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“I got you,” he said warm against her ear just before he bent down and scooped her into the strong hold of his arms.
A part of her thought to argue, but the part that missed him forced her lips shut. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. “Thank you.”
She liked being an independent woman, but she also liked being able to share the burden with someone else. Nolan was here now, helping her shoulder the pain, and she was grateful.
He carried her to the living room and placed her on the old sofa. His head lingered near hers, their eyes crashing as the world zoomed in and out around them. His lips were close enough that she could feel the memory of them pressed against hers.
“Nolan,” she said, and his eyes blazed with distinguishable desire. She didn’t know why she said his name. Maybe to hold him there a little longer, or to find the guts to apologize again, beg him to forgive her. So many reasons, but every one floated away as she got lost in the deep blue depths of his eyes. “I’ve missed you.” The words came out on their own accord and hung between them like an invisible barrier, as if making them chose whether to side with caution or throw caution to the wind and follow the irresistible pull that was between them.
She knew what side she craved, but she’d been the one to drive him away. The ball wasn’t in her court anymore. It was firmly planted in his.
He cupped her cheek, and she nuzzled into the hand that had held her close so many times, wiped away her tears and turned her body to liquid fire with a single touch.
“Despite my best efforts, I missed you, too.”
She closed her eyes, absorbing the words, letting them spread through her like a blast of heat on a cold day.
His thumb moved over the apple of her cheek, and the soft press of his lips had her eyes clinging shut. For a second, she thought her imagination got the better of her, but even she couldn’t imagine something this good. She moaned against his mouth as he tilted her head and deepened the kiss.
Sparks flickered through her body, igniting a firestorm she never wanted extinguished. It had been too long since she’d felt this alive. She grappled for his shirt, holding him close, refusing to ever let go again.
Their mouths moved like old dance partners, coming together to tangle once more. They were natural and familiar, yet still full of the fiery passion that had once been there. That passion consumed her, overwhelming her senses as he came down on top of her.
The hard press of his erection was unmistakable through the layers of clothes between them. She lifted her hips, pushing against him, desperate to reconnect with the piece of her that had been missing since the day he left.
He pulled his lips from hers, and she whimpered. His forehead rested against hers, their breaths mixing as one. “Isla.” The intensity of his gaze had her sucking in a breath. “I—”
His words cut off at the knock at the door. His head fell along with any chance of satiating their desires. “Pizza’s here,” she said, cursing the pizza gods for always being on time.
“I’ll get it.” His heat lifted away from her, and disappointment consumed her.
He disappeared, and she heard the door opened. Crap. She was supposed to pay. She hopped onto one foot and made her way to the front door, grabbing her wallet off the table as she went.
She stumbled into the foyer, holding her wallet in the air. “It’s on me,” she declared.
Hal, the town’s very own Alice Cooper impersonator, as well as Milo’s employee, stood in the doorway. His long hair was pulled in a ponytail, and his eyes widened as Isla hobbled to the door.
“Hi Hal,” she said, handing him cash and waving him off when he tried to get change. “Not working for Milo tonight?”
“I’m doing both. Since I’m picking people up and dropping them off, I figured why not drop off pizzas, too.”
Hal had more side jobs than any person Isla had ever met. “Smart,” she said. “Have a good night.”
“You too. Happy to see you both are back together.”
Isla’s lips parted, but Hal was already to his van by the time she was able to get words out.
“We’re not together,” she said to Nolan instead. They might have been making out on the couch only moments ago, but it’s not like Hal knew that. There was no way he could have seen them.
“No,” Nolan said. “But if you go based on the looks of it.” He nodded to the mirror behind her, and she turned, only to be horrified by the reflection staring back at her. Even though they had only made out, her hair was a sex rumpled mess and her lip gloss was smeared across the corners of her mouth.
“Oh god,” she said. Nolan laughed, and she turned and swatted his chest. “This is so not funny. The rumor mill is going to be turning like crazy by morning.” They weren’t together, she didn’t think… No, it was just a kiss. But regardless, the town would speculate. They’d corner her, question her, and she’d have to say something. She couldn’t dodge them forever.
Nolan shrugged. “I’m used to powering the mill. Now I’m officially home.” He held the pizza box up. “Let’s eat.”
“Eat? How can we eat in a time like this? We need to come up with a plan. What we’re going to say to everyone.”
“I’m hungry, so I’m going to eat.”
