“This can’t be happening. It’s -“

“Reckless,” he said. “Just like before. When it comes to you, I will never not be reckless.”

His head lowered and she pressed a hand to the center of his chest to bring him up short. She felt his heart beating and froze. She absorbed the way his breath snagged and his shoulders lifted and fell in rapid succession. To know she still had this effect on him – it was potent. “You better not kiss me, you fool.”

“Why not?” he asked, the flat of his brow coming to rest against hers. 

Don’t answer that. Don’t you dare answer that, Luella. “Because…”

“Because?”

Her hands had fisted in his collar. Now, when had they done that? “Because I want you…to shut the hell up.” And then she did something foolish and all other manner of mixed-up things she didn’t understand. 

She kissed him.