Why Not Tonight (Happily Inc. #3)(21)

“Come on,” she said, standing and walking to the door. “I defrosted some cooked chicken and a loaf of bread overnight. I thought we could have chicken salad sandwiches for dinner.” She paused by the door and wiggled her eyebrows at him. “I’ll even cook.”

“Impressive.”

“I know, right? Oh, and maybe we could eat in the family room instead of the dining room.”

He paused in midstride and stared at her. “Why?” he asked, his voice more than a little suspicious.

“I thought we could watch a movie.”

“Uh-huh. Which one?”

“Which one do you think?”

“Not Frozen. I mean that, Natalie. We are not watching a kids’ movie over dinner.”

She walked onto the landing and started down the stairs. “It’s so strange. I know you’re talking but all I hear is a buzzing sound.”

*

NATALIE WAITED UNTIL the credits finished rolling before turning to Ronan. “Admit it. You have to. You know I’m right. You loved every single minute of it.”

Ronan leaned back in the big sofa and shook his head. “I’m not admitting anything.” Then he glanced at her. One corner of his mouth turned up in the sexiest way possible. “It was okay.”

She threw a pillow at him. “You are so lying. It was wonderful. You laughed, you got scared, you were totally engaged.”

“I wasn’t scared.”

“The ice monster scared you. I could tell.” She stood and stretched. “Olaf and Sven are the best. And Elsa and Anna. I wish I’d had a sister with magical powers. Or maybe just a regular sister. Didn’t you love the animation? The Disney team is so talented. And the way they seamlessly blended in the songs. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?” She drew in a breath, then stopped herself. Singing was not her thing. Or at least not in front of other people. She was actually pretty decent in the shower.

Ronan rose and faced her. “You’re a little like a pinball, heading in forty-seven directions at once.”

“Am not.” She considered his statement. “Okay, maybe a little. It’s just everything is so interesting. We should make cookies. We’ll want them later. You’ve got the premade ones you only have to bake. You know, for our midnight snack.” She leaned close and put her hand on his chest. “Later, when ‘Let It Go’ is stuck in your head, you’ll remember tonight.”

She expected him to laugh, or groan or do something other than put his hands on her waist and pull her close right before he settled his mouth on hers.

His move was so unexpected she almost didn’t react. Or rather she almost did react by pulling back and asking him what on earth he was thinking. Only she managed to stop herself in time, which was a really good thing because Ronan’s kiss—even a casual, practically chaste kiss—was a not-to-be-missed experience.

His mouth was warm against hers. Purposeful without being too demanding. He kissed with intent and intensity, all the while not moving or taking or doing anything but holding his lips right there, on hers, until her whole body began to burn, and she knew, she just knew, nothing would ever be the same again.

He drew back. His gaze was determined, his expression unreadable. She had no idea what he was thinking, but if she had to guess, she would say he was making a decision. To do more? To stop? To—

“I’m sorry.”

“Noooo.” She drew back and put her hands on her hips. “Do not apologize. That ruins everything.”

“You’re my guest.”

“So?”

“I want you to feel safe while you’re here. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Because she was his guest? “Do you really think that I’ll be afraid you’ll break down my bedroom door to have your way with me?” She asked the question half-seriously and just a little bit hopeful about the answer.

“I wouldn’t do that, but yes. You’re stuck here in the house. I don’t want you feeling unsafe.”

There it was—the unexpected nice-guy moment. When it followed an amazing kiss, it was twice as deadly. “Does it occur to you that having that concern means you don’t have to have that concern?”

When he only looked confused, she added, “Ronan, I’m not worried you’re going to do anything untoward.” She made air quotes around the last word. “I trust you and the kiss was very nice, so you can’t take it back. That would hurt my feelings.”

“All right. I won’t take it back. I’m glad you liked it.”

She smiled. “You liked it, too.”

“I did. Now let’s go make cookies. It will defuse the tension.”

“Ooh, you think we have tension!”

He growled low in his throat. “Don’t start with me.”

“I have to start with you. There’s no one else here.”

He sighed. “Fine. Tell me about the baby app. You’re really considering that.”

She burst out laughing as she headed for the refrigerator. “Wow, you really are desperate to distract me. You’d rather talk about my baby app than the kiss? I’m going to remember how easy you are to rattle. Brace yourself. The next time you get on my nerves, I am so taking you down.”

“I never get on your nerves.”