Midnight Run by Charity Hillis Page B

spring.”
    His father nodded approvingly. “It’s
important to keep your body as strong as your mind.”
    “But darlin’,” his mother said, “I want
grandbabies soon!”
    Kingston sighed. “You’ve got Blake and
Shelton,” he reminded her gently. “Have you seen them
recently?”
    His mother sighed. “Rachel said she’d bring
them over next week.” Chewing on the bottom of her lip, she lowered
her voice. “I wish she and Mark would figure out this nasty
separation business.”
    Kingston’s father took a swig of his gin and
tonic. “I’ve tried to talk with her about it, but she’s like a bank
vault.” He raised an eyebrow at his son. “Has she confided in
you?”
    He shook his head, thinking back to the
conversation he’d had with his sister earlier that week. “No. I
wish I knew what to say or do that would help her.”
    “Don’t rush into marriage,” his father said,
leaning forward to look at him intently. “No matter what your
mother may say, son, that’s not a commitment you should take
lightly.”
    His mother pouted. “But Kingston’s got a good
head on his shoulders. I’m sure he wouldn’t make the same mistakes
as Rachel.”
    Kingston wasn’t so sure that Rachel had made
a mistake; he wondered if she and Mark had simply fallen out of
love. Given how many of his friends were divorced, he doubted that
they’d all “rushed in” as his father put it. But all he said was,
“Don’t worry. I’m not thinking about getting married anytime soon.
Besides,” he offered with a gentle laugh, “I’d have to meet someone
first.”
    His mother eyed him intently. “I wish you’d
let me introduce you to—“
    “No, Mom,” Kingston said firmly. “No set ups.
I can find my own girl, thank you very much.”
    “But you haven’t,” she pointed out
reasonably.
    “But I will,” Kingston said, his thoughts
drifting to a pair of wide brown eyes that made his heart race.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    That night, alone in
her old bed in her parents’ farmhouse, Nora tossed and turned for
hours. When sleep finally overcame her, she was swept into a dream
about Kingston.
    Pebbles hit her window, calling her to lift
the sash, and sleepily, Nora swung her feet out of bed and crossed
the floor. When she looked down into the moonlit yard, his familiar
smile beamed up at her.
    Her heart started to beat faster. “What are
you doing here?” She whispered, leaning over the sill.
    “I’m here for you, hon,” came the soft
reply.
    Nora swallowed. “How are you going to get up
here? My parents--” She paused. There was something about her
parents that she was struggling to remember, but it danced at the
corner of her memory, just out of reach. “I don’t—” she tried
again.
    The words had barely left her mouth when she
felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, and Nora exhaled sharply.
Kingston chuckled, turning her to face him. “You were saying?” His
eyes were alight with expectation, and Nora felt her body begin to
tingle in response to his intense gaze. He tipped her chin toward
his and leaned forward, pausing an inch away from kissing her. His
breath was hot on her skin, and Nora tried not to shiver at the
delightful sensation. Kingston’s mouth curved into a slow, sure
smile, and he inched a little closer.
    Nora licked her lips, her heart racing. She’d
fantasized about sneaking a guy up to her bedroom when she was in
high school, but the couple of boys she’d seriously dated had been
just as polite and well-behaved as Nora, and no one ever made her
act on her fantasy. Until now , she thought, studying
Kingston’s lips hovering close to her face.
    Tentatively, Nora closed the distance,
bringing her lips against his with a gentle sigh. The kiss was long
and deep, and Nora felt the soles of her feet begin to dissolve
into the floor.
    Kingston’s lips were thick and smooth, and
with each kiss, Nora melted a little bit more. He murmured her name
against her mouth, and heat flooded Nora’s body as she