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“Hey.”

He slides a bowl across the counter. “Ice cream.”

I sit down on a stool, and he comes around and sits next to me. I angle my body toward him, my knees in between his, his hand on my leg, waiting to feel the wave of panic I expect will come.

It doesn’t.

He looks at me, and I look back. When his mouth curves upward into a slight smile, my cheeks go hot, and I imagine my entire face lit up like a traffic light. “What?” I say, feeling exposed.

“Just looking at you.” He holds up two spoons and I take one.

I flash a smile. “Why’re you so obsessed with me?” I tease, digging my spoon into the ice cream and taking a bite. A joke, obviously, but Noble doesn’t get the memo.

He doesn’t even move. Just watches me, eyes so intent I start to feel a shift inside me. He sets his spoon down, grabs onto my stool and pulls it toward him in one swift move. I swallow my bite of ice cream just as he leans in and kisses me.

I drop the spoon on the counter and wrap my arms around his neck, certain that if I were drowning, this kiss would be the thing to bring me back to life.

His lips are firm, but soft. His touch is gentle, but strong. And I let myself get lost in it, never, ever wanting this moment to end.

I stand and step between his knees, and I kiss him and kiss him and kiss him.

Every nerve in my body fires, like a circuit board lit up in an emergency. I feel the kiss everywhere. In my knees. In tips of my fingers. In the back of my neck. My mind spins, and my pulse races, and I decide that of all the memories Noble and I share, this one is the best.

I pull back and search his eyes. “Is this crazy?”

He wraps his arms around me. “It might be.”

“What will my brothers say?”

“Oh, yeah, didn’t I mention? They gave me their blessing,” he says.

I lean back, eyes wide. “They what?”

“Said if I decided to go for it, they’re on board.” He grins. “I guess they finally realized you can take care of yourself.” A pause. “Or maybe they realized that between the two of us, you’re the one who’s got the upper hand.”

I muse. “Yeah, I do. And don’t forget it.”

“I won’t. He pulls me closer. “I’m pretty sure I’d do just about anything for you.”

“The only thing I want you to do is promise you won’t break my heart.” I reach up and touch his cheek. “And maybe kiss me again?”

“Gladly.” His eyes flicker, and his smile turns wicked, and he does exactly what I’ve asked.

We do that until the ice cream melts into a puddle.

Just like me.

Sunday morning, I wake up with my senses on high alert.

All I can think about is Noble. His lips. His hands. His kisses.

And I realize this makes me exactly what I swore I would never be—a ridiculous, smitten, lovestruck girl.

The thought stops me. Love is a very big word.

I try to remember that there have been years of not knowing him. That just because he’s familiar, it doesn’t mean I can fast track my feelings.

My heart races, but I silence all of the “what if’s.”