Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
"I thought it was Lankenstein," I mutter.
"Evening," Noah says, and everyone's attention swings to him.
"So this is the cake-destroyer that’s stalking you?" Tilly asks, but she already knows the answer to her own question.
"I think I like that nickname better than Lankenstein."
"Seriously?" Tilly cocks her head to the side, and her curls bounce around, as wild as she is. "You don't get to pick your nickname. That's not how that works." Noah doesn't respond; he simply stands there. It seems to annoy Tilly further. "Hello?"
"Hi," he responds calmly, and I think he knows exactly what he's doing. I bite back a laugh.
"You're fucking with me, aren't you?" Tilly says.
"I'm just standing here,” Noah says before shrugging.
"Watch it or you'll be lying there,” Tilly threatens even though Noah is easily twice her size. It does not faze her in the least. "I'm scrappy, and he"—she points her thumb over her shoulder—"can fight."
"Oh my god," I laugh.
"Do I smell garlic bread?" Tilly asks out of left field. Well, maybe it's not left field for Tilly. She’s always hungry.
"He made me dinner," I tell her.
"Oh, that's two dinners in a row. Interesting," Tilly says, mulling this new information over. "All right, I think we're good here." Tilly gives Noah a bright smile. "Welcome to Cheerful, but watch your back." She points with two fingers from her eyes to his. "I've got eyes and ears everywhere."
"Sounds like Cheerful’s got a real serial killer," Noah says dryly.
The room goes quiet for a beat before Tilly and I burst into laughter. When Tilly gets her laughter under control, I usher her out the door. When I turn around, Noah is right behind me, and I almost run into him.
"Molly," he says softly, and I tense. This is when the apology comes.
"Don't say you regret the kiss," I blurt out before he can speak.
Noah is silent as he narrows his eyes and slowly takes a step toward me.
Chapter Ten
NOAH
“Regret the kiss?” I’m confused as I stalk closer. “What made you think I regretted it?”
“I don’t know. I mean, it came out of nowhere, so I assumed it was a mistake, but hey, no big deal. We’ve still got a movie to watch.” She’s rambling, and it’s kind of adorable.
When I move closer, she tries to back away but ends up running into the front door behind her. There’s nowhere for her to run, and the thought of having her captive is all too tempting.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?” I say as I plant my hands against the door, making it clear she’s not getting away. “Because it seems to me like you’re pretending everything is fine when in reality it’s not.”
“Stop that,” Molly snaps, and her eyes widen like she can’t believe she said it.
“Stop what?” I bend down so she’s looking directly at me.
“Whatever you’re doing. I’m good at putting on a smile and making people think everything is fine, but then you show up, and all of a sudden I’ve got to make boundaries and tell people no.”
“And you think that’s because of me?” I raise an eyebrow at her, and she huffs in frustration.
“No, but when you look at me, I get confused and forget to bury my emotions.” Once again, she acts like these words weren’t supposed to pass her lips.
“Maybe burying them isn’t serving your best interests anymore. And maybe my presence is giving you the courage to be an asshole.” The corner of my mouth turns up in a grin, but she seems even more irritated by this.
“I’m not an asshole, and if you’re making me one, then maybe it’s better if we don’t do whatever that was we did earlier.”
“We kissed,” I remind her, and she rolls her eyes. “Don’t pretend you didn’t like it.”
“That has nothing to do with it.” Now she has to look away as the blush blooms on her cheeks.
“I think we should do it again.” I lean closer, and her eyes snap back to mine. “It seems to bring out the truth in you.”
“I’m not lying.” She looks at my mouth and then back at me as she licks her lips.
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, babe,” I say before pressing my lips to hers.
Her body stills for half a second, and then she parts her lips and melts against me. My hands go around her waist, and I pull her to my chest as I taste her tongue. I’m so tall that I have to pick her up so I can straighten and kiss her at the same time.
We’re still in front of her door, and as much as I don’t care who sees us, I’m sure she doesn't want to put on a show for the whole town. With my arms still around Molly’s waist, I carry her to the living room and sit down on the couch. Her legs spread, and she plants her knees on the cushions on either side of me as my hands go to her ass.