“Put away your wallet.” Kat removed hers from her tote bag that was crammed with small sacks and gift bags. “I’m buying this for my friend.”
A sales clerk in a long wool coat and traditional hat wrapped up the ornament. She handed the bag to Kat and smiled expectedly. “You’re standing under mistletoe, miss.”
Kat looked up. Her face paled, not snow white, but close. She bit her lower lip. “I’ll just pretend I’m not.”
The change in her posture and voice bothered Gill. Fun had disappeared, and worry set in. She didn’t look like a woman wanting to kiss a prince, a marquess, or any man for that matter. Gill wanted her to relax and have fun. He knew what might do that.
A kiss under the mistletoe would be a nice end to their wonderful afternoon.
He leaned toward her. “You don’t want to disappoint the sales clerk, do you?”
“There’s no one to kiss,” Kat whispered.
Her words stung. What was he? “I’m here.”
“You’re not interested in mistletoe kisses.” She kept her voice low, but he heard the dismissal in her tone. “At least ones with me.”
No, he hadn’t been, but something about her tempted him now. He was immune to her charm so he wasn’t worried. “One won’t kill me.”
Her nose wrinkled in a cute way. “Gee, thanks.”
Gill couldn’t tell if she was joking. No matter.
She’d mention a peck the other day. No harm in doing that.
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers.
Soft and warm and…
A lightning rod of energy zigzagged through him.
What was that?
Self-preservation made him jerk back.
But not before his pulse roared through him and reached his ears.
Gill wasn’t sure what was happening, but he didn’t like it.
Her closed-mouth smile didn’t tell him if she’d felt the same thing when their lips touched. He didn’t want to ask because what if she hadn’t?
“I hope that wasn’t too miserable for you,” she teased.
He struggled to calm his heart rate. No kiss had ever felt like that. And they’d barely touched lips. No tongue action.
Strange. He didn’t like not being able to explain things.
“Not miserable.” He kept his voice steady. “Passable.”
She made a face.
“Joking.” The kiss had been incredible. He wanted another, but only if she did. “Prince Annoying, however, might say something like that and mean it. Now Prince Charming…”
“If you want the charming title, you’ll have to work harder.” Her tone teased. She sounded almost flirtatious.
Anticipation roared through his veins, “Really?”
Kat nodded. “But you’re on your way.”
