He lifted her chin, tilting her face just so as his gaze dropped to her lush mouth—the same mouth that was likely going to tell him to stop any moment. And whether she said anything or not, he knew he needed to not give in to the desperate urge to kiss her. He’d said he wanted to be Morgan’s friend. Nothing more.
“I like you,” she said so softly he could have imagined it.
Yes! He mentally shoved a triumphant fist into the air, but in reality, he just smiled down at her and tried to play it cool when his insides felt at war. Because she wasn’t looking up at him with I want to be your friend eyes. What he saw there was so much more which meant he should take a step back. Yet, he couldn’t.
“I like you so much,” she continued, not sounding happy about it at all. “You make me smile and feel alive inside, but—”
“Why does there have to be a but?”
“Because there is one,” she insisted. “Let me finish because I need to say this.” Her face took on a worried expression and he longed to soothe out the worry lines that appeared along her forehead. “Greyson’s crazy about you. That’s part of the problem.”
Confused, Andrew asked, “Why is that a problem? Why wouldn’t he like me? What’s not to like?”
“There you go not being serious,” she accused, her chin trembling.
“Morgan,” he cupped her face, the warmth of her skin seeping through his palms and radiating all the way to his core, “anyone ever tell you that you worry too much?”
“All the time. But Andrew...” Her lashes fluttered, her lips parted, and when her gaze met his, what he saw had his legs quivering. He’d like to blame the cold, but truth was, he couldn’t have said what the temperature was as the warmth in Morgan’s eyes drew him in.
“I like you, Morgan,” he repeated, admitting to himself that his feelings for her went beyond friendship. “I never date women with kids. Not ever. But I think you may be the exception.” He paused, heart racing, then repeated, “You are the exception.”
She was. In so many ways. Ways he wasn’t even sure he understood.
“What if I don’t want to be the exception?”
Understanding what she meant, he gave a low laugh. “It doesn’t seem to matter what either one of us wants, does it? I can’t be in the same room with you without needing to talk to you and see your eyes brighten when I tease you. They do brighten, Morgan. They light up as beautifully as that big moon in the sky.”
She closed her eyes, then opening them, shook her head.
“I can’t do this,” she breathed, but even as she said the words, her hand left the car and pressed against his chest, pressing flat against his uniform shirt. “I shouldn’t do this.”
For a moment he wondered if she was going to push him away despite the feelings for him that he saw swirling in those big green eyes, but instead she seemed to be absorbing the beat of his heart with her palm and letting it guide her.
Barely able to breathe, he dropped his gaze to her parted lips, then lifted it back to her eyes.
Staring up at him, she nodded ever so slightly.
With a burst of adrenaline that rivaled any he’d ever experienced, he lowered his head to close the short distance between his mouth and hers, anticipating the softness of her lips against his.
“Mommy?”
“Greyson.” Andrew took a step back so fast that he stumbled and almost fell.
“Oh,” Morgan jerked away at the same time and bumped against the car door prior to bending down to where Greyson could see her more easily. “Yes, baby?”
Seemingly oblivious to what he’d interrupted, the boy yawned. “Are we going home?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. Andrew helped carry you to the car and I was just thanking him and...” she stopped talking and Andrew could tell she was struggling to find words.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, bending to peep into the car. “Sorry I distracted your mom. I’ll see you soon.”
“Tomorrow?” Greyson asked, looking hopeful.
“What’s tomorrow?” he and Morgan asked simultaneously.
“Church,” Greyson said, glancing toward his mom as if she should have known that. “Can Andrew come to church with us?”
Morgan’s expression reminded Andrew of a cornered animal, and he teetered between frustration and guilt as he came to her rescue.
