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I freeze. My heart stops. I don’t pull away. I should, but… His lips are soft yet firm as he pauses over my mouth, warm but unmoving. Unable to resist, I lean in. A heartbeat passes, then another. Heat swamps me. He doesn’t pull away, and I move my lips over his, brushing, then fusing them together, dying for a taste of him.

An electric jolt charges me, slamming my brain, my breath. I jump away. Shock hums, sudden arousal buzzes.

What the hell have I done? My mouth hangs open, and I’m dimly aware of gaping.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to… I was just excited.”

A naughty smile lifts the corner of his wide mouth. “I’ve never had a woman apologize to me for being excited. Please don’t be the first.”

“I meant about the project results.” A raging blush sweeps up my chest, neck, all the way to the roots of my hair.

“Okay.”

I can’t tell whether he thinks I’m lying or just poking fun at my mortification to lighten the moment. I press my hand to my chest and stare at him in horror. “You’re my boss, and that was so unprofessional.”

“We’re friends, too. I hardly minded. It was a peck.”

Noah is playing this cool. Why can’t I?

“True. Just a peck.” With enough power to light up Times Square—and everything else in a ten-block radius. “It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, don’t restrain yourself on my account.” He smiles and winks.

Does he really mean that? He can’t. But if he does…what about the woman he wants to marry?

“You’re a big flirt.” Truer words were never spoken. His teasing doesn’t mean anything…no matter how much I want it to.

“We all have to excel at something.” He grins. “Speaking of which, Tim told me that Cass is still learning how to swim and needs practice. I think my pool is finally warm enough, and it doesn’t get nearly enough use. Do you want to bring the girls over tonight? We can swim and order pizza or barbecue. Your choice.”

Noah isn’t wrong about Cass, but after that awkward kiss, the last thing I need to do is go to his house and spend the evening staring at Noah’s prime, smoking-hot body in a bathing suit.

I’m heartily glad I can truthfully decline. “Thanks for the invitation. It’s sweet of you to let my two rascals splash around in your pool. But we can’t.”

“Big plans with Mr. Mysterious?”

“No. My mom picked up the girls from school today since I didn’t know how late I’d be working. They’re going to spend a few days with her. She and Walter just got back from their Caribbean cruise and she missed my girls to pieces. I missed her, too, so I told her I’d have dinner over there.”

“Maybe another night this week? You name the day.”

The follow-up invitation surprises me. But if the kiss hasn’t ruffled his view of our friendship, it shouldn’t change mine, either. It can’t. We’ve been friends for too long to let lust come between us.

“Thursday? I’ll be done with yoga class by 6:30, if that’s not too late.”

“Perfect. It’s a date.”

Date? As in man-woman seeing each other to find out if they’re compatible conversationally…and otherwise?

No. Certainly he doesn’t mean it’s a date-date. Just that we’ve set the date for us to get together. I mean, really, who takes their children on a first date-date? No one.

“See you then.”

“Have fun with Mr. Mysterious tonight.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously, I have no plans to see the man tonight.”

“Given how many roses are in that bouquet, I have a hunch he plans to see you tonight. Lots of you.” He grins. “I hope you’re ready.”

Chapter Six