He raised his hand to cup her cheek. “Me neither.” Then his hand ran down her arm. To his surprise, she touched her hand to his face.
“I like this beard on you.”
“It’s not quite how I want it to look yet,” he said. Did his knees shake as she touched him?
“I like it anyway.”
He winked. “Then I’ll keep it.”
“For me?” She touched a hand to her chest, fluttering her lashes.
Cole held back a laugh. “Keep it up and we’re getting kicked out of the library.”
“It won’t be the first time Mrs. Hartley kicked us out for laughing too loud.”
He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against hers. The sound of her giggle filled his ears. It was the best sound he ever heard.
“What are we doing, Cole?” Leah turned her head away from him.
“Leah… you… I mean.” His thoughts wouldn’t line up. Every time he tried to align one, it tumbled down like building blocks, scattering the rest.
“I have to be honest with you,” she said.
Meeting her gaze, he listened. Every one of his skin cells tingled. Did she have any idea the effect she had over him? Thinking about it gave him palpitations.
“I need to sort things out first.” She looked up at him, her eyes beaming. “But I want you to know, I don’t regret what almost happened at the wedding.”
He brushed his hand across her cheek. “I don’t either.”
She clasped his hand. Her eyes shimmered with affection. Cole brought her hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. The heat from her hand burned his skin, but he still clutched it to his. How did she make him feel alive? Her beauty broke on him like a rare flower. His heart thudded in his chest. Why couldn’t he put his feelings into words?
He drew closer, only a breath away from her lips. It would be so easy to kiss her. He’d been dreaming of it since high school. He couldn’t miss the opportunity—not now. Cole felt—was that a phone ringing? He jerked back, releasing her hand, and then dug into his pocket.
Leah’s mouth twisted into a grin. “No cellphones.”
Cole checked his cell, but it wasn’t his phone. He raised an eyebrow. “I think that’s you.”
Leah ducked her head and rummaged through her purse. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Where is my phone?”
He whispered, “Looks like you’re going to get kicked out of the library.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, but her smirk gave her away. “Not helping.” She finally pulled out her cell, only to furrow her eyebrows.
“You’re not going to answer?”
“I don’t recognize the number. If it’s important, they’ll leave a voicemail.”
He clutched her hand yet again, lacing her fingers with his. “Can I see you tomorrow?”
Leah drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “What do you have in mind?”
“I haven’t gotten that far yet,” he admitted.
Her eyes fixed on his face. “Now I’m curious.”
“Will you?”
“Okay.”