Chapter 9

Krista watched Noah in the backyard for a long moment. He was wearing one of those mountain men flannel shirts with the sleeves rolled up over his massive forearms. And good grief, he was beautiful. Sweat beads rolled down his temple and he was tearing into that wood as if it’d offended him. With each forceful lift and lowering of his axe, Krista got a little more overheated. No worries that she’d be cold this weekend. None whatsoever.

She turned away from the window and blew out a breath. She’d wrestle her attraction to this man all weekend, but she would win. If she wanted a happily-ever-after in her own life, which she did, she needed to veer her thoughts toward someone else.

Her phone rang in her pocket and Grace’s name lit the screen. “Hey,” Krista answered.

Grace’s voice came across the line in broken pieces.

“Hey, Grace. I can’t hear you…Grace?”

The reception here was apparently nonexistent. “Grace, the connection here is bad,” she said, hoping Grace could at least hear her on the other side. “I’m going to hang up, but this place is amazing! You’re going to love it!…Okay, well, I’ll try to call you later. Bye.” Krista ended the call and set her cellphone down on the counter, then cast one more look at Noah because the sight of him chopping wood was just too good to pass up. Her body grew warm, hot, hotter. Who needed a fire when he was around?

Krista marched toward the main bedroom where she would be sleeping and emptied the bag of items from Sugar and Spicy onto the bed. Handcuffs, blindfold, massage oils, one large pink feather, For Her Pleasure condoms, and…

Wait, where did that come from?

Krista’s face scrunched at the pink toy. It was circular and made out of a jellylike material with a metal rod puncturing one end. She couldn’t even fathom what it was for. Noah must’ve tossed it in at the cash register.

Krista pushed a button and the toy buzzed to life in her hand. She squeaked and jumped back, tossing it on the bed as if it’d attacked her. Hearing the cabin door open and shut in the kitchen, she hurriedly reached for it and turned it off. Then she scooped it up and placed it inside the drawer with the other items. She didn’t want Noah to walk in and realize she had no idea what the toy did and highlight her inexperience in an area where Noah was obviously an expert.

“What are you up to back here?” Noah asked, poking his head into her bedroom door.

Krista nearly jumped five feet off the ground. “Me?” She whirled away from the dresser drawer where she’d placed the items and blinked back at him.

He grinned. There were beads of sweat all over his forehead. Sexy beads. “You found the surprise item, didn’t you?”

She shook her head, but she’d always been a bad liar. “No. No, I didn’t find any surprise items.” Her gaze averted. She pulled her lower lip in reflexively. Realizing she’d done her tell, she spit her lower lip back out.

“Yeah, you did. The extra thing in the bag is for Jack’s benefit.” He laughed. “If he can figure out what it is.”

Krista rolled her lips together, bouncing her gaze anywhere but Noah’s eyes. She did not want to admit that she didn’t know, either. She was so inexperienced in the sexual arena, it bordered on pathetic. She was well on her way to being thirty years old. Of course she should know what that pink jelly vibrating thingamabob was.

“Wait a minute.” Noah narrowed his eyes and she knew she was busted.

Changing the subject, she placed a hand on her hip. “It’s a little weird that you bought your brother a sex toy, don’t you think?” she asked, talking quickly.

His grin fell flat. “That is weird, isn’t it?”

She pressed a hand to her chest. “Grace is my friend. That’s different. And she asked me to.” Krista headed out of the bedroom, leaving the subject of her sexual inexperience there. “But Jack is your blood relative, so buying him a sex toy is a little creepy.” She continued talking. “So, did you chop enough wood?”

“Uh, yeah. Thought I’d shower off and then we could make some dinner. Sound good?”

Krista nodded, heading into the kitchen for a cool drink of water. Her throat was suddenly the Sahara Desert.

“Then we can talk about what else needs to be done while we’re here.”

Krista dipped into the fridge, stayed there a moment to let her flushed skin cool, and came back up. “Oh, Grace called, but my reception was awful. Is your phone working?”

Noah shook his head. “It never works up here. Part of the charm of this place is being disconnected from reality and the world.”

