Chapter 15 - Reality Slams as Thunder Rolls
Chapter 15
Reality Slams as Thunder Rolls
As the Sunday sky darkened, so did Noah’s hopes. The rain threatened again, first pinging against the windows and then coming off the roof like tiny waterfalls. Sunday walkers disappeared off the town square. The lights came on in the café and the streetlights looked like fuzzy balls. His dream of finally having that great date with Cora vanished.
Noah smiled. The “washed out date” last night hadn’t turned out so bad. He laughed to himself. Cora Lee Buchanan had a body made for cuddling.
He could almost hear his mother telling him to not get his hopes up for another date holding Cora. Women want to go out on the town. Staying in a little apartment couldn’t be fun. But it was for Noah, and he guessed Cora felt the same.
The thought of his mother lecturing him about cuddling ruined his daydream.
You’d think he’d learn. Every time he hoped for something, it always was a disappointment. Christmas growing up was less than he dreamed. Vacations were boring. Even the one time they went camping, it rained and they slept in the car.
If his mother knew he’d spent thirty minutes thinking of Cora’s full breast pressing against his side, she’d probably knock him into hell. His parents never mentioned anything about sex or reproduction. He’d spent hours wondering how he had been conceived. He was a test tube baby—the only answer.
Noah didn’t want to think about maybe trying a do-over date. But it would be worse when it didn’t happen. He told himself he was settled, content with his life. Last night, holding Cora was just nice, nothing more. Neither had mentioned more.
Bear had dropped in Friday to tell Noah he was locking up and heading out. Noah thought of telling his landlord to have fun, but how much fun can a parts convention be?
At five Noah ran up the stairs and changed his shirt and grabbed his jacket just in case Cora wanted to try their dinner date again. He’d already concluded that Cora would call off the date. Any sane person would. They were two shy people. The whole town would talk if they went out. Gossip.
But he’d be ready just in case and if people talked, let them.
He decided if she didn’t show up, he’d walk through the rain and eat at the men’s round table by the door with the truckers, widowers, and bewildered husbands who’d been kicked out.
He relaxed in the only comfortable chair in the shop, as he did every Sunday. He’d immersed himself in a book. He could have read upstairs in his apartment but he liked glancing outside on the town square while waiting.
He saw Cora fly down the stairs from her apartment, dressed in her Sunday best, at exactly six o’clock. Noah realized she was as excited for their do-over date as he was. Even though they were both adults, he had a hint that she hadn’t had any more dates than he had.
“I’m ready, that is if you want to try our dinner date again.” She went up and down on her heels.
Noah grinned. She was as enthusiastic as he was about their adventure . . . He hoped it wasn’t the last. Before he lost his courage he straightened and asked, “Would you mind if I kissed you before we leave? I’ve been thinking about how you taste since we met on the roof, and last night we talked and shared a blanket but we both fell asleep. I’m afraid I’ll screw up and miss out on another real kiss.”
Cora giggled as if she was still in her teens. “That seems like a great idea. When my hair dries into wild curls, I might frighten you. I didn’t want to take the time to dry it. I thought you might not wait for me. You might not want to be too close when it turns into a tumbleweed curl.”
Noah just stood in front of her. He hadn’t thought much beyond the asking. In a little town there were only a few places to eat and most of the people in any café would know them and stop to talk. If he didn’t kiss her first, who knows what might happen.
She seemed to understand. She took his hand and tugged him between the shelves. The bookshop was closed but shy Cora seemed to need privacy. No one would stand in the downpour to look inside the bookshop, but she wanted to be alone with him. Somehow that made it more intimate.
The shadows of the stacks relaxed him. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer. “I don’t know where to take you. If this rain turns to snow, the roads might be bad if we left town.” He moved so close their bodies were almost touching. “I just want to be alone with you.”
He couldn’t say another word as she closed the inch between them and they were pressing against each other as they breathed. “Close your eyes, Cora. I want to kiss you, a keepsake kiss that we’ll never forget.”
He made his kiss light, but she didn’t close her eyes. For a moment she wasn’t even kissing him, she was letting him kiss her. When she opened her lips, all thought stopped and both just felt.
Then something happened to shy Cora Lee Buchanan. She took one step into life and that one step was toward him. She kissed him back and followed him into a need he’d never known to long for.
“Tell me what you want,” he said when he finally broke the kiss. He moved his hand down her back. “You’ve already given me the best kiss ever.”
“I want it all, Noah, if only for a night. I’ve watched you for years. You’re a good man, a kind man. For once I’d like to feel alive.”
As the bookshop grew darker, he leaned her against the shelves and their kisses turned deeper.
When their heads bumped, they laughed and relaxed a little. When his hand brushed over her breast, she made a sound of surprise.
He stepped back. “I’m sorry. I’m moving too fast. It was an accident.”
“Noah, you don’t have to apologize. We’re not teenagers. I want this as much as you apparently do.” She looked around. “But, it’s dark and cold here, maybe we should start our date.”
“One more, dear,” he murmured against her ear as his hand spread lightly over her breast.
As she leaned into his touch, she said, “Mr. O’Brien, I had no idea you were so wild.”
“Me either.”
Twenty minutes later he finally ended the second kiss. “That was perfect.”
“I agree. Where did you learn to kiss like that? I don’t think you read it in a book.”
He stared at her red cheeks and sparkling eyes. “From you. Just now. You move closer when I get it right and you make a tiny sound when I get it just right. I feel like I’m holding a priceless instrument.” His hand brushed lightly along her cheek. “I want to give you what you like and you make it easy.”
He brushed his thumb over her lips, then stilled. His kiss was featherlight and tender.
Both waited. Then, she said softly, “Perfect. Would you do it again?”
“Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
“For me or food?”
“Both. Eat, run back here so we can be alone.”
“We’ll find food somewhere and continue this conversation, but first you’ll need to remove your hand from my breast.”
“Later?”
She smiled. “Later.”
He slowly brushed away any fingerprints on her sweater. He hadn’t touched her bare skin or even seen her breast, but he felt very wicked and couldn’t wait to do it again.
Both forgot to move. He kissed her again. Light kisses while she spread her hand across his chest. Deep kisses as he pressed her against the shelves.
Finally, he pulled away and studied her face. “I think I’m in love with you, Cora Lee.”
“Have you ever been in love, Noah?”
“I thought I was, but she broke up with me on a group chat.”
He could hear Cora fighting not to laugh, which made him laugh too.