Nicholas’s mouth was so close. As I looked at it, he licked his lips. I licked mine in reply. We leaned closer, closer, dangerously close…
Then the oven timer dinged.
We immediately straightened, snapping away from each other. Nicholas turned, coughing into his hand.
I reached for the oven mitts and pulled the finished stuffed mushrooms from the oven.
With the tray safely on the counter, I couldn’t find the courage to look at him again.
He cleared his throat. “Nostalgia does tricky things to the mind.”
“It does,” I agreed, thankful for the safe retreat his words offered.
“I should go now.” He took a step, then paused. “Goodnight, Piper.”
“Goodnight.”
I didn’t move again until his footsteps disappeared from the kitchen. Even after he was gone, I needed a moment to get my heartbeat
