the first time would be . . . better.”
Her heart drummed. Pounded.
It both screamed at finally being seen and cursed at being exposed. But being around him did things to her and made her want to reveal everything she never had.
His shock stole his frozen smile away. His eyes grew, and his cheeks became a shade redder.
She didn’t have big expectations. He might have had a crush on her in high school, but time had passed. She just wanted to tell him, to return the favor.
She used to always be this bold. It was nice to be reminded of this part of herself once in a while.
“I’m not expecting anything, though. Don’t worry,” she clarified.
Never at a loss for words, she’d finally gotten the better of him.
His hand rose to the back of his neck, and he looked to the side, avoiding her.
She cleared her throat to fill the silence withsomethingand took a few steps back. “I don’t want to keep you waiting. You should get going. I’ll see you on Monday.” She waved, nibbling her lips as she turned, and hoped she would indeed see him on Monday.
“Your timing is god awful.”
Nell stopped and swiveled back to him.
He averted his eyes to stare at the side bricks of the house, unable to hold her confused gaze.
Fingers ran through his bangs as he cleared his throat. “How am I supposed to go three days without seeing younow?”
“What?” she squeaked.
He stepped up to her, and she took a startled half-step backward. She bent her head back to meet his eyes.
“Since we’re in the habit of sharing secrets with each other . . .” he mumbled. “You’re painfully cute when you bite your lip,Golden Girlsis my favorite TV show, and that isn’t how I imagined kissing you either.”
Feathers filled her throat. Boulders settled on her feet. Drums pounded in her chest.
“You likeGolden Girls?”
He raised a brow. “That’s what you’re curious about?”
“You brought it up first.”
He laughed, then stepped forward. His fingers brushed hers, and she caught her breath in a sharp gasp. “You got me there.”
Next thing she knew, Barrett was in front of her face, so she closed her eyes and held her breath as his lips . . . brushed her cheek. They stayed there, right on the top, for a second before lifting off.
Nell’s eyes fluttered open, wide and shocked.
Barrett, the cocky bastard, was grinning. “Thisisn’t how I imagined it either, so I guess we’ll have to wait a little bit longer.” His fingers brushing hers disappeared when he stepped back. “See ya on Monday. Thanks for the cookies.”
He stepped around her and headed to the driveway and around the house.
Nell’s hand rose to her sputtering heart.
What in God’s name was that? Barrett was always magnetic and cute and charming in his own way, but seriously, it was like he’d adopted the moves straight out of a—
She was interrupted by two hands gently grasping each of her cheeks and pulling her attention back to big, brown eyes.
