“Mmhmm.” I clutched my water bottle with both hands. “What are you doing here?”
He pulled off his hat, ran his fingers through his hair. “Nice to see you too.”
“I mean—hmm.” He reached for my water and took a sip. I stared at his throat as he drank. “Since when do you deliver milk to schools?”
“When the regular driver’s truck overheats on the highway.” He handed the bottle back, pressing it between my breasts. His index finger brushed over my nipple. The sound that whispered out of me was profane. It had no business in an elementary school cafeteria. “All part of the job.”
“I-I guess so,” I stammered. Was it getting hotter in here?
He traced the shell of my ear and down the side of my neck, his cheeks reddening as he glanced at my cow earrings. “Cute.”
Much, much hotter.
“How many more stops do you have to make?” I asked.
He trailed a finger under my necklace, rubbed his thumb over the pendant. “This is the last.”
“That’s a relief,” I said.
He tipped his head to the side and studied me as he ran that finger back up my neck. “And why is that?”
“Because you are a walking endorsement for an affair with the milkman,” I said.
Noah shrugged while a blush colored his cheeks and ears. “It wouldn’t be an affair, seeing as we’re already married.” He cupped my jaw as he leaned closer. “Isn’t that right, wife?”
His lips brushed mine, the fine scrape of his beard on my jaw and his minty breath warm on my skin. It was barely a kiss, just a touch, but it shot through me in a hot, flashing reminder of last night. It felt incredible—and highly inconvenient.
“I have to pick up my class in a few minutes,” I said.
“Then I’m stealing this minute from you. If you want it back, you’ll have to come and get it.”
He looped his arm around my waist, tugged me tight against him. I grabbed his shoulder to steady myself. A growly rumble sounded in his throat as he kissed me again and that noise walked right up to all the rationalizations I’d accumulated while talking myself out of wanting Noah, and knocked them over. Those reasons and justifications, that strong, logical fortress fell like a sandcastle surrendering to high tide.
All I could do was kiss him back and wonder if I’d survive this.
From the other side of the cafeteria, a chorus ofooohhhhwent up. I shifted out of Noah’s embrace to find my class filing toward the water fountain, each little face flushed and sweaty from running around in this heat.“Oh my god.”
“Sorry to interrupt, Miss Z,” Mr. Gagne called. He tossed in a completely unnecessary wink. “Finished our kickball game early. Gotta hydrate often on days like today.”
“Is that the guy?” Noah asked under his breath.
“What guy?” I knew which guy he was talking about.
“The guy who left you at the bar,” he snapped, dragging a glare over the gym teacher. “The lacrosse coach. The one I’m going to kill.”
“It is but we don’t murder people here. It sets a terrible example for the children.” I patted his shoulder. “You’re doing enough to kill him with your eyes. Calm yourself. No snarling.”
“Is that your boyfriend?” one of the kids asked.
“Are you getting married?” another asked.
Beside me, Noah snickered. To the students, I said, “Class, this is my friend Mr. Barden. He visited today to restock our chocolate milk supply. Say hello to Mr. Barden.”
“Hello, Mr. Barden,” they chorused.
Noah held up a hand. “Hey.” He turned to me, saying, “You know where to find me if you want that minute back.”
I watched as he strode toward the delivery door, hitting me with a small grin that landed somewhere below my belly button as he waved goodbye.