“What if there’s an emergency?” Krista asked.

“I have my own personal nurse.” He winked. “Going to shower now. See you in a minute. Then I’ll explain exactly what that item in the bag is if you want,” he called down the hall.

Krista groaned. “I know what it is,” she called back, lying and hoping to God he didn’t call her out on it.

Noah let the hot water run over his face. He’d always enjoyed teasing Krista, but now it felt flirtatious, when it never had before. He guessed it was the shift in how he was viewing her these days. And dammit, he didn’t want to view her any differently.

The thought of her holding up the enhancer ring he’d purchased at Sweet and Spicy and trying to figure out what exactly it was made him chuckle under his breath.

Krista was so innocent. And adorable. And sexy as hell.

And he couldn’t get her out of his mind.

He grabbed the bar of soap and ran it over his body working through his irritation at himself. He didn’t need a hot shower, he needed an ice cold one.

He turned the water off, grabbed a towel, and dried off. Pulling on some fresh clothes, he headed back out to find Krista…nowhere to be found. “Krista?” He walked through the house, glancing in each room. Then he opened the front door and found her swinging on the front porch.

“My favorite spot, too,” he said, closing the door behind him. “Mind if we share?”

She looked so relaxed. He liked seeing her this way. She usually had a hard time relaxing after a busy day at work. Her heart was so big that she often took her work home. He’d always admired how much she cared about her patients.

“Sure.” She scooted over, giving him room. The swing was built for couples, though, and their thighs touched as he sat down.

Should’ve taken that cold shower.

“This is the best spot to see the sunrise,” he said. “If you wanna see an unforgettable sunset, you go out back near the lake.”

“What time does the sun set here?” she asked.

“ ’Bout an hour from now. I’ll make sure you see it. It’s not something you want to miss out on.”

Krista grinned. “I’m glad I’ll be here a couple days. I know we’re here to work, but I really needed a mini getaway.”

“Work problems?”

Krista blew out a seemingly endless breath. “I’m not getting that promotion.”

Noah glanced over with concern. “Who is?”

“Well, I don’t know. It’s not been decided yet. But it’s definitely not going to be me. Karen thinks I’m too young, that I get too close to my patients, and the other night she showed up on my date with Chandler from Cardiac. Dating colleagues is frowned upon.”

Noah guessed he should be thankful that she was discussing Chandler with him again. She’d been so tight-lipped on that subject. Then again, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the status of Krista and Dr. Dale’s relationship.

“I know you’re not a fan of Chandler,” she said on a sigh. “He’s really a very nice guy, though.”

A sickening feeling moved over Noah’s stomach. The kind he had when he entered the fish house sometimes. “Yeah, of course. I’m just glad you found someone who makes you happy.”

Krista twisted her mouth to one side. “That’s not exactly the case. I told Chandler I just wanted to be friends.”

“Oh, yeah? Why is that?” Relief hit Noah like a cool mountain breeze.

“Because he’s just not the one for me. But I’m determined to find the person who is.” She looked over. “I want to get married, just like Grace and Jack. I want kids. I want it all.”

“Easy there.” Noah held up his hands and Krista laughed.

“Sorry. I know that stuff scares you.”

Noah straightened. “Does not.”

“Does too.”

They looked at each other and for a moment, Noah had the undeniable, irresistible urge to lean in and steal a kiss. Krista’s lips looked so effing inviting. She was sitting so close, and her scent lingered on the mountain breeze like a wildflower that he wanted to pick.

Her chest lifted on an inhale as their gazes held. It was turn away or kiss her, and they both knew it.

Time seemed to slow to an aching pace. Then, like a coward, Noah turned away.

She’d thought he was going to kiss her just now. But that was crazy. Noah would never kiss her. Even when she’d kissed him the other night, he hadn’t kissed her back. Not that she remembered, at least. And she was pretty sure she would’ve remembered if he had.

Krista scooted over the half inch that the swing allowed and looked out on the mountainscape. “I think I’m going to give online dating a try.”

