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“No answer?” she prompted.
“You’re absolutely right. I wouldn’t have appreciated it at all and likely would have reacted badly, so it’s just as well. But having had a similar kiss as an adult, I can look back on my teenage self and know I missed out on pure gold.”
“Oh.”
“I mean it.”
“In that case, thank you.”
He stood, taking her hand and drawing her up with him.
“How about letting me catch up on memories, since you’re one ahead of me?” Dropping his head, he laid a layer of small kisses down the angle of her cheekbone. “Mmmm.”
Her breath was coming raggedly as he pressed his lips against hers. It felt as if the energy from a locomotive was whizzing through his veins. Their mouths opened and he dipped his tongue between her teeth to stroke hers. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, and he wanted to see them again so badly he could believe that it was possible for men to die from pure, unanswered need.
But he could also feel the slight resistance from Nicole, so he forced himself to loosen his grip and step backward.
“Thanks,” he murmured. “I was feeling deprived.”
“But unless I develop amnesia,” she answered breathlessly, “you still finish one behind in the memory department.”
He stared a moment before grinning, his chest shaking with a silent laugh.
“You love confounding people, don’t you?”
“When it seems appropriate.”
The moment was gone and he regretfully headed for the front door, with her accompanying him through the house. Toby yipped and galloped beside them, pawing at Jordan’s jeans in farewell.
“Goodbye, little man,” he said, bending to fondle the beagle’s silky ears.
“Thanks for the help on the garden,” Nicole told him. “Also for the apple tree.”
He caught himself from saying the words that occurred to him—that he hoped to share the apples with her someday. Saying that would have implied they would actually be spending time together in the future. Of course, he didn’t know how many years it took an apple tree to produce fruit, but it wasn’t about a specific number of years. Nicole wasn’t the sort of woman who would accept a limited commitment. She deserved someone who saw forever as the only possibility.
The question remained whether he wanted forever with Nicole. Well, that wasn’t the whole question, because there was no guarantee she wanted anything from him, much less forever.
* * *
BARTON WAITED AT the foot of the stairs leading to the garage apartment. After a few minutes, Chelsea’s door opened. He watched as she locked it and started down. They’d gotten in the habit of taking a walk together every evening.
“Have a good day?” he asked.
“Great. I’m glad I got the job when I did, though. Once Adam is here full-time, I suspect things will be even busier on my end. This way I can get comfortable at the agency first.”
“Will it be possible for one person to keep up once all of the partners are there?”
Chelsea had explained enough of the agency’s future plans for him to be familiar with what was happening.
“We’ll see,” she said with a shrug. “Nicole says I’ll have an assistant if the workload gets too heavy and that they’ll also hire a receptionist, if needed.”
“So they don’t expect you to perform miracles.”
“No. It’s a terrific place to work.”
“How are the nerves going when the pushy folks come around?” Barton asked.
“Better, but I’ll always dislike that part of the job.”
“A few people thrive on confrontation, though I doubt it’s something that most of us enjoy. I’m guessing your sister is a fighter, but I’m not sure you’d want to be like her.”
That made Chelsea smile. “You’re right. Terri is a nice person beneath her aggressive surface, but I’ve often wondered how happy she is. Still, I’d like a little more gumption to keep me from dissolving into melted chocolate when the tough customers come through the door.”
If he’d been a suave Casanova kind of guy, Barton would have followed up on the chocolate remark, maybe asking if he could taste it, or something of the sort. But they’d agreed to take things slowly. Chelsea needed space to continue figuring herself out as an individual. Besides, he would never be suave.
