Page 55 of One Last Time
My breath hitches and I tingle from head to toe. “I do-don’t—” I stutter. “I’m...you’re...” The words I want to say won’t come out because each thought I have gets cut off byanother.
His dark green eyes are open and expressive. His tone is playful, but his gaze isn’t. I see the desire, hope, and wonder there, and they stunme.
What were my reasons again? I can’t seem to rememberthem.
Noah inches closer, causing my heart to accelerate so fast I’m worried I might pass out. My thoughts are jumbled, my chest is tight, and I don’t know how to respond. I want him, I want him when I know Ishouldn’t.
My divorce hearing is in a week, my life is a mess, and this is too soon. I shouldn’t have feelings for this man. I shouldn’t want his hands all over mybody.
I should be pushing him back, forcing myself away from him because I don’t know if I can endure yet another heartbreak. The man I loved failed me, what is to say hewon’t?
Noah’s eyes stay on mine, almost as if he can read the confliction that stirs withinme.
His lips turn to a grin and he straightens, breaking the intensity. “I need to head out and meet someone. I’ll be back in a few days, and we can begin then.” Noah leans in, kisses my cheek, and lifts my chin so my eyes meet his. “Okay?”
“Huh?” I question, not comprehending what hesaid.
“Three days?” Hesmiles.
“Sure. Days away. I’ll be here.” Days away? What the hell is wrong withme?
“Perfect.” His lips move toward mine, and I freeze. He’s going to kiss me, and I’m just standing like a statue, unsure if I want this or at least trying to pretend I don’t want this. Instead of touching, though, he holds still as our breaths linger. His voice is barely a whisper, but I hear the words as if he’s yelling. “I’m going to win your heart, Kristin. Beready.”
His touch is gone a second before he turns and walks out thedoor.
I grip the back of the couch and try to catch my breath because I’m in no wayready.
Chapter Sixteen
Noah
“I wantyou to be happy, Noah,” Mom reiterates in our weekly video chat. She believes it’s her mission in life to keep my feet on theground.
She forces me to call the same time and day no matter where I am. Right now, I’m sitting in the car outside of a condo I’m looking at leasing in Tampa. The realtor is standing at the front of the car, clearlypissed.
What can I say? I’m a mama’s boy, always havebeen.
“I am happy.” I give her my best reassuringsmile.
“You’re lying.” She pulls the phone closer as if she’ll be able to see me better. “I know you better thanthat.”
She’s the only person in this world who loves me beyond all my faults. She has also spent a great deal of time drilling that into my head, but it’s true. When my life fell apart, she forced me to move on. Losing Tanya was a crossroads in my life where if I went the easy path, I’d be God knows where. Mom wouldn’t allowit.
I owe her everything. If one call a week is the only thing she asks for, I’ll give it withoutreservation.
“What could I be sadabout?”
She looks off to the left and sighs. “That’s for you to figure out, but maybe it’s time for you to open yourself up a little. It’s been a long time, Noah. A lot of things are different, you’redifferent.”
I don’t want to talk about this. “I’m moving that way,” I say, hoping she’ll shift the conversation away fromTanya.
“Oh? Howso?”
When my mother can see my reactions, it makes it harder to blow her off. I’m pretty sure this is why she insists on video chats instead of phone calls. “A few things, Mom. I got another project on the docket, I auditioned for it a few months back, not thinking much aboutit.”
She smiles. “Tell me aboutit.”
I fill her in on all the details of the movie. I’ve done a few small roles in film, but nothing spectacular. This would be a lead, and it’s working for a director I highly respect. The film isn’t a genre I would’ve typically looked for, but since it was Paul Skaggs as the director, I took a chance. Hopefully, I don’t fuck it up and this is the transition into more film thantelevision.
