The Accidental kiss

niel'

p, "remind me why you let he

made him impervious to my occasional temper. "She said

returned by none other than the human tornado

i

almost whimsical-nothing

one of those blank journals with a faux-leather cover, the kind p

is one is

eatly on the inside

okstore. Did she write my name in it? Di

it mak

interrupts

ha

me to follow

for some reason. The idea of James or an

notebook with a snap. "

ves the office wit

chair, staring a

strange interruption to my routine is over. Inst

unacce

people dis

even

a's

I was expecting, b

I imagined-sleek, modern, and completely impers

anted me out of his sight forev

t, and that bothers m

il

her standing in the doorway of my tiny apartment, a bag

n interrogated by the FBI?" she asks,

well have be

Mr. Hot-and-Cold, isn't it? What happe

t," I say, horrified. "I ju

he asks, raisi

"That

e she doesn't believe me. "So

f moment, I thought I saw something in his

an't sa

"It's nothing. He'

, smirking. "That's on

w at her. "Can we please

don't think you're off the hook.

niel'

ld be

cuments that need my attentio

h

ded me the notebook. The nervous energy

ey gave away everything she was fee

not the kind of person I usually associate wit

erything

n't stop thin

lling me out of my

wer, "there's been a deve

urtly, ending the call

ractions-not from James, a

a's

y busy today, and I'm gra

off Nathaniel. Or at least, it keeps me too busy

behind me, and I turn to

it's Nathaniel. But this man is older, with g

elp you?

says. "Something unique. Do y

bound classics. "These are always popular," I

ng thoughtfully. "My daughter lo

ll sense of accomplishment. Moments like

ace is sh

oor jingles, and I g

han

quickly duck behind the counter, pret

e doing h

nse gaze. He looks just as out of place as he did last time-sharp suit,

his eyes

racing as he starts

his voice smoot

squeak, my voice e

clearly unimpressed. "

standing up too quickly and near

like he's fight

you," he says, hi

r w

," he replies. "And for not

fused. "Why

ople wo

out loud, but I ca

kward silence. And then he does somethi

smi

f, but it's there-a

Lila," he says,

aving me standing there with my h

ust ha