Night of Destiny Novel by Vanessa K

Angela had been wiping the corners of her mouth when Richard took the canteen wordlessly and gulped down some water.

She paused and gaped at him

incredulously as a fleeting thought crossed her mind, Does that mean we indirectly kissed? A pink flush crept over her cheeks, and she wondered how he could so readily drink from the same canteen she had used mere seconds ago.

Oblivious to her thoughts, Richard shrugged on his backpack and pointed to the tallest summit in the distance. “That will be our destination, so let’s move!”

Her eyes widened at the sight of the summit, which looked grayish-blue under the thin layer of mist that shrouded it. “I’m sorry. Are you suggesting we climb all the way up there?”

“Yes, how astute of you,” Richard drawled

sarcastically. He raised a brow at her and asked snidely, “You’re not scared, are you?”

Angela snapped, “Of course I’m not scared! Ill climb that mountain without

“Then,

soaked through with sweat, Richard did not look the slightest bit out of breath. If one didn’t

out as she tossed aside the wildflower

this point. But she refused to give up; her pride and determination did not allow her to even though she was on the

they reached a slope that inclined at a

reluctance, Richard threw an amused look over his shoulder at her, taking in her defeated

Angela said, reaching out

here to perish on my own, she thought, cheering up considerably. “You know, you didnt have to apologize to me last night,” she began hesitantly, her exhaustion compelling her to re-evaluate her conscience. “I should be the

in surprise, only to see her grinning sweetly back at him. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were twinkling with mischief. She looked so bright