Bored of the superficial women he’s been dating, Noah’s putting his love life on hold so he can focus on his family’s high-end fishing business. Sure, there are moments when he’s tempted by Krista’s soft lips and killer smile—but her friendship is too important to Noah. How could he let himself jeopardize everything they share? The trouble is, if he doesn’t take the real risk of opening his heart, Noah might just let the perfect catch get away. c
If it was any other woman drooling on the passenger window of his Jeep, Noah would swear to never take her out again.
He smiled softly as he sat in his parked vehicle outside Krista’s townhouse. Her face was pressed against the glass and she was fast asleep. Not exactly drooling, but when he recapped the evening to her tomorrow, he’d add that little detail in and enjoy watching her flush.
“Krista?” he said, nudging her shoulder.
She didn’t stir. She’d always been a lightweight. Good thing she was also light in weight because he was going to have to carry her inside. He reached over to her purse and fished out her keys, saying her name one last time to make sure she wasn’t going to wake. Nope, she was definitely lights-out. He moved around to the passenger side, slid his arms under her, and hoisted her up, cradling her head against his left shoulder. She smelled like lavender and he breathed her in for a moment. His fingers tightened around her as he carried her to her front door, unlocked it, and walked inside. Her bedroom was the last one on the right. He didn’t turn the lights on as he entered, instead finding his way by the moonlight streaming in from her window. He was careful to lay her down comfortably, with her head on the pillow. A few strands of her dark hair swept across her cheek. He pushed them back and stared at her for a long moment. “Krista?” he whispered again.
She stirred this time. Made a little moan.
“I took you home,” he told her. “Your brother should be here in an hour or two.” Suddenly he wondered if he should leave her alone. She’d had four beers, which was a lot for someone who got tipsy after one. It wasn’t like her. On top of that, he knew she was tired and emotionally drained. Work had been hard on her lately. “Do you need me to stay?” he asked quietly.
Her smile came before her eyes fluttered open to focus on him.
“Hey.” He sat on the edge of her bed and looked down at her and those sleepy bedroom eyes she blinked lazily at him. “You okay?”
“Um-hmmm.” Her eyes closed again, but her soft smile remained.
“You want some water? I can put a glass by your bed. Don’t want you to wake with a headache in the morning.”
“My protector. You take such good care of me.”
He ran a hand over her forearm. “I always will,” he promised, remembering how he’d sat by her hospital bed after her transplant. He’d silently promised that he’d never let anyone hurt her. Over the years, that promise had come to include himself.
Her eyes fluttered open again. “I love that little dimple in your cheek,” she whispered.
Noah stilled. Everything inside him tightened to the point that his heart squeezed and kicked. He searched his mind for something clever to say, to take the edge off the moment. Before he could say anything, though, Krista sat up and pressed her mouth to his. His hands immediately tightened around her, holding her there. Then, without thinking—maybe his mind just wasn’t working tonight—he parted his lips and took the kiss to the next level. He swept his tongue past her lips. Tasted her sweetness, and, good God, she tasted fantastic. Her hot mouth on his was divine. Blood surged to his lower half, and he pressed his body against hers. One hand traveled down her waist, cupping her bottom.
It all lasted barely a couple seconds. Like a spark that ignited into a flashfire.
“Mmmm. Noah,” she moaned, falling back against her pillow.
“Krista?” he said, breathing heavily. What the hell just happened?
But she was asleep. Her eyes were closed and her head had turned to the side. There was a soft smile playing at her slightly parted lips. Kissable lips.
Withdrawing his hands from her body, he stood and took a step backward, nearly stumbling over her shoes. They’d fallen off as he’d taken her to bed. Which didn’t sound right at all. He’d like to say nothing happened, but shit, he’d kissed her. Why had he kissed her?
At the front of the house, he heard the door open and slam shut. Joey was home. Thank you, God, Noah thought, because he needed to get out of Krista’s bedroom, her home, and as far away from her as he possibly could right now.
Joey stopped and arched a brow at the sight of Noah sprinting out of Krista’s darkened room. Noah lifted his hands. “She drank too much. I put her in her bed. See for yourself. She’s slobbering on her pillow and still wearing the jeans and shirt she had on at Castaways.” He failed to mention, however, that he’d had his tongue in her mouth and his hand on her ass two seconds earlier.