“What? You’ve always said that stuff was silly.” He bumped an elbow against hers. Her traitorous body responded to his every touch.

“Yeah, well, now I’m thinking it makes sense.” The subject brought back some of her dignity. If she was talking about dating someone else, Noah wouldn’t think she’d wanted to kiss him just now, even though she really, really had. “There are a lot of like-minded professionals on those dating sites.”

“ ‘Like-minded’ meaning men who want to get hitched and have kids?”

Krista swiped at a lock of hair rustling against her cheek. “What’s wrong with that? I’m twenty-eight years old.”

Noah nodded. “So? I am, too.”

Krista rolled her eyes. “Never mind. You don’t get it.”

“I get it. You have that biological clock–ticking thing.”

This made Krista laugh even though she was half past frustrated. “Actually, yes. And, news flash, some men out there have the same thing.”

Noah looked at her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, maybe he felt a pang of sadness, or regret, or…“Maybe one day,” he said on a nod.

“One day what?”

“You know, maybe one day I’ll get married, too.”

This was the first time Krista had ever heard him talk of such. “No way.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. It might be nice.”

“I can’t believe my ears right now.”

He looked at her again, his gaze sticking. Was she imagining the heat between them? Was it just her? His gaze dropped to her chest and her head went dizzy with desire and anticipation and…“You still wear that silly fishing hook I gave you when we were seven.” He reached out and lifted the charm off her chest, his hand achingly close to her racing heart.

“It’s one of my favorite things,” she said, mouth parched. The space between them was hot as a sauna.

“I caught my first bass with this hook. That’s why it’s lucky.”

“And why you gave it to me before my surgery. It’s always brought me luck.”

His gaze lifted. “Good luck, I hope.”

“What?” Her head was spinning.

“Good luck and not bad.”

“Oh, right. Yes. I wouldn’t wear it if it brought bad luck.” A small laugh escaped her lips.

Get up, Krista…Kiss him, Krista…No, she’d kissed him first last time. She wasn’t doing that again. No way, no how…

His hand placed the charm back against her chest. He didn’t pull it away, though. Instead, he leaned in closer to her. Without thinking, Krista swallowed and rolled her lips inward to wet them. She was preparing for a kiss that couldn’t possibly happen.

There was no way. They were best friends, that’s all.

Then he reached up, pushed that unruly lock of hair behind her ear, and cupped the back of her neck, offering a gentle tug in his direction. Her body didn’t resist. Their gazes locked, a silent agreement that their lips were going to meet. “Noah,” she said, unsure if any other words would follow. A protest. A confession.

“I’m going to kiss you now, if that’s okay with you.”

She swallowed again, unable to think fast enough. She nodded. “Yes.”

Before she could take a breath, his lips brushed against hers and his hand ran down to her shoulder, holding her in place, grounding her to the moment. She parted her lips for him, allowing him to go deeper…because it felt right. This felt right.

And wrong on so many levels.

She didn’t want to think about that right now, though. She’d been waiting years for Noah to kiss her. She wanted this. She’d always wanted this. And hadn’t Noah just told her that he might want the same things she did one day?

Krista forced herself to stop thinking. She wanted to feel every bit of this kiss. Noah leaned his body into hers, pressing her against the arm of the swing. Judging by the hard protrusion against her belly, he was clearly thinking of her as more than one of the guys in this moment, and it excited her.

His hands traveled down her body and cupped her bottom.

She moaned as need rumbled and quaked inside her. Opening her mouth, she allowed the kiss to go deeper. She moved her hands under his shirt and let her fingers slide over his chest. Then she tugged softly on the thin layer of hair coating his muscles.

Noah groaned. “Let’s move this inside,” he whispered, tugging her off the swing with him.

Krista didn’t resist.

What am I doing? She’d committed to moving past her crush on him and within just a few hours of being here, her willpower was shamelessly shattered. They were making out on the porch and moving things inside where a slew of possibilities awaited her—one of which was a pink, jiggly vibrating mystery from Sweet and Spicy.

“Noah,” she said, half in lust and half in the slightest resistance.

