Page 54 of Second First Kiss

Kat squinted through the inky darkness. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they did her flesh went from frigid to molten. Because there, coming out of the rising steam like a Roman god, was a shirtless, slick Nolan, taking a midnight dip in his hot tub.

The lights in the tub weren’t on, leaving her to wonder if he bothered to put on a swimsuit since he was all by his lonesome. Kat had wondered about this on multiple occasions. Fine, she wondered about it every time she heard the hot tub jets whirl up. And her answer was always the same.

Nolan didn’t strike her as the kind of guy to bother with a suit. Or at least that’s what Dream Nolan would do.

But right now, it wasn’t Dream Nolan in front of her with slicked-back hair and dripping abs. It was Real Life Nolan. The same Nolan who had kissed her silly, then rejected her.

He did say he regretted turning her down. Was that the truth or just something he’d come up with to make her feel better? She’d never know unless she asked.

Kat was never shy about what she wanted. She was upfront and blunt, like a bull in a fight. Some men liked it, but most men found it intimidating. Where would Nolan fall?

This was her chance to find out. It was also her chance to discover if he was behind the job offer. And if he was, what did that mean for her?

“Can’t sleep?” she asked, putting TD in his pen, then stalking across the lawn toward the hot tub.

Nolan watched her from behind hooded eyes, taking a long sip of beer. Kat knew what she looked like. In tiny black silk pajamas with spaghetti strings and a plunging neckline, her hair bed-tousled, she was a Victoria Secret’s model: Bad Girl edition.

“Long week,” he said, and she could hear the exhaustion in his voice.

She reached the tub and sat on the edge, so close she could smell the chlorine on his skin, see the droplets of water bead on his lashes, feel the chemistry crackle between them. “Want to talk about it?” she asked, surprising herself.

Since when did she shoot the shit about her day with a man? Just a few nights ago.

“I got a visit from Nina,” he said, and Kat felt an unexpected and unwanted ping of jealousy at the news. Why would his ex pay him a visit? “I guess Tommy announced at dinner that he wants me to be his partner for a search and rescue badge test.”

“Nolan, that’s great,” she said, unable to hide her delighted smile. “I knew you’d figure out the right thing to do.”

“Nina shot it down. Told me that I needed to tell Tommy I can’t do it.”

“What a bitch.” Kat reached out and rested a hand on his bicep. It jumped under her touch. “I’m so sorry. What are you going to do?”

“I told her I’m done taking the blame and if she wants to keep Tommy from seeing me, then she needs to tell him the truth. I’m not a liar, Kat. And I definitely won’t lie to him.”

Kat felt a rush of pride. Nolan was such a giving and considerate guy that he always made sure it was easy on other people—even if it meant handling the fallout on his own. But he’d drawn the line today, an important line, and she knew that must have been hard on him.

“What are you going to do when he shows back up?”

“Tell him I miss him and I love him, then call Nina’s husband and tell him that this shit needs to stop,” Nolan said quietly.

Kat’s heart melted. What she would have given to have someone fight for her like that when she’d been young. She’d had Grandpa Bill and Zoe who’d fought for her, but they were gone now. What would it feel like to have that kind of fierce protectiveness and love directed solely at her? The idea alone terrified her as much as it intrigued her.

Remember, curiosity killed the cat, Kat.

“Now your turn. Why are you up so late? I’d imagine after pulling a double shift you’d be exhausted.” Nolan took a pull of the beer, then handed it over.

When she took the bottle, their fingers brushed and her nipples wanted to reach out and touch someone. Nolan being that sexy someone.

“Thinking about the week. Did I tell you my sister nearly got suspended for a dress code violation? With the offending article of clothing being my black leather skirt.”

The corner of his mouth hitched. “I know that skirt.”

She smiled back. “Yeah?”

His eyes roamed her body. “Oh yeah.”

Her stomach bottomed out at the amount of sheer male appreciation in his voice. The man hadn’t been trying to make her feel better. He wanted her. Possibly as much as she wanted him. But before they went there, she needed to know…

“I got a job offer today,” she began. “Was that you?”

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