Page 72 of After We Fall

“I said I didn’t know what my schedule was, and then you practically kicked me out of your room, making plans as if I was disappearing into thin air.”

Oh. I did do that.

“You’re not disappearing into thin air?” I whisper.

“No.”

I swallow, mustering courage to ask my next question. “Why not?”

“Because there’s a bossy, beautiful brunette who might need some help—”

“I’m not bossy—”

“—who I want to spend more time with.”

My heart swells. I smile and feign a protest. “What if I don’t want to spend more time with you?”

He cocks a smile. “You told me the other night you wanted to kiss me.”

Heat rushes from my neck up my cheeks. “I was highly medicated. You can’t possibly hold me to things I said under the influence of narcotics.”

“It’s okay.” He leans in and brushes his nose against mine. “I want to kiss you too.”

As sweet as he’s being, my gut clenches. Too many people who have meant something to me have come and gone in my life. But something in me is so drawn to Luke.

Cautiously, I say, “Luke, your address may be in Colorado Springs, but you don’t really live here full-time.”

He nods. “I know. There are some changes I need to make. I’ll look at my travel schedule and ask Mary to shift some things.” He smooths his knuckles down my cheek. “We’re going to make a go of this.”

I close my eyes, absorbing the affection but still feeling torn. “It’s hard to trust that you will stay.”

He curls a strand of hair around my ear. “Then I’ll just have to show you.”

“When did you change your mind about leaving?”

“Do you always ask this many questions?”

My eyes pop open. “You know I do.”

“Well, save them for the doctors tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to see any doctors tomorrow. I just need some rest and I’ll be fine.”

Something flashes in his eyes, and he smirks. “You’re going to make a terrible patient, aren’t you, Penelope?”

I tighten my grip on my blankets, pull them to my chin, and glare at him.

“That’s okay, kitten. It’ll make your recovery more fun.” His gaze moves from my eyes to my lips. He leans in, and I feel his breath on my lips. Just when I think my heart is about to pound out of my chest, he shifts directions and presses a light kiss to my forehead. When he stands, he pauses, his stare so full of affection it wraps around me, warmth invading and attacking my doubts about him.

In spite of my complete disdain for the nickname, I feel like a kitten. A warm, fuzzy kitten.

And maybe a confused kitten who can hear the word “wanderlust” but sees a man who is doing anything but wandering. A man who is shifting his life around to be here. With me.

As he turns to leave, he skims his fingers down my arm, the lingering sensation reminding me of the kind, thoughtful, and protective streak he clearly has for me.

A streak that snuggles in, finding just the right spot deep in my soul.

Where is my inner lion?