Not only did she want Gordy to kiss her, but the man knew how to kiss. And he was very interested in what he was doing. His mouth moved on hers in a way that made her knees go weak. And when he ran his tongue along her lips, she surrendered without a second thought. A soft moan rose in her throat, and he seemed to like that. He pulled her body against his and plunged his tongue deeper. Vicky lifted her hands and ran her fingers through his thick hair, causing him to growl in response. His hands slid down her body. She shivered. And suddenly it was all just...too much.

She couldn’t step back, so she put her hands on his chest. She didn’t have to push. He sensed her change of mood immediately and released her, stepping away. Vickie closed her eyes and focused on bringing her pulse and breathing back to the normal range.

“Are you okay?” Gordy sounded more amused than concerned.

“I’m fine.” She pulled herself straight, trying to muster some dignity.

He chuckled. “Yes, you are most definitely fine.”

She smacked his shoulder. “Don’t be crass.” But she couldn’t help smiling at the praise. “I just got overwhelmed.”

He laughed softly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should. But I swear to God if you breathe a word about this to anyone...”

Gordy took another step back and raised his hands. “I’m not the type to kiss and tell. But if I was...” He turned to give her room to walk back into the kitchen. The pantry had suddenly become much too close. “...that was a kiss I’d definitely want to brag about. You haven’t lost a beat in over forty years, babe. Still the best kisser in Rendezvous Falls.”

She couldn’t hold back a short laugh as she busied herself folding her grocery bags and setting them near the door to put back in her car. “I’m seventy. I am not anyone’s ‘babe.’” She glanced his way, surprisingly pleased to see how rumpled his hair was from her fingers. “But...that was a pretty great kiss. I just don’t think it needs to happen again. I don’t see a future for us, so what’s the point?”

Better to end this now before she got any more invested.

He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. “Why don’t we have a future?”

“Oh, come on. I’m not on the market. I don’t think there even is a market for women my age.” That didn’t mean she wasn’t lonely at night, but still. “And you’re my contractor. Those sort of romances only work in romance novels—and the characters are much younger.”