Page 75 of Noel Secrets

“For the kiss?” she asked, clinging to his neck.

“For rescuing you.” His gaze swept over her. “Thank you.”

“For the kiss?”

“Yes.”

She smiled, and she wanted to do it all over again.

Unfortunately, he released her and stepped back. Disappointment made her feel weak and dizzy.

“I’d better let you get some rest,” he said, suddenly formal and stiff.

He was honoring her boundaries, and she appreciated that, but she worried he was already regretting letting down his guard.

He swung the door open and stepped over the threshold.

“When will I see you again?” she asked. “Do you have time with your assignment?”

He glanced back at her, his dark eyes searching her face. “I could make time … for you.”

Her pulse took off again at that look and those words.

“Dinner here? Tomorrow night?” She only had a few more days before she flew out.

He nodded, a slight smile on his lips. “I’ll see you at six. I’ll bring dessert.”

Addie almost told him that his kiss was the only dessert she wanted, but that would be too forward. Despite the connection arching between them, she didn’t know him that well.

“Thank you again.” She touched her fingertips to her lips.

“Thankyou.” He smiled and turned to go.

Addie had to let him go. She didn’t like him leaving, but he cut an imposing figure striding away. She shut the door, deadbolted it, and leaned against it again. Right against this door where she’d kissed Price.

Whew.

She would never be the same again.

Chapter Eight

Price hardly slept Saturday night and went through Sunday morning, afternoon, and early evening in a kind of blissful stupor that he’d never experienced in his life. The overwhelming guilt should have overridden the happy feelings, but it didn’t.

He’d had no choice but to intervene when the suspect had attempted to enter the house. The problem came when he had no idea how to explain why he was there and what his ‘assignment’ was. Addie had accepted his answer of not being able to tell and thankfully she’d asked directly if Daphne had hired him. Daphne hadn’t; he’d signed the contract with her fiancé Vance Gem in case Daphne had to lie to her sister. Price hated that he’d hidden the truth from her about her being his assignment, but he had somewhat told the truth that Daphne hadn’t hired him.

Everything had become fuzzy and out of whack after that. She’d invited him inside, and he’d gone willingly. She’d kissed him and he’d kissed her back. Oh, how he’d kissed her back. He evaluated his reaction. He had to step in and protect. He’d covered the assignment details and followed mission parameters, adapting when action was required. He’d actedprofessionally but broken the rules and kissed her and he’d never had such an incredible result from not simply being the soldier. He wanted to repeat it again and again.

Price followed Addie at a distance on a morning walk, then to church and the grocery store. It gave him an odd thrill to think she was buying groceries to make dinner for him.

He wasn’t sure what was happening to him, and he definitely shouldn’t let it happen. He should cancel the dinner and keep his distance.

Addie Belle had shoved him off kilter, and he had a pleasant case of vertigo. Was that even possible? There was hope in his heart he hadn’t felt since his teenage years.

When she was settled in her house in the afternoon, he drove to Boston and picked up the banana puddings at Magnolia Bakery. He should call the client and figure out professional boundaries now that she knew he was close by, but he ignored the impulse.

Instead, he drove back to Yarmouth as quickly as possible. Thankfully no alarms went off saying she’d left the house or anything had happened.

Detective Thayne had reached out earlier saying they weren’t getting much out of the suspect, Travis Cruzie. They didn’t think he was the note sender, but he’d admitted someone had been sending him notes and he’d destroyed them as instructed. He claimed he didn’t know who had sent them. They were holding him as long as they could, getting a warrant to search his apartment, computer, workspace, vehicle, and office, hoping to learn more.