“Stuart,” she said softly, her cheeks growing warm with what she was about to say.
“Yes?”
She slid her wrist from his grasp, but stopped when her hand met his. He intertwined his fingers with hers, and she knew her instinct was correct. “I fear you might be jealous.” She looked up at him through her eyelashes to gauge his response.
His eyes held hers, and Norah hoped the dim light cast from the lamp hid any color that must have come to her cheeks.
“Should I be?” he asked in a low voice.
Her heart soared. A year ago, she wouldn’t have thought twice about Ruthann’s brother in this way. But his dedication toward helping her with Jeremy, the way he’d protected her on multiple occasions, saved her from Mr. Beck’s ardent suit, his kindness toward her parents . . . He’d somehow gone from Jeremy’s friend and Ruthann’s brother to someone else entirely.
Someone who’d come to mean the world to her.
She shook her head and gave him a shy smile.
The grin he gave her in return could have lit up the night. With his free hand, he softly caressed her cheek. Norah thought her heart might burst from her chest. She could hardly catch her breath as his fingers gently traced her cheekbone. He smelled of whiskey and cigar smoke, but she didn’t care.
She stood perfectly still, not wanting to move an inch for fear he’d retract his hand. After all, they were standing outside in full view of anyone who might happen by. Of course, it was late, and the number of decent folks wandering about at such an hour was quite low.
Stuart’s eyes, a dark blue in the low light, were fixed on her, and Norah wondered what he was thinking.
“We’ll find another way,” he said, answering her unspoken question. “Something where I don’t have to worry about you for hours on end.”
Who knew that knowing she’d been on someone else’s mind could make her feel so elated. She reached up and caught his arm. “Stuart?”
He made a sound deep in his throat as his eyes skimmed her face.
“Thank you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “For what?”
“Everything.” She pressed her cheek into his hand again, and he stepped closer to her. His breath warmed her face and she found herself unable to form a single thought beyond the feel of his hand and noticing the look in his eyes.
He leaned down, his lips barely an inch away from hers, and Norah’s eyes closed. He was going to kiss her. And she wouldn’t say no. She didn’t care one whit that they were standing outside. All she knew was that Stuart Joliet was about to kiss her and she wanted him to so badly it was difficult not to rise up onto her tiptoes to make it happen sooner.
A creak sounded from behind her, and suddenly Stuart’s hands were gone. Norah’s eyes flew open as the door opened to reveal her father.
“Norah?” Papa’s eyes went from her to Stuart. “Stuart? It’s late. What are you doing out here?”
Norah tried to speak but the words were caught in her throat. Her head spun as she sought out Stuart.
He was far more composed than she was. He stepped forward, cleared his throat ever so slightly, and said, “I apologize, Mr. Parker. It is indeed late, and Norah didn’t want to wake you. I stopped by to wish her good night.” He paused. “Good night, Norah.”
“Good night,” she managed to say.
“Well . . .” Stuart nodded at her father. “I’ll be on my way. I’m sorry to have woken you, sir.”
He raced down the steps, clearly not wanting to cause Papa to have any other reason to question his presence.
“That was odd,” Papa said, watching Stuart as he walked quickly down the street. “Well, come on inside. It’s growing cold out here.”
Norah nodded. She bent to gather the lamp and glanced out at the street one more time before following Papa inside.
And she hoped next time Stuart tried to kiss her, there would be no interruption.
