But rather than tease her, Noah stood and pulled her to her feet. Pushed her hair behind her ear when it fluttered against her cheek. Hooked a finger under her chin and tipped her face to his. And when he spoke, his words caressed her lips and made her breath hitch. ‘Apparently, nothing at all.’
His mouth, warm and gentle, captured hers. She shivered, but he slid a hand to the nape of her neck and she calmed instantly. And when his tongue touched hers, she sighed and scrunched the fabric of his shirt in her hands.
Noah, letting out a sound that made her knees go weak, stepped closer and deepened the kiss, his arms winding around her and pulling her closer. She went willingly and, trembling slightly, skimmed her hands over his chest, his shoulders, and into his hair. Rising onto her toes, she pressed her body to his and he responded with a growl and held her tighter still.
This, her first kiss, was everything she’d hoped it would be—held by a man she trusted, who understood her in a way she didn’t even understand herself, whose body seemed to know hers as well as his own. And the way his mouth moved over hers, the sweet, delicious taste of him … it was almost enough to send her soaring.
But then he was slowing things down, caressing rather than searching, until he finally pressed his forehead to hers and allowed them both the chance to catch their breath.
‘Just so you know,’ he said, his throat working as he swallowed, ‘if we’d kissed like that as teenagers, I would’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself.’
With a breathy chuckle, Beth stepped back and looked down at her hands. ‘I’m shaking.’
Noah kissed each of her palms and made her melt. Then he took her face in his hands and made sure she was looking at him.
‘Let me be clear. I would very much like to do that again.’
Though she was a puddle on the ground, she managed to smile. ‘Me, too.’
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Ellie groaned and leaned back in her chair, her hands moving to her engorged belly. ‘I’m full as a goog. I don’t think I can move.’
Across the table, Noah snorted. ‘Rookie. As good as Mum’s roast lamb is—’ he raised his glass to Celia, ‘—you should’ve left room for trifle. Never mind, though, all the more for me.’
‘Like hell!’ Ellie scoffed without moving a muscle. ‘There’s always room for trifle. Don’t you know me at all?’
Noah glanced at Beth and winked, causing her to fumble the stem of her wine glass. She managed to save the contents from spilling at the last second and thank goodness, too, because she needed every drop to calm her nerves.
Mick, who was under strict instructions from Celia not to consumeanyalcohol because of his angina, declared it time to open presents, and Charlotte and Ollie, Noah’s niece and nephew, leapt up from the table and raced each other to the Christmas tree.
‘Beth, I need your help,’ Ellie whined, clawing at her arm. ‘Would you be so kind as to roll me into the living room?’
‘Don’t do it, Beth,’ Noah warned as he stood and directed a pitiful look at Ellie. ‘She’s only got herself to blame.’
Celia clucked her tongue and patted Noah’s cheek. ‘Don’t be cruel to your cousin. Where’s your Christmas spirit?’
‘At the of your trifle bowl, I think.’ He turned for the kitchen. ‘Should I go check?’
‘Heathen!’ Ellie hissed.
Celia got Beth’s attention as they followed Mick into the living room.
‘Is everything okay?’
Beth smiled brightly and nodded. ‘Mm-hmm.’
She winced, thinking she’d probably injected too much enthusiasm into that response, but she was trying to compensate for the fact that her excitement was being overshadowed by her uncertainty and confusion and she didn’t want to dampen anyone’s special day. Since the moment she’d arrived, she’d been far too preoccupied to enjoy herself. Her thoughts were elsewhere—specifically, up on the hill, standing by the house her father had lived in, on land her forebears had owned, getting thoroughly kissed by the son of the woman who now stood before her.
Needless to say, Noah’s kiss had absolutely derailed her. Ever since it’d happened, she’d been stressing big time. She had zero experience in managing relationships, romantic or otherwise, so how on earth was she meant to navigate this minefield?
What had it meant? How would it affect things between them? Had they ruined everything? Would it impact her friendship with Ellie?
She’d asked Noah not to mention what had happened between them to Ellie. They both knew how she’d take the news—andenthusiasticallywould be a massive understatement—but in truth, Beth needed time to think, and for the past two days, that was all she’d done.
And she’d come to the conclusion that they’d made a mistake.
