Ghost of a Promise by Kelly Moran

Reddi-whip is preferred to Cool Whip. ”
    Falling. “ Snowboarding or waterskiing? ”
    “ Neither. Both require an ambulance. ”
    He laughed. Maybe they weren ’ t so different after all. “ Favorite movie? ”
    “ Princess Bride .”
    His grin spread so wide his cheeks ached. “ One of mine also. House on Haunted Hill is a favorite too.”
    “ Only the Vincent Price version counts. ”
    He patted his chest. “ You are gonna make me fall in love with you. Pepsi or Coke?” He held up a hand. “ Be very careful how you answer this. This could be the deal breaker. ”
    She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath, but it was all in good humor because her eyes lit with mischief. “ Another stupid question. There is only one carbonated beverage worth drinking. Dr. Pepper. ”
    “ I just fell madly in love with you. Marry me, Ava. ”
    She made a sound of dismissal, grinned, and peeked over the top of the pot to check dinner. “ Says the serial dater. ”
    He didn ’ t date at all. No time. What was the point in romancing a woman he knew he only wanted one thing from? “ Okay, Miss Cynicism. Ideal first date? ”
    She came back and sat down, sipping her wine. “ Don ’ t tell me there ’ s a serious romantic under all that charm. ”
    “ Guilty. Answer the question. ”
    She set her glass down. “ I plead the fifth. You ’ ll laugh or use it against me to try to get into my pants. ”
    Guilty again. “ I promise not to laugh. ”
    Her head tilted as she laughed at him, and the sound was warm, inviting. “ See? Not answering. ”
    He sighed with dramatic flair. “ Okay, fine. And I won ’ t use it to get into your pants. But may I point out, you ’ re wearing a skirt? ” A knee-length red skirt with black tights under it, making him want to peel away the layers. She had great legs.
    She studied him for a few seconds. “ Watching a DVD in my living room with a bowl of popcorn. That ’ s my ideal first date. ”
    Huh. Not what he expected at all. “ Really? ”
    “ Really. ”
    She picked up her glass and fiddled with the stem. A blush rose over her cheeks and he wondered why that admission embarrassed her.
    “ Everyone ’ s afraid of my house. Whenever I ’ m seeing someone, we always go out or stay at his place. It would be nice to stay in once and awhile, you know? They don ’ t even walk me to the door. ”
    She was lonely. The thought never occurred to him. Ava was an independent woman comfortable in her own skin. Simple things like watching TV or waking in the morning were always alone. And that bothered her, at least to a small degree.
    Well, hell. That was it. “ Come here a sec. ” He stood, walked to the kitchen door, and held it open.
    “ Where are we going? ”
    “ The yard. Come on then. ”
    She pursed her lips and paused. Finally, she rose and checked the pot before meeting him at the door. “ Dinner ’ s almost ready. We can ’ t stay out long —”
    He closed the door behind her and leaned her against it. His admirable intention of offering her a sweet good-night adieu to make up for her previous dates blew to hell when her body pressed against his. Her glorious curves and tall frame meeting his muscle inch for inch had his desire raging.
    “ What are you doing? ” Her whisper ended with a hitch, telling him she felt the pull too.
    His belly heated. Other parts awakened with vigor. “ Walking you to the door and kissing you good night. ” Framing her face in his hands, he leaned in. “ I had a really good time tonight. ”
    And then he did what he’d been wanting to since first setting eyes on her. He closed his mouth over hers.

Chapter Nine
    Alice down the rabbit hole. Any second now the Mad Hatter would show up for a tea party. Ava fell with dizzying speed, without her feet leaving the ground.
    She was just thinking a few weeks ago how she hadn’ t had a great kiss in way too long. Truth of the matter was, she ’ d never been kissed like this. Then again, Jackson