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"Nonsense," I argue, a fervent edge to my voice. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here, listening to you."
Her giggles break through the heavy silence, a breath of fresh air. "Really?" she teases, a playful twinkle in her eye. "Being here, in my car, with you," she adds, her voice growing softer, "It's making the pain worth it. I like to think there was a reason for it all."
A thought pushes itself to the forefront of my mind, a question simmering there for a while.
"Kate," I begin, my voice steady, "since you came back to Willow Creek, have you met someone?"
She shakes her head, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of my jacket.
"I told myself I'd steer clear of men for a while," she admits, her gaze dropping to our entwined hands.
"And how's that going for you?" I tease, unable to hide the hopeful glint in my eyes.
She looks at me then, her eyes meeting mine. A slow smile curls her lips, an unspoken promise lighting her gaze.
"Right now," she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm not doing so good."
“Right now?”
“Yes. You’re not helping.” She shyly confesses.
The admission jolts me, making my heart race even faster. It confirms my suspicions, stoking the fire that's been building between us. I'm left with a new, thrilling certainty. Kate feels it too. I just need the right moment, the proper excuse to close the distance between us and kiss her.
It's a gamble, yes, but one I'm more than willing to take.
Chapter 7 - Kate
Why isn't Liam kissing me?
We're sitting here, alone in my car, parked in an empty market parking lot. The rain is softly pattering against the windows, the soothing rhythm amplifying the silence within the confined space. He's aware that I'm single, that I'm into him.
His green eyes have that knowing glint in them. I've dropped every hint, in every possible way, to convey my interest. And yet, he's motionless, his hot gaze locked with mine.
Did I get this all wrong? Is he not interested in me? I mean, an ex-military doctor, all muscles and strength, with a curvy girl? I chuckle at the absurdity of my thoughts, but it's a hollow sound.
The thoughts still echo in my mind. Or maybe he's still mired in his past. I can see the internal struggle, the shadows that occasionally flicker in his gaze. But I don't care. I'd take a man honest about his brokenness over a cheater and liar any day.
I had promised myself two years of man-free living after my last disastrous relationship. Two years to heal, to find myself again. But now Liam happened, with his raw honesty and silent strength, upending my carefully constructed plans.
The sensation of his jacket around me, its warmth seeping into my skin, is a physical embodiment of his unexpected intrusion into my life.
"It's hot in here," he comments, drawing my attention.
Slowly, he unbuttons the top button of his shirt, revealing just a hint of his toned chest. It's almost as if he's deliberately trying to tease me, knowing I can't see more in the dim light. I bite my lower lip, the gesture an unconscious response to his silent provocation.
I see the spark in his eyes, the heat that matches mine. He leans forward, bringing his face closer to mine. Time seems to stretch out, drawing out the anticipation.
The sound of the rain is now just a dull hum in the background. All that matters is this moment, this space between us, filling up with almost palpable tension.
Liam closes his eyes, and instinctively, I do too. I lean in, tired of the waiting game. I want his lips on mine. I want to share my warmth with him. I want him to know that he doesn't have to be alone, not now, not ever, if he chooses.
The heat flooding my inner thighs intensifies as I inch closer, waiting for the gentle pressure of his mouth against mine. I can almost taste him, feel the brush of his lips. Almost...
And then it happens. Liam's lips, full and warm, press against mine, and everything around me ceases to exist.
Fireworks explode in my mind, my body responding in a way I'd forgotten it could. My two-year promise fades into insignificance, a whisper in the winds of this intense storm.
Love, they say, happens when you least expect it, and boy, did I not expect it to happen tonight.
