Chapter 11 #2
‘Happy new year, Kat.’ He leaned forward without thinking, intending to peck a kiss to her cheek but his aim was off and somehow his mouth landed right on top of hers.
He would’ve pulled back immediately but her lips shifted beneath his as she let out a small gasp and her fingers clenched in the front of his coat as if she was holding him in place.
There was only so much willpower a man could have in such circumstances and Harry had been hovering on the knife-edge of something with her all night.
He curled an arm around her back and pulled her tight against him, his mouth moving of its own volition in a dance as old as time.
Kat untangled her fingers from his coat but only so she could wrap her arms around his waist.
Harry didn’t care about the fireworks going off on the horizon because they were nothing compared to the ones going off in his brain. How could he have missed what was right under his nose all the time?
‘Harry.’ The sound of his name on her lips was perfection. She was perfection. All sweet and soft and warm and right.
‘Yes.’ He pressed closer, needing to learn every inch of her pretty mouth.
She ducked her head away, avoiding his questing lips. ‘No.’
It took a second for the word to register in his lust-addled brain, for the fireworks to be replaced by a flashing warning beacon. He wrenched his head back, his arms falling to his sides so she was free to move away from him. ‘No?’
‘I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.’ She gave a laugh that was both shaky and a little breathless. ‘Too much champagne, I think. I’m so sorry.’
Harry closed his eyes and hung his head for a moment as he tried to settle his own breathing.
Every nerve ending still tingled from what had been hands down the best kiss of his life.
He sent a sorrowful mental message to the area of nerves that tingled the most. Not happening, bud.
The disappointment in his body was nothing compared to that of his heart, but Kat had said no and he had to respect her choice.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to take advantage of you. ’
‘Oh, no, Harry, you mustn’t blame yourself! It was just one of those things.’ She stepped closer and placed her hand back on his chest. ‘You are a special friend, Harry, and I am as guilty as anyone for what just happened. Like I said, it’s too much champagne and we got carried away in the moment.’
He placed a hand over hers for a moment. ‘As long as I haven’t upset you, that’s all that I care about.’
‘I promise you haven’t.’ Her hand fell away. ‘I guess I’d better be getting home.’
‘Of course.’ Harry used his torch to light the way, but he kept his distance from her as she headed up in front of him. Thankfully the crowds were already thinning out and it was easy to merge in with a group of people crossing the road.
When he turned left towards the direction of Kat’s house, she shook her head. ‘You don’t have to walk with me.’
His shoulders stiffened. Letting her walk home alone went against everything he’d been raised to do.
‘It’s not a problem.’ She shook her head again and Harry was about to argue the point when a sickening feeling hit him.
Maybe she didn’t want him to walk her home because she didn’t trust him any more.
‘I swear I’ll keep my hands, and everything else, to myself. ’
The horrified way her eyes widened was somewhat soothing to his battered ego. ‘Oh, God, no, Harry! It’s nothing like that!’ She rubbed a hand over her face and he heard her mutter, ‘No more champagne for you, Kat Bailey.’
He couldn’t help the little chuckle that escaped him. ‘Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, you know.’
She dropped her hand and gave a laugh-groan. ‘Can we just forget the whole…’ She waved towards the direction of the beach.
Harry didn’t think there was any way he was going to be able to forget that kiss, but he’d have to try, for her sake if nothing else. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
Kat looked puzzled for a second and then she laughed as it dawned on her. ‘Me neither.’ Her laughter faded and her expression grew serious. ‘If you don’t want me to move in tomorrow, I’ll understand.’
All amusement fled as he realised the awkward predicament he’d put her in.
He’d offered her a place to live and then undermined her ability to trust him.
Whatever this attraction he was feeling towards her was, it was his problem to deal with.
Kat needed him to be there as a friend and he would not let her down.
‘The offer stands if you want it. Just ping me a text in the morning when you’re ready to come over and I’ll make sure the door is unlocked for you.
’ He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket and took a step back, not wanting her to feel crowded by him in any way.
They stared at each other awkwardly for a few moments until she eventually broke the silence. ‘Well, I’d better get home as it’ll be a busy day tomorrow.’ She closed the distance between them and gave him a quick hug. ‘Happy new year, Harry.’
He held her close for a moment, noting again how slight she was against him. ‘Happy new year.’ He dropped his arms and stepped back. ‘Right, well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.’
She nodded. ‘See you tomorrow.’
The temperature was dropping rapidly and Harry paused to tug his hat out of his pocket and put it on.
Kat’s cheeks were glowing and it was on the tip of his tongue to tell her to put up her hood against the cold.
He kept his mouth shut. He needed to stop trying to take care of her and give her the space and support she needed to take care of herself.
He was still going to make sure she had access to decent food – that bit was non-negotiable – but he’d have to be chill about everything else.
Chill. He could do chill.
Maybe?
No, he could definitely do it because whatever happened he did not want her to regret her decision to move into the flat with him. He’d given too many people too many reasons to regret something he’d done in the past.
There was no way he wanted to add Kat’s name to that list.