Page 28 of Never Leave Me
While Mrs. Fletcher congratulated her husband on his witty comment, Harrison tossed Ellen a panicked glance. What had they got up to?
She gave him one of her “don’t worry, let’s live in the moment” kind of looks, which only ramped up the panic another notch.
He should have corrected the older couple’s mistake about him and Ellen right away.
Now look at the trouble he was in.
“Go on, now.” Mrs. Fletcher waved at them. “If a kiss is what the doctor prescribes, then you must do it. Doctor’s orders.”
Harrison had no choice. He had to put an end to this now before it got further out of hand. He started to open his mouth, but under the table, Ellen’s fingers intertwined with his, halting all words and thoughts. All it took was one glance at her face, at her silent request not to say anything to the Fletchers, and he pressed his lips together.
“You’ve been dying to kiss her.” Dr. Fletcher’s voice rose louder, drawing the attention of the guests at a nearby table. “Look at it as a life-saving procedure like CPR.”
Mrs. Fletcher clapped her hands and giggled at her husband’s ongoing medical analogies.
Harrison was tempted to roll his eyes. When would they give it a rest?
“I didn’t realize you’d been dying to kiss me.” The teasing glint in Ellen’s eyes mingled with something else. What was it? Desire?
Harrison shook his head and started to push back from the table. Now he was the one imagining things. He had to leave the room before he followed through with this crazy charade and kissed her.
Ellen didn’t release her grip on his fingers and instead tugged him toward her, leaning into him so that they were suddenly face-to-face. She hesitated only a second before pressing her mouth onto his.
For a second, he froze. What was she doing? Her warm but firm lips caressed softly, tentatively, ultimately waiting for him to respond.
Pretending. That’s what she was doing.
He had to give her a brief kiss in response, otherwise he’d hurt her feelings.
He returned the pressure gently, then pulled back.
Ellen’s cheeks began to flush, and she folded her hands in her lap.
“That was hardly a life-saving kiss.” Dr. Fletcher chortled. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
Little did Dr. Fletcher know just how much he wanted to do better, to sweep Ellen into his arms and kiss her properly. He reached for his glass of ice water, in need of a cooldown. He took a big gulp.
“What else do you think you should prescribe for the newlyweds?” Mrs. Fletcher winked in their direction.
The sip of water stuck in his throat, making him choke. Coughing and choking, he stood. Ellen rose too. And touched his arm again, this time in concern.
“I’m fine.” Except that he needed to step away for a few minutes to collect himself.
Before he could scrape up an excuse, Dr. Fletcher clinked his spoon against his glass. “Kiss her like you mean it. Doctor’s orders for the honeymooners.”
The clinking and bold words halted the conversation at the tables surrounding them. And soon the air rang with the clink of silver against crystal as the other guests joined Dr. Fletcher in the call for a kiss.
Ellen turned innocent eyes upon him. “It’s okay, Harrison,” she whispered.
Was she giving him an invitation? Before he could issue himself a warning to walk away, he dropped his hands to her waist, drew her body against his, and in the same movement angled in and took possession of her lips. He melded into her with all the feelings he’d kept in check for so many years.
Once unleashed, he couldn’t hold his passion back and was surprised when she not only received him, but met him eagerly, almost as if she craved him.
Before he could analyze what was happening, Mrs. Fletcher’s laughter penetrated and embarrassed him in the same moment. He broke away from Ellen and took a rapid step away, dizzy, rendered senseless. His pulse was galloping forward and careering unsteadily.
At the clapping around them Ellen plopped into her chair and gave a shaky laugh. Harrison attempted to lower himself with dignity even though his limbs were trembling.
Before he had the chance to catch his breath, someone at a table across the room clinked a glass, starting the chorus again. He tried to ignore it, but Ellen leaned in, her breathy laughter beckoning him.
