She let go to gather the final length of the sheet, and when he reached up the ladder moved and he lost his footing.
“Oh no.” Trixie grabbed the ladder, but it was too late for him to regain balance.
He leaned over and grasped the top rung, but that only threw the ladder further off-balance. The sequence of events became a comedy of errors and the ladder lifted off two feet and tilted dangerously to the left.
Trixie squealed. “Get off now.”
“I’m trying.” Unfortunately, he’d never regained full balance and although one foot landed on the floor, the other got caught.
Seconds seemed like minutes, and he felt the full weight of Trixie’s arms around him, steadying him while the ladder fell over.
His face burned with embarrassment. “The guy’s supposed to rescue the girl, not the other way around.”
“You did rescue me.” She met his gaze with pure appreciation in her eyes. “If you hadn’t insisted on being up there, it would have been me.”
She had a point, but it didn’t provide much balm to his ego. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her breath brushed his cheek, and he realized their position.Move away. Now. He didn’t listen.
His eyes locked with Trixie’s and energy sparked between them.
He waited for her to move—he couldn’t make himself step away. The comfort of her touch reached his heart, ignited emotions new to him. Deeper, more intense.
This can’t lead to anything.If you know what’s best for you, step away.
Again, he ignored his conscience. For the first time he could remember, he didn’t believe it knew best. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
He couldn’t break their contact. Why hadn’t he noticed the depth of her beauty before? Her hazel eyes were more green today and her features glowed. Her eyes held confusion, but her inner joy shone through. She’d changed since he’d first met her.
So had he.
Throwing caution to the wind, he rested his palm against her cheek. Gave her more time to move if this wasn’t what she wanted. Her ivory skin was smooth and warm under his hand.
Would her lips be warm as well? He moved his head closer to find out, only allowing their mouths to barely touch.
Their kiss opened a well of emotions, and he realized he cared about her. Not as a friend, but much more. Knowing her past, he didn’t want to scare her. He wanted to deepen the kiss, especially when she showed no sign of distress, but out of respect, he stopped the kiss at a grazing of their lips.
He stepped back, letting his hand fall from her face to her shoulder.
She stared at him with a half-dazed expression and a shy smile. “That was unexpected. Unexpected but nice.”
“It was.” His brain threw question after question at him, but for once, he didn’t want answers, didn’t have a desire to form a plan of what came next.
He wanted to savor the moment, cherish the gift she’d given him.
Why ruin it with thoughts of how a relationship could never work?
“Ah-hem.”
Trixie and he both jerked their heads to see Pastor Gray standing at the back of the sanctuary.
Pastor Gray’s eyes focused on them before drifting to the upended ladder. “What’s happening?”
“The ladder’s out of commission until it’s fixed.” He leaned over and picked it up, shook it to prove his point.
“I have one at the house I can bring over.” Pastor Gray switched his gaze between them. “How much longer are you working tonight?”