His brown eyes were dark with lust. For her. Holding her hands, he pulled her body flush with his, and that hardness poking into her belly button spared no question as to what he wanted. “Do you want to go inside with me?” His mouth crashed over hers again, kissing her and giving her time to think on her answer.

Her body’s answer was a loud and clear YES! Her mind was slower, though. Going inside with Noah would change things irrevocably.

“What are we doing?” She pulled away and blinked blurrily at him.

“What do you want to do? This is completely up to you, Kris. I know what I want to do,” he said.

The desire in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. “What is it you want to do?” she said, her voice coming out in a trembling whisper—because good heavens, she wanted this man. Needed this man.

He looked at her, long and hard. Then his desire seemed to cool right in front of her eyes. As if someone had poured a cold bucket of ice over their chemistry. He loosened his grip and stepped away, just a few inches, but it might as well have been a mile. Clearing his throat, he said, “I want to cook you dinner.” He flicked the pad of his thumb over his lips, as if knocking their kiss across a football field. And Goal!—the kiss was gone.

Krista watched Noah move past her, leaving her on the porch, turned on, confused, and rattled. Embarrassed and…pissed off.

What just happened?

She stood there dumbfounded a moment. Then headed inside and slammed the front door behind her. The night and the rest of the weekend didn’t look like such a vacation anymore. She just wanted to tidy this place up and get the heck out of here—even if it was a small paradise tucked away in the mountain foothills.

She frowned at Noah with his back to her in the kitchen. He was busy preparing something and ignoring her.

Well, two could play at that game. She stomped off to the master bedroom and closed the door behind her. Reaching for the lock, she saw that it didn’t have one. The bathroom door didn’t have one, either. What kind of place didn’t have locks on the doors?

Krista took an exaggerated breath that did nothing to calm her nerves. She took another breath and then another. Then she went into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She stopped and stared at the garden tub inside. That would definitely help calm her down. She glanced over her shoulder. Noah was too busy ignoring her right now to come in and bother her, at least if he was smart.

She closed the bathroom door behind her and started stripping off her clothing. She ran the hot water and slid inside, letting out a deep sigh. Closing her eyes, she hoped the hot water would dissolve away all of her tension and frustration. Instead, the kiss she’d just experienced with Noah came slamming back into her memory. Well, she intended to stay right here until she got it out of her brain. And Noah out of her brain, too. They had a job to do here and needed to be civil to one another. Once she got herself together, she’d go out there and tell him that the kiss had been a mistake. That they’d gotten swept up in the romance that they were trying to create here for Grace and Jack. That it never should’ve happened, and wouldn’t happen again.

Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do. The plan made her feel a slight bit better if not for the ache in her heart. She’d wanted that kiss to lead to something more. She wanted to be in that bed right now with Noah ravaging her body.

With a sigh, she opened her eyes, and promptly screamed at the top of her lungs. Just over the faucet was a mammoth-sized cockroach. She screamed again and shot upright in the water to distance herself from the scurrying creature.

“Kris?”

The door to the bathroom flew open and Krista shrieked again, sliding back down in the tub, her eyes darting between the roach and Noah. “What are you doing in here?” she shouted.

“You screamed.”

She was naked in the water and he wasn’t turning away.

“There’s a roach! Turn around! Don’t look at me!”

Noah promptly turned his back, but continued to talk to her. “I thought you were in trouble. The way you were screaming, there might’ve been a bear in here.”

Krista searched for a towel. Why hadn’t she laid one out before climbing into the bath? Crap, crap, double crap! “Can you give me some privacy please?”

“You sure you don’t want me to get that roach before I go?” he asked, a small laugh outlining his voice. “You sound like you’re about to have a heart attack about it.”

“Go!” she said, not finding any humor in this situation.

“Have it your way.” He headed out and closed the bathroom door behind him. But it still wasn’t locked, so she kept one eye there and the other on the ghastly critter which was now halfway up the shower wall. She hated roaches. Between her warring hormones and bugs, this was definitely going to be one of the longest weekends of her life.