Joey snickered. “I stopped caring who my sister brought to bed a long time ago, man. And I’d never worry about you two anyway.”
Both of those statements had Noah stopping in his tracks. “What do you mean the guys Krista brings to bed?” Because he hadn’t heard of any in a long time.
“Well, not lately. She’s too wrapped up in work. We’ll probably end up living together ’til we’re old or we kill each other. One of the two.” Joey headed toward the fridge and pulled out a carton of leftover Chinese food.
“Well, what do you mean that you would never worry about me and Krista?” Noah asked. Because he was worried at the moment. He was two seconds away from needing a paper bag to breathe into.
Joey looked up over a forkful of dangling lo mein. “She’s been telling me for years. You’re just friends and she’s not even attracted to you, bro.” He chomped down on the noodles.
“She’s not?”
Joey laughed as he chewed and swallowed. “Sorry to bruise your ego.”
Annie Rains has created a warm, small town community in her Blushing Bay series. I love the relatable characters, the gorgeous waterfront setting and the small town feel in each of the novels. Stolen Kisses is well -paced friends to lovers romance which features Krista Nelson and Noah Sawyer.
Loved the characters in this novel! Krista Nelson is at a crossroads- both personally and professionally. Although she enjoys her job as a pediatric nurse, there may be an opportunity for advancement for her at the hospital. Will Krista decide to remain as a floor nurse or choose to pursue the head nurse position? Krista wants it all; her nursing career, a husband, home and children. She’s settled into a comfortable routine; she meets her friend Grace for coffee before work, her friend Noah for drinks on Wednesday and her girlfriends for dinner on Thursdays. Krista’s routine is shaken up when Noah brings a date to their weekly ‘Wednesday Wings’ night. Noah ignores Krista and focusses on his date. This event is a wakeup call for Krista. She loves Noah but realizes that he considers her as ‘one of the guys” and accepts a date with a doctor.
Noah Sawyer is one of my favorite characters in the series. He’s a good brother, great friend and loves his job as captain of the family fishing boat. Noah isn’t one for commitments; he dates lots of woman and lives in a tiny, run down houseboat. I loved that he valued his friendship with Krista and acknowledged his feelings for her were changing. I loved the symbolism in the fish hook charm that he gave Krista and heart shape fin on Misty, the elusive tuna.
Noah and Krista volunteer to prepare the Sawyer family cabin for Grace and Jack Sawyer’s honeymoon. Loved that the trip started off with a stop at a store called Sugar and Spicy to buy a few gifts for the honeymooners. The scene which describe Krista’s embarrassment and annoyance at Noah as he implied to the clerk that the items for their pleasure was well crafted and so funny. Krista’s reaction to Noah’s teasing her was spot on! The author does a fabulous job with the scenes which describe the buildup to the couple’s first kiss; as both Krista and Noah give into their desire. Ms. Rains doesn’t make it easy for this couple though—the scene with Krista and the spider is hilarious! Loved how Krista and Noah transitioned from friends to lovers—it was perfectly paced—and contained several sweet scenes.
The couple’s relationship suffers a setback when Krista overhears part of a conversation between Noah and his older brother Sam at Grace and Jack’s wedding reception. Sam brings up something from Noah’s past that he has not shared with Krista which leaves her shell shocked. The last few chapters of the book were wonderfully written with several standout emotional scenes and honest, poignant conversations. Stolen Kisses has all the feels—a heartwarming, poignant friends to lovers story, witty banter between the characters (especially between the Sawyer brothers!), a beautiful setting and an superb epilogue which was perfect for this couple!
Annie Rains -I am patiently waiting for the next book!
Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by the publisher
Katharine Ashe continues her lush and sensual Devil’s Duke series with a sweeping story of unbreakable love.
KATHARINE ASHE is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of historical romances reviewers call “intensely lush” and “sensationally intelligent,” including her acclaimed Devil’s Duke Series, and My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander, 2015 and 2014 finalists for the romance industry’s most prestigious award, the RITA®.
