Luann McLane - Moonlight Kiss

She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “No, the song . . . just . . . got to me.”

“Somebody from your past?” he asked, trying to ignore the disappointment that she might still care for someone.

Addison lifted one shoulder slightly and stared out over the river. “In a way, yes.” She frowned and then shook her head. “I’m sorry, Reid. I was having a wonderful time. We should go back in there. I just had a little pity party. Stupid. I blame it on the three Redneck Sunsets.” She tried to smile but it wobbled at the corners. “It’s so pretty out here. Just look at the moon . . .” she said, and Reid knew it was an attempt to change the subject.

Reid wasn’t having it. He stepped closer. “I’m so sorry. I would never have played that song if I’d known it was going to upset you.”

She put a hand on his chest and then pulled it back as if she’d touched something too hot. “No, it’s not your fault. I guess I just wonder . . . No, never mind.” She looked down at the ground.

Reid tilted her chin up. “Wonder what?”

She hesitated. “If my moment will ever come,” she answered so softly that he barely heard her. Then, without really thinking, he dipped his head and kissed her.

The gentle touch of his mouth on hers was meant to soothe, but instead of pulling back like he’d intended, Reid pulled her closer. When her lips parted he deepened the kiss, threading his fingers in her amazing hair. She clung to his shoulders and kissed him back. Her lips were soft, compliant, and the gentle tangle of their tongues was sultry, a slowly building heat that promised so much more.

And he wanted it. Wanted her.

Reid licked her full bottom lip, nibbled at it, and then captured her mouth for more. The cool breeze blew her hair forward around their faces, as if hiding their intimate kiss from the world. He felt her relax, melt against him, as if giving in to something she didn’t want but couldn’t resist. Reid knew the feeling.

But the sound of voices, music, finally filtered into his brain. They were in public. He needed to pull back . . . and he did, but with reluctance. “Wow,” he said, inhaling a deep breath. He looked down at her to see if the reaction was only on his end, but she tilted her head to the side and frowned slightly, as if thinking. She licked her bottom lip but remained silent. Reid wasn’t sure how to take it, but Addison suddenly smiled slowly.

“Yeah . . . wow.”

Reid felt relief followed by a crazy sense of joy. He chuckled softly and was wondering if he could steal another kiss when he heard “City Girl and Country Boy” announced over the speakers. “I think we just won,” he said.

“Woo-hoo!” she said, and laughed when he took her hand. He tugged her toward the door but then stopped before entering.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, better. Thank you for kissing some sense into me.”

“Anytime,” Reid offered, and then pushed open the door before stepping back for her to enter before him. They hurried over to Pete and claimed the prize, bowing to the applause before heading back to their table. “Can I get you anything else? A drink, something to eat, maybe?”

“Actually, it’s getting a bit late and I should get the keys and get settled in the condo.”

Reid felt a flicker of disappointment. “Okay, sure. But do you want some food to go? Have you eaten since lunch?”

Addison winced. “No . . .”

Reid nodded. “Hey, I’ll go up to the bar and settle the tab. I’m going to order a couple of club sandwiches to go. They’re pretty good. That way you’ll have something for later. I know I’m sure getting hungry.”

“Let me pay for mine.”

Reid shook his head firmly. “This is Cricket Creek. We do things the old-fashioned way. Now, mayo or mustard?”

She smiled. “A little of both, and hold the onion, please.”

“You got it.” He tapped the table with his hand. “I’ll be right back.” Reid placed the order and paid the tab, thinking that this night had gone differently than he expected. When Braden had softball practice and couldn’t join him Reid had almost stayed back at his cabin with a six-pack and a baseball game. But he’d felt restless and decided a night out was just what he needed. A slow dance and a hot kiss hadn’t been on the agenda, and he wondered if his intense attraction to Addison wasn’t from the mere fact that it had been such a long time since he held a woman in his arms. Yeah, that had to be it.

Reid also reminded himself that he was back in Cricket Creek to help his family’s financial problems. He needed to stick to his plan of attack and then head back to his career in Lexington. Getting involved with a woman, especially someone like Addison, who was fresh out of a failed relationship, would be just plain stupid.

But when he returned to the table and she gave him a sweet, shy smile, his resolve melted like sugar in hot tea. He wanted to kiss her again. “My truck is parked out in the side lot,” he said.

