“What was that?” he said. “What just happened?”
“I don’t know,” she mumbled, hurt and confused by his question.
He pulled her back into her arms, squeezing her until she fought to breathe. “I can’t believe that was only a kiss,” he said. “Just a kiss. I can’t feel like that from a kiss.”
She trembled in his arms, and he soothed her, rubbing her back. “I’m sorry, I scared you. I scared myself, too.”
“So I guess... I guess it wasn’t good? I don’t know. I haven’t kissed that many guys.”
“I think it was beyond good. Did any of those other guys even survive? I almost went into cardiac arrest.” His brows arched together. “You liked it, too, right? I mean, it was totally amazing, right?”
She shrugged, smiling. “It was so-so.”
“Maybe I should try again, if that didn’t impress you,” he threatened, chuckling. “Except I don’t think my heart can take any more of that. “
“Okay.” She attempted to extricate herself from his arms. “See ya at Fall Break, if you’re not busy.”
“I really don’t want to let you go.” He held on as she wriggled in his grasp. “Wait... Just... Can I hold you for a minute? Just a minute more?”
Reluctantly, she nodded and relaxed in his arms. She was uncomfortably aware of the heat of his body against her and embarrassed by the rapid pounding of her heart. But his embrace was gentle, caressing her back, nuzzling his face in her hair, until she was ready to melt right where she stood.
He bent down and gave her a parting peck on the forehead before he released her. He placed his hands on either side of her face and forced her gaze upward. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow night.”
“Okay,” she rasped through her cottony throat. Scrambling inside the apartment, she tried to clear her addled brain. It was a good thing she was leaving tomorrow, and he’d soon forget about her. She surely didn’t want to have to deal with Josh again—not after a kiss like that.
Chapter Fourteen
“But, I’m ready to go back to work,” Anne complained. “I’m going crazy here. And if you say you don’t need me, I promise I’ll get my feelings hurt.”
“But the doctor hasn’t cleared you yet,” insisted Steven.
“She said I could do whatever I feel up to doing. That should certainly include work.” When Steven opened his mouth to argue, Anne jumped in, “Look, I haven’t thrown up since a week ago. I can eat more now. And I’ve gained five pounds.” Anne pooched her stomach out attempting to impress him with her weight.
“You’re still seven pounds below normal. You’re at thirteen weeks and you don’t even look pregnant.”
“He’s three inches long and weighs an ounce. I don’t need to look pregnant yet.”
“She needs her mother to be careful. What if the symptoms come back?”
Anne smiled. They had this argument all the time. She wanted to have a boy, and he wanted a girl. They had decided not to find out the sex before the birth, so the argument was going to last a long time. If she didn’t miscarry.
“We’ve got the nausea under control. If the oral meds quit working, I’ll go back on an IV. I promise. I’ll take good care of him.”
“You won’t try to hide the symptoms like you did at first?”
“I promise. And I’m second trimester now. We’ve got a lot better chance of making it.”
“She’s a fighter. I knew she’d make it.”
“He’s a fighter—just like his dad.”
Steven chuckled. “Temporary truce. I need to talk to you about something.”
Anne’s mouth went dry. His face was serious, and she could tell he was attempting to hide his worry. “What? What is it?”
“So, the DA had to drop the charges on Becca. They ran a search warrant based on the information I gave them, but they came up with nothing. I’m convinced she’s the one who drugged Emily’s wine. But she probably got rid of the evidence after I accused her of attempted murder out there at Harriman.” He started pacing. “I should have kept my mouth shut so they could have surprised her, but I was so angry. And I was trying to intimidate her so we could find out what lie she told Emily.”
“It’s not your fault. Emily’s life is all that mattered. Even if you can’t make her pay for what she did, you saved Emily.”