He stacked food carriers at the counter and stiffened at her approach. Back still to her, he pivoted slightly. “Tell me what to do next.” His words were calm but clenched.
Even after the prickly way she’d treated him, he still put her needs over his pride. That he was still willing to help her after the way she’d thrown his past in his face like bitter pie proved he was not going to abandon his promise to help her. That spoke worlds of wealth about his integrity and character.
“You can stop pouting and look at me.” She removed her coat from her shoulders.
He turned, gaze cautious but tentatively amused.
Hands on her hips, she approached. “Colin, you said you’re a work in progress. Well, so am I. I’m under construction and I might be a mess for a while. So when you see me upset, it’s basically best if you steer clear of my mouth. Ugliness spews from it.”
His gaze dropped the few inches from her eyes to her lips. He took his time returning his gaze to her eyes, conveying that steering clear of her mouth was the absolute last thing on his mind at the moment.
He stepped toward her. She stepped back. Bumped the counter. Trapped.
For the first time she didn’t feel like escaping.
Then Meadow felt like the densest person alive when Colin reached and rubbed something off the corner of her mouth with a dish towel and held it up. “Nacho cheese?”
“Not sure how that got there,” she hedged.
“Hmm.” He nodded. “You never let me finish.”
“What?”
“The rest of what I need to say. You asked if I wanted to see Blythe. I said no. I answered honestly.”
“That may change when you see her.”
“Doubtful. She mailed me her modeling pictures. I shredded them with glee. I feel nothing for her, be assured of that. Yes, we dated. I made not-so-great choices about who I spent time with.”
“We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.”
“I stayed with her because I was comfortable and afraid of losing my social status.”
“With her dad being mayor, your parents probably lauded the relationship,” Meadow said, feeling the need to extend grace.
“Yeah. I fell into misguided motives. I wanted my parents’ acceptance, even at the cost of growing unhappiness with Blythe. That’s my rocky past, but I’m overcoming it. Yes, you have specific reasons not to trust me, but that was then.” He slid his hand behind her neck. “And this”—he lowered his face—“is now.”
She gasped as Colin pressed pure bliss to her lips, but soon gave in to the luxury of his kiss. As his delectable mouth descended on hers again and again in a sensual ebb and flow, pain—years of it—washed away. He was appetizer, entrée, and dessert all in the same moment, and she never wanted it to end.
He broke free of their sweet first kiss to blaze an unforgettable trail to her ear. “You said something that first day after your kitchen cave-in that has haunted me since. You said you were overlooked and easily forgettable. For the record, Meadow, I could never overlook you. And you are far, far from forgettable.”
“But—”
His mouth covered hers again with exponential purpose. Every shred of protest fled as she felt the magnificent heart of this man come through the heat of his mouth on hers.
He leaned back enough that she glimpsed his boyish grin. “You were saying?”
“I have no idea.” None. No idea in the world what she’d been about to say. She’d be hard-pressed to even remember her own name right now.
He pressed his mouth to the spot on her temple her fingers reserved for times of stress, and he prayed. Beautiful words, God’s bountiful answer and the care behind their comfort seamed the shards of her soul. She relished the nearness.
His eyes were closed, face serene. Dimples deepened. Smile huge.
Lord, I think I love this man. Love that he takes pleasure in me and my well-being.
Emerald eyes opened on a face so tender and bright, she couldn’t look away. And still . . . no recollection of her name. Sort of.
“Meadow . . .”
“That’s it.”
“What?” he murmured.
“My name.”
“Your name. Your name should not be Meadow Larson.”
“No?”
“No. It should be Meadow McGrath.”
His words slammed her into a wall of reality. He’d said Meadow McGrath.
They’d been back in one another’s lives for two weeks. No way could his feelings progress so far in so little time. Right? Seriously, no. That was crazy.
Yet didn’t her soul feel the same?
She’d made herself too vulnerable, and now her heart hovered over a vat of trouble.
Just like before.
And just like before, he could burn it.
Failing to fend off the fear and confusion, she scuttled away.
He reached, tugging her hand. “Meadow, wait.”
She shook her head. Pondered protest. But what could she say? She’d wanted that kiss as much as he had. To pretend otherwise would dishonor him and make her dishonest.
His jaw firmed. “Don’t dare let yourself regret or second-guess this.”
“What did you expect me to do, enjoy it?”
He smiled broadly. “That’s the general idea.”