The Promise of Change - By Rebecca Heflin Page 0,37

up, then to look down.

She tried to hide her embarrassment by joking, “So, although you’re not an eye doctor, you’ve played one on TV?”

He chuckled and replied, “Be still. I need total concentration while I examine my patient.”

She obeyed.

“I don’t see anything obvious. Perhaps it was a grain of sand.” He released her eyelid, but kept his hand on her face. “How does it feel now?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

She blinked it a couple of times. “It feels better. Thank you.”

She thought to swing her legs into the car, but his warm, coffee-colored eyes held hers, his thumb caressing her cheek, arresting any thoughts of further movement on her part.

She watched as his eyes moved to her mouth and his thumb followed, brushing ever so softly across her bottom lip. Mesmerized, she held her breath. Just the anticipation of the coming kiss was as potent, as intoxicating, as any kiss she’d previously experienced. Her lips tingled with it.

He leaned in, hesitated briefly, looking into her eyes again, before gently kissing her mouth.

She sighed, closed her eyes. His warm and soft lips tenderly captured her lower lip. He pulled back, his eyes on her lips again.

As she leaned in and cautiously returned his kiss, he placed his hands on the sides of her face and pressed his lips to hers.

Her arms rose of their own volition, clasping her hands around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. All thoughts of her self-imposed impulse-embargo fled. Why deny herself something so delectable? What was the harm?

She didn’t know how long they kissed. An eternity, yet not long enough. The sound of laughter from kids returning to the car park brought them back to reality. One more brief kiss, and he was on his feet as she swung her legs into the car, allowing him to close the door.

She didn’t take her eyes off him as he walked around the front of the car. He climbed in, started the car and backed out of the parking space before looking at her, flashing a wary smile. She tentatively returned the smile as he pulled out of the car park.

They rode in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

She didn’t know what his thoughts were, but hers were chaotic. Her first thought: Wow! That kiss was . . . delicious! She couldn’t resist the urge, so she pulled her lower lip between her teeth and ran her tongue across it. She could still taste him . . . could still feel the warmth and pressure of his mouth on hers. Consequently, she could also feel the heat rising in her face from her unruly thoughts.

Her second more rational thought: How did this happen? She mentally shook her head, admonishing herself. This . . . whatever this was . . . acquaintance; friendship; fling; one-week-stand . . . was dangerous. She was not ready to face this dilemma. She’d been diligent since her divorce not to place herself in this situation.

“So,”—his voice punctured the silence—“are you ready for your surprise?” he asked with boyish enthusiasm.

“You mean the kiss wasn’t my surprise?” she asked, turning to face him with one brow arched.

He had the grace to flush a little, but then his mouth lifted, flashing a dimple. “Okay, your other surprise.”

“Well, in that case then, yes, I’m ready for my other surprise. What is it?”

“Remember the hint I gave you—”

“The one that was useless?”

He chuckled. “Yes, that one. There is a little village north of here whose claim to fame is having been one of the locations for the 1995 BBC production of Pride & Prejudice. Lacock village had the honor of being ‘cast’ as Meryton.”

“In fact, the Red Lion in Lacock served as the exterior of the assembly rooms for the Meryton dance where Elizabeth and Darcy first meet. I’m sure you’ll recognize it.”

Turning off the main road, he continued. “I thought you would enjoy seeing it and walking the streets where Lizzy and the Bennett sisters met up with the likes of Wickham, the officers, and of course, Darcy and Bingley.”

She sat there a moment, open-mouthed, pleasantly surprised by his thoughtfulness.

“Of course if you would find that boring, we can to go to Castle Combe straightaway . . .” His voice trailed off.

“No, I would love to see Lacock. I was just thinking how thoughtful your surprise was.”

He smiled, appearing relieved. “Good. We can stroll the streets of Lacock and have lunch before we continue on to