Page 67 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
“It’s what we do. Andy, we need to be logical here.”
“I knew you were going to say that,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve through all the pros and cons a hundred times, but I keep circling back to one undeniable truth.”
“What’s that?”
He heaved out another anguished breath. “That I haven’t wanted to kiss anyone since Kim. Lucy, I can’t deny that.”
“You haven’t?” she asked in a soft voice. Somehow that had never dawned on her.
“No, I haven’t,” he said, looking oddly embarrassed. “And if losing Kim taught me one thing, it’s that life is precious. That every moment is precious, and you have to make the most of them.”
She felt the same way.
“You’re here now,” he continued. “I don’tknow for how long, and yeah, I’m afraid of you leaving, but I don’t want to miss one single minute of the time you’re here. I want to eat ice cream with you and go hiking in the mountains like we used to. And yes, I want to kiss you—even though I’m scared of that most of all.”
She made herself ask, “Why?” and the question lingered in the air between them.
“I’m scared because I don’t know what will happen between us if we do,” he admitted, rocking in his chair again. “But mostly I’m scared…ah shit…there’s no way easy way to say this…I didn’t expect to want to kiss anyone else after I met Kim, and when she died…”
There was agony in his voice now.
“I still didn’t because there wasn’t anyone who tempted me. But I do now, and…”
It took all her willpower to stay still and let him gather himself together.
“I’m afraid I’m going to like kissing you,” he whispered harshly, “and that it’s going to break my heart all over again because it will mean Kim is gone for good.”
Lucy gripped his hand, wishing she knew what to say to that.
“I don’t say that to hurt you.”
“I know,” she whispered, leaning forward on the edge of her chair until the sides of their heads touched.
They sat like that, cheek to cheek, knees touching, in the silence. Her heart twisted for him and the choice before him. If he kissed her for real this time, he would be choosing to move on.
When he finally pressed back and looked into her eyes, she had her answer. He tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Lucy, I want to kiss you,” he said, his body clenched with tension. “Will you let me?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Andy stared into her beloved face, feeling the soft texture of Lucy’s auburn hair between his fingers. His heartbeat was pounding in his chest.Please don’t say no. Not when I’ve put everything out there.
Her thumb slid over his hand in an unmistakable caress. “Let’s try this again,” she said, and this time, she leaned forward and tentatively touched her lips to his.
It was still a shock feeling her mouth on his, but somehow it helped that she was as tense as he was. He ran his hand down her arm, hoping it would help them both relax. Her lips brushed his once, twice, filled with heat, and when that sweet connection ended, he pressed forward again, fitting their mouths together more completely. Her breath rushed out, and the urgent warmth of it inflamed his senses. She was sweet and lush and tentative, but she was here.
This was a kiss he wanted them both to remember.
He tilted his head to the side, experimenting with the angle, flirting with the fit of their mouths. Her bottom lip was too lush to ignore so he kissed it. Then her upper liphad to receive its fair share as well. And soon they were kissing as if they’d been kissing forever.
The gasp she made was unfamiliar but welcome when he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. And when she ran her tongue sensuously over his, he was surprised to hear himself groan. He needed to be closer to her. He tugged her off her chair and onto his lap.
Sliding his hands into her hair, he continued to kiss her in slow, sensual passes. She traced his collarbone and then cupped the back of his neck. That one simple touch made him feel edgy, out of control. He kissed her one last time, drawing things out, then forced himself to inch back, mostly because he didn’t want to stop.
She was breathing as hard as he was. The light shining in her eyes touched the soft spot he’d carried in his heart for her all these years. But the flush on her cheeks and the redness of her lips tantalized him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, sliding his finger along her cheek. “I’ve never told you before.”
