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“Yeah. Our date.” He set his tea on the table between us and rested his elbows on his knees. “Think I’ll get a second one?”
I hid my smile behind my mug and took a slow sip before responding. “I’m still considering it.”
“Is that right?” He stood and stalked around the table, then sat beside me, resting one arm along the back of the sofa. All the while, his heated gaze was trained on me. I’d seen this look from him before, and the anticipation of what it meant sent a jolt through my body.
“Guess I’ll have to make the good-night kiss a really good one to up my chances. No pressure or anything.” His lips curled up as he took the mug from my hands. He placed it on the table, then shifted so he was facing me head-on.
I sat frozen, wanting—no, needing—everything he was offering. When his gaze locked on my lips, I found myself holding my breath.
He cupped my cheek, his palm warm and comforting. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch, letting out a sigh. That same hand slid back, and he threaded his fingers through my hair, gently tugging me closer. The instant our lips met, a zap of electricity coursed through me, headed straight to my core. Need I hadn’t felt in a very long time climbed higher as he continued to brush his lips against mine. A swipe of his tongue, coaxing me to open for him, and I melted into the kiss. The world around us disappeared. The only thing that I could focus on was the thrumming in my body.
I scooted as close as I could without climbing onto his lap, grasping his biceps. With one hand still buried in my hair, he trailed the other up my outer thigh, grazed over my hip, and cupped my breast.
A moan, mine or his, I wasn’t sure, vibrated against my lips.
But like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on us, Kyle broke the kiss and stood abruptly. His need for me was obvious, but he stumbled back, wiping at his mouth.
“I’m sorry.” He ducked his head, avoiding my gaze. “I can’t do this.”
“What?” I blinked at him, taking in the most bizarre expression I’d ever seen. Need and desperation still swam in his eyes, but there was something else—disgust? Fear? Guilt?
Whatever demons he was fighting seemed to be the reason for his sudden behavior, not the heated kiss we shared. That was my hope, at least. He had been the one to approach me tonight. The one to make the first move. I had no idea what had caused the one-eighty, and before I could ask, he was headed for the front door, shaking his head and mumbling something that sounded likeselfish prick. An instant later, the door slammed, and I was left alone as my thoughts played the same thing on repeat.
What the hell just happened?
Chapter Thirteen
TINA
I waiteduntil Tuesday before texting Kyle. Partly because I was still confused about what had happened on Saturday night, but also because I was at a loss for what to say. I thought giving him the space would help, but I’d also fully expected him to reach out.
He hadn’t.
The text I sent was short and simple:Can we talk?
At first, I had been hurt and confused, but now? I just wanted to clear the air. If he decided anything more than friendship with me was off the table, I’d be okay with that. Truthfully, I still wasn’t sure I was ready for anythingmore, either.
I was certain he’d respond. In the time we’d been texting, he never took more than a few minutes to text back, and more often than not, he was the one starting the conversations. But he continued to be radio silent.
At movie night, he had mentioned coming over for another swim lesson this week, but a day after I sent that text, he still hadn’t responded.
Maybe that was all the answer I’d get. In life, we weren’t guaranteed explanations for the things that happened to us. I knew that better than most.
Teddy and I were packing a few toys to take to my parents’ house. They were keeping the kids while Sarah and I finalized materials and the classroom for the first day of school.
This was better, anyway. Focusing on my family and my job. Starting next week, I would be super busy with teaching, lesson plans, therapy for Callie, and homework.
A knock sounded on the door as I was zipping up Teddy’s backpack. It was probably my mom, even though I kept telling her she didn’t need to knock. But as I swung the door open, I almost stumbled backward. Because there, with a hand on either side of the doorframe, was Kyle.
His eyes widened like I’d surprised him instead of the other way around.
“Hey. Can we talk?”
Ha. “Didn’t I ask you that yesterday?”
Before he could respond, Teddy ran under my arm and out onto the porch, barreling into the big man.
Kyle ruffled his blond curls, his expression filling with warmth. “Hey, buddy.”