“Oh, are you okay to drive? We can walk.”

“I didn’t even finish my third beer, so I’m fine.”

“Just making sure.” She nodded and fell in step beside him.

Reid held the door open for her, and damned if he didn’t have the urge to hold her hand as they walked toward his truck. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d longed to hold a girl’s hand. Reid refrained but just barely. Instead he fished inside his pocket for his keys. The lights blinked when he pushed the unlock button.

“Nice truck.”

“Thanks.” Reid grinned. She probably didn’t ride in trucks much or maybe at all. “Even though I’ve lived in the city for the past few years I just can’t give up owning a truck. Guess I’ll always be a country boy.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

He opened the door for her. “So, will you always be a city girl?” Reid asked the question lightly, but she didn’t grin.

She lowered her gaze for a brief moment and then back at him. “I’m not really sure; I only knew that I was in dire need of a change in more ways than one.”

Reid wasn’t quite sure what to make of her answer, but on the short drive to the high-rise, they laughed about the trivia game and he made an effort not to get personal again.

“There’s my car.”

Reid nodded and pulled into the vacant spot next to her Mustang.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Oh no. I’m going to see you safely to your door.”

“I don’t think there’s much of a crime wave in Cricket Creek.”

“Indulge me,” Reid responded with a grin.

To his relief she nodded and he came around to open the door for her. The step down from the truck must have been bigger than she anticipated, and she tumbled forward right into his arms. He caught her around the rib cage and helped her until her feet touched the ground.

“You’d never know that my middle name was Grace,” she joked, but her cheeks glowed pink, and, damn, but he wanted to kiss her again.

“You missed the step and the handle. Guess you’re not used to pickup trucks, city girl.” Reid’s hands lingered around her for a moment longer, reluctant to let go, but he did.

After she retrieved the packet Mia left, she looked at the map and fished out the keys, saying, “Oh, it’s right over there.”

Reid followed her to the front door. “I guess I don’t have to whip out my gun and search for intruders.”

“You have a gun?”

“No, I’m not packing.” At her frown he explained, “Slang for carrying a gun.”

Addison flipped on the light and chuckled. “Oh, well, I don’t think you have to worry. Thanks again for the ride.”

Reid nodded, trying to think of another reason to stay, but came up blank. “Well, then, I guess it’s good night.”

“Good night, Reid. I had fun.”

“Me too.” He squashed the urge to ask her out, but just barely. “Oh . . .” He reached in his pocket and handed her the dinner voucher and baseball tickets. “You did most of the work. Enjoy.”

She hesitated, frowned slightly, and, if he wasn’t mistaken, there was a flicker of disappointment. “Um, thanks . . .”

Reid nodded and then turned and walked away. A moment later he heard the door click shut. He inhaled a deep breath and let it out, reminding himself of the many reasons not to turn back around.

ADDISON TOLD HERSELF NOT TO BE DISAPPOINTED THAT Reid gave her the tickets and voucher instead of suggesting that they go together. “It’s for the best. You’re just getting over another broken engagement,” she sternly reminded herself. “Forget about Reid Greenfield.”

Impossible.

“No, it’s not! Watch me.”

Addison decided that she’d explore the condo. Watch some television. Unpack her things. Call her mother again.

Cry.

What? Why did sudden, unexpected emotion well up in her throat? Maybe because she’d shared a slow dance and a steamy kiss with a guy and he wasn’t remotely interested in going a step farther. What was it about her, anyway? Oh yeah, she was . . . boring. Maybe his wow comment about the kiss meant “Wow, that was lame.”

Addison dropped her purse onto the nearby table and sighed. The lyrics of the song came floating back to her. “From this moment . . . life has begun.” She started humming the song. Would anyone ever live for her happiness? Love her like that? Addison inhaled a deep breath and blew it out. What does that even feel like? Will I go through life and never really know?

Addison remembered Mia’s explanation about the real deal and closed her eyes, reliving the kiss. Neither Aiden nor Garret had ever made her feel like . . . that. Was Reid just an expert kisser? Addison rubbed her temples and sighed. Maybe she was just emotionally stunted. After all, how could she already be thinking about someone else? But after meeting Reid, Garret seemed like a fuzzy memory.