Chapter 203

Chapter 203
I tried to glare, but it was hard when she looked that beautiful laughing like that. Her hair was falling out of its tie, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling even with tears. Damn, she was stunning.

Finally, I grabbed a broom, keeping as much distance as possible, and gently nudged the little demon snake out the back door. Aya clapped like I’d just won an Olympic medal.

“Hero of Texas,” she said between giggles. “Saved us all from the shoelace of doom.”

I hopped off the chair, adjusting my shirt with as much dignity as I could muster. “Laugh it up, darling. You’re not the one who got traumatized by a python at age eight.”

Her brows shot up, curious despite herself. “A python?”

I groaned. Damn it, I walked into that one. “Family trip to the zoo. Snake escaped the handler. Wrapped around my ankle. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Her lips twitched like she was trying to hold it in, then she failed miserably and snorted. “Lisbon, it was probably some sleepy zoo python they use for photo ops.”

“Sleepy? Aya, it hissed at me. That’s a declaration of war.”

She lost it all over again, sliding back against the counter, laughing until she could barely breathe.

I leaned down, bracing my hands on the counter on either side of her, pinning her with my smuggest grin. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Because you’re ridiculous,” she wheezed. “Big bad Nathaniel Lisbon, terrified of a pantry shoelace.”

“Keep laughing, darling,” I murmured, close enough for her laughter to falter just a bit. “But remember—I’m the one who caught you blushing last night. And this morning.”

Her laughter stuttered into silence, cheeks turning crimson again. She opened her mouth to snap back, but nothing came out except a choked, “Ugh!”

I sipped my coffee, smirking down at her. “That’s what I thought.”

And as she scrambled up and stomped away, muttering something about never forgiving me, I couldn’t stop the grin spreading wider across my face.

Yeah. She could laugh all she wanted. But the truth was, that kiss—and this ridiculous, fiery chemistry—was scaring her more than any shoelace snake ever could.

Aya’s POV

I ran. I literally ran back to my room like my life depended on it, my cheeks on fire, my heart pounding so hard I thought the entire ranch could hear it. I slammed the door, pressed my back against it, and whispered to the ceiling, “Why am I laughing at this idiot instead of murdering him?”

This was not in the plan. I was supposed to sass him, keep him at arm’s length, protect myself from exactly this. Nathaniel Lisbon was a firefighter, a playboy, an abs god with a reputation—not the kind of man you let make you laugh until your ribs hurt. And yet… there I was, doubled over in the kitchen, tears streaming down my face, because the big bad hero was terrified of a shoelace snake.

I buried my face in my pillow, groaning. “Aya, you’re doomed. You’re so doomed.”

But the worst part? It wasn’t the laughing. It wasn’t even the way he looked absolutely ridiculous perched on that chair like the floor was lava. It was what he said afterward.

“Laugh more, and I might kiss you again.”

I froze at that moment. Completely froze. He stood at the door. Face serious.  Because the way he said it—it wasn’t cocky, it wasn’t playful. His voice dropped, low and rough, his eyes unreadable. And because I’m apparently a masochist, I did laugh more, nervous, wild, my brain screaming at me to stop—

He went to my bed in a flash.

And then he kissed me.

Not one of those accidental “oops we tripped” moments. No. This was slow, deliberate, and devastating. His lips captured mine like he’d been holding back for weeks and finally snapped. Sweet and firm all at once, warm enough to make my toes curl in my boots. His hand cupped the side of my face, thumb brushing my cheek so gently I thought I might melt into the kitchen counter.

And me? Instead of pushing him away like a sane person, I leaned into it. I kissed him back.

It was long. Heavenly. The kind of kiss you don’t forget even if you tried. Like the world stopped spinning, and there was only us—my heartbeat in my ears, his breath against my lips, the taste of coffee and something dangerously addictive.

Then the voice.

“Sorry, I did not see the kiss.”

I jumped like I’d been electrocuted. My eyes flew open. Lara was standing at my bedroom door with a smile so smug it could power an entire city.

Heaven, kill me now.

I ripped myself out of Nathaniel’s arms so fast I nearly fell over my bed, pressing both hands to my face to hide the crimson fire spreading all the way to my ears. “Oh my god. Oh my god.”

Nathaniel? He just chuckled. Chuckled. The bastard looked like he’d just won the lottery, smug grin plastered across his stupidly perfect face.

Meanwhile, Lara sang out, “Don’t mind me, carry on,” and waltzed away like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on my entire existence.

I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole. Instead, I was left with my heart still racing, lips tingling, and Nathaniel’s eyes—dark and unreadable—burning into me like he knew I’d never forget that kiss.