Page 138 of Stolen Kiss

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because I knew. Even when you were an eighteen-year-old girl, still so new at life, I knew you would be the girl to change everything for me. My grandpa’s stipulation turned me off on the idea of having kids. I wouldn’t have had kids at all, just to spite the old bastard. But I knew you could change my mind.” He looked up at me, running the back of his finger underneath my eyes. “I wanted everything with you, and I wouldn’t have settled for anything less.”

“Well, I never thought I wanted kids.”

He grimaced. “I hope by now, you’ve changed your mind.”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t say I changed my mind. I’ve just fallen in love with a little girl, and I can’t imagine not having her in my life.”

His shoulders sagged at that, and he smiled a little at me.

I looked away first. “I should probably go.”

I stood before he could say anything more, and I pretended not to catch the look of disappointment on his face. Jensen stood with me.

“I’ll walk you out the door,” he said.

I nodded, wondering why I felt disappointment when he didn’t try to convince me to stay. It was for the best. With the way I was feeling now, it wouldn’t take much for Jensen to convince me to fall into his bed again… into his arms.

But we wouldn’t be doing it for the right reason.

We silently made our way to the front door. He opened it for me and I turned around, looking over his face, cast in the orange glow of the porch light.

“Goodnight, Jensen.” I leaned up and kissed his cheek, feeling that small buzz I always got whenever I touched him.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” he said softly. I walked out and made my way to my car, fighting against the urge to turn around and look at him. I could feel his eyes on me, though. And I knew he stayed standing there, long after I drove off and disappeared from view.

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