And just like that, the closeness was lost.
Jane rolled her eyes with a groan. “Mom.”
“What? I’m allowed to ask these things. You’re my only daughter who hasn’t found someone to spend the rest of her life with. Ijust want to know if that is the path you might be taking with him.”
The ironic thing was that Noah had all but proposed to her several times. Whenever he’d reminded her about that pact, he’d hinted that he’d be open to the idea of settling down with her. The thought sent fresh waves of butterflies whirling around in her stomach.
Marry Noah?
She could see herself living on that ranch with his family. And kids? She could see them, too. Did that mean she was ready for a change in her life like that?
Hardly. There was a lot to consider when it came to making such a life altering choice. But her mother wouldn’t take that as a good enough answer.
So Jane just shrugged. “I don’t know, Mom. Right now, we’re happy to explore the relationship we have.”
For once, her mother didn’t balk at her answer. She simply nodded then moved to the island where several Tupperware containers had slices of cake nestled within them. “Here, take one for you and one for Noah. Or two for him if you think he’d like it.” Her mother placed the stack of containers into Jane’s arms and smiled tearfully again. “I’m so happy for you.”
Jane’s gut reaction was to roll her eyes again, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. This was a turning point in her life—one for her relationship with her mother, too. She nodded. “Thanks, Mom.”
Together they exited the kitchen and headed for the front door. Noah’s attention had been focused on Jane’s father as he movedacross the room, but the second he caught sight of her, he grinned.
Man, that guy had a smile that could make the earth melt.
Jane moved toward him, having eyes only for this handsome cowboy.
“You ready?” he purred, eliciting a shiver down her spine.
“Ready.”
They stepped toward the now open door but were stopped by her mother’s shrill voice. “Stop.”
Startled, Jane swung her attention to her mother. “What?” she demanded.
Her mother smiled gleefully and pointed upward.
Jane closed her eyes and stifled an objection.
The mistletoe.
Without giving her a second to think twice, Noah snaked his arm around her waist. He nearly crushed the containers that were between them as he dipped his head, and his lips brushed against hers.
The kiss was gentle and sweet. It held so many unspoken promises that Jane couldn’t help but become breathless. Was this what it felt like to be in love with someone?
She’d never experienced this feeling before. It was new, exciting, and a little bit terrifying. To give someone so much of herself—trust him with her heart—the thought frightened her beyond all reason.
And yet she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more.
When Noah righted them both, his eyes were laced with a special kind of clouded desire—a promise of more to come.
She curled her toes in her shoes and risked a glance in her mother’s direction, noting the way she brushed at a tear that had escaped down her cheek. She shooed them away with the flick of her fingers, and Jane gave her one final smile before she was hidden behind the closed front door.
Noah guided her to the truck with a hand to the small of her back. Without prompting, he opened the door for her, but he didn’t let her climb inside. His hand wrapped around her elbow, and he turned her to face him.
She lifted wary eyes to meet his.
He wouldn’t dare tell her that he’d been pretending this whole time, would he? Or that he changed his mind after spending another afternoon with her crazy mother. He couldn’t. This spark between them was more than anything she’d ever experienced. He had to feel the same.
Her thoughts were on the verge of really spiraling when Noah put them all to rest.
