Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(74)

“Mostly. Except for friends. I had friends where I worked, sometimes great friends, but it’s hard to keep up with friends when you have two kids and two jobs. So, what about you? Until you told me you were married, I took you for a thirty-five-year-old virgin.”

“No. I dated a lot. Had some girlfriends who lasted a pretty long time, like six months. Had a lot more I dated for several weeks or a couple of months.” He grinned at her and pulled her closer. “There were a few I dated for one night. Before I was clergy, of course. Merry wasn’t my first girlfriend, but she was the first woman I wanted to marry.”

Ellie smiled. “That’s very sweet. I guess you aren’t exactly a late bloomer, huh, preach?”

“Nope. I bloomed right on schedule,” he said with a smile. “I got an early start, but I didn’t get serious for a long time.”

“And I got serious too young. It felt real, and I’d bet a million dollars that Jason and I could have lived happily ever after, but there’s no getting around it—it was kid love. If Danielle turns fifteen and tells me she’s dead in love and can’t be away from some young buck, I’ll ground her for life.”

Noah laughed. “Don’t be too surprised if that happens. Lots of wild hormones in youngsters.”

They reached the bottom of her steps. “Thanks for the escort—”

“Let me come up,” he said. “I want to be sure your room is totally safe.”

“Noah, Arnie just called me a half hour ago. No way he could have driven over here and hidden under my bed.”

“Okay, point taken. Let me come up anyway. I want to kiss you good-night.”

“Listen, I’m bad with men. I seem to make all the wrong choices, which is why I decided it would be best if I gave them up, at least until my kids grow up, move out and own their own real estate. And I’m sure not getting involved with some guy who’s just going to chuck me in a couple of weeks because, believe it or not, I’m just not casual about stuff like this. And you’re too easy to like, so stop trying to trip me up.”

He laughed at her. “Come on, Ellie, it’s good you like me. We shouldn’t be kissing if you don’t like me. And I would never chuck you—I’m considerate. Responsible.”

“In order for me to even think of going off my man-diet, I need more than considerate and responsible. I want someone who isn’t going to die or stick up the night manager or treat me and my kids bad! Or leave! Or let me leave! I’m looking for soul-deep, lifetime, unbreakable, unbearable passion. Love to the nth degree. The real thing for once, not some poor excuse for it. And certainly not just consideration. I’m not looking for some polite version of love, but the real thing.”

Then she backed away. “No, forget I said that. I don’t even want that—it would just mess up my already messed-up life. Don’t make me want you. Now go home and don’t press your luck!”

And with that she stormed up the stairs, walked into her room and slammed the door. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door. That had to be done; he had to be sent away. Life was complicated enough without thinking romance was possible. Especially with someone as perfect as Noah….

There was a soft knock at the door. Ellie rolled her eyes. This was pure hell, being pursued by a good man, a sweet man, a sexy and adorable and very masculine man. Ugh. There was no reason she wouldn’t fall right in love with him, and it wasn’t going to work out—it wouldn’t last. A minister couldn’t make a commitment to an ex-stripper who had two kids by two different men. It had to be against some major Presbyterian rules, had to be.

She opened the door with a frown. “What are you doing?”

“Pressing my luck,” he said. He walked in, pushed her gently out of the way and closed the door. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him, going after her lips at once. It took her exactly two seconds to melt to him, moan, reach her arms around his neck and return the kiss. They kissed as if they’d been at it for years; they both knew when to open, tilt for a deeper fit, press harder, open wider, twine their tongues, breathe hard and deep. “Oh, God, stop,” she whispered. “This is too good. And so not going anywhere.”

“What if it goes somewhere?” he asked breathlessly.

“Don’t build me up for a big letdown,” she whispered. “Don’t.”

He ran a hand along the hair at her temple and looked into her eyes. “I won’t do that to you, Ellie. I’m not planning to hurt you—I’m not that kind of man.”

She fell into his lips again, kissing him deeply, holding him close, her body pressed up against his. When she broke away, she had tears in her eyes. “You know what my curse is? I can’t help but always hope, that’s what. I have so wanted someone who’s ‘not that kind of man.’ It’s not so bad that I get let down, but it affects my kids, and they’re everything to me.”

“I know,” he said. “I know. I won’t hurt you, I won’t hurt them. These feelings just keep getting stronger. I feel it, and I can taste it in you.”

“Mmm,” she hummed, letting her eyes fall closed.

He carefully backed her up against the wall, pressing her there with his body. His aroused body. He placed the palms of his hands on either side of her head and expertly worked her lips, her mouth. Then he slipped to that place just below her ear on her neck. “I want you,” he whispered. “I want you so bad my hands shake. My eyes cross.”