and she was playing matchmaker between Teresa and Noah.
As Teresa helped Noah move his desk and file cabinet downstairs into Miss Janie’s old bedroom, she thought about the first days when Kayla had come to live in Birthright. Lord, she’d hated that girl, and there was no doubt Kayla had felt the same. Looking back now, Teresa knew she’d only had those feelings because she’d seen herself in Kayla and didn’t like what she saw.
“What do you think?” Noah asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“About what?” she shot back.
“How does it feel?”
“Empty.” Teresa glanced around the room. “You need a couple of chairs and maybe some bookshelves.”
Noah hiked a hip on the edge of the desk. “I mean about us three being here together without Miss Janie.”
“If I take a deep breath, I can still catch a whiff of her rose-scented perfume and dusting powder. I feel like her spirit is still among us and always will be. I can’t speak for Kayla, but living here feels right. You are helping people who can’t pay high-dollar lawyer fees, and that is a good thing. This idea of making a place for senior citizens to go brings peace to my soul,” Teresa answered.
“I’ve been looking into that, and I need to know what services you are going to offer. We need to figure out if you’re going to offer housecleaning services, medical help of any kind, or taxi service,” he said.
She hopped up on the desk beside him. “No, no, and maybe.”
“Basically, what you and Kayla plan on doing here at the beginning is offer a hot meal at noon and a place for folks to gather and play games or do craft things. Is that right?” He turned to face her.
She didn’t want to talk about chicken and dumplings and dominoes. She would far rather lean in, moisten her lips, and kiss him.
“Right,” she said.
“Is this going to be a business or nonprofit?” he asked.
“Nonprofit,” Teresa answered. “If the folks around town want to bring in a sackful of green beans from their gardens in the spring, or if Sam wants to donate a pot roast every now and then, that’s fine, but we won’t be in it to make money.”
“Then we don’t need to do anything. You are just making free food for a crowd and opening up a property for the elderly to meet and visit. You will need to have each of them sign a form relieving you of liability in case of an accident.” Noah didn’t blink as he seemed to search her very soul.
“Can you draw one of those up?” She glanced down at his lips and then brought her eyes back up to his.
“Of course I can.” He lowered his voice to just above a whisper.
Then his lips barely touched hers, and that old familiar fire was kindled between them. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her eyelids, the tip of her nose, and then kissed her with so much passion that the smoldering embers turned into a hot blaze.
“Whew!” She wiped at her brow in a dramatic gesture when the kiss ended.
“Want to drive up to Sulphur Springs and get some ice cream?” He grinned.
“That’s a weird question right now.” She tried to keep from panting, but it was impossible after a kiss like that.
“Evidently that didn’t make you as hot as me. We either need to cool off with a ride and some ice cream or take this up to one of our rooms and set the bed on fire,” he teased.
“Are you asking me on a date?” Teresa fired back at him.
“I believe I am,” Noah drawled. “And maybe we can go on the second date after church. I could take you to Sunday dinner at this sweet little place I like in Paris.”
“Are you telling me that you have a private jet?”
“No, ma’am,” he chuckled. “Not Paris as in the Eiffel Tower, but Paris, Texas, as in Aunt Mamie’s Diner. Turkey and dressing is their specialty on Sunday.”
“Yes, to both, but you should know I don’t kiss on the first date,” she teased.
“Does that mean the third date might be the lucky one?” he asked.
“Oh, honey, that kind of thing doesn’t fly until the fifth or sixth date,” she told him.
“Look at us flirting,” he chuckled. “I like it.”
“Me too.” She wiggled out of his embrace. “But if we’re going to go on our first date, I should get cleaned up.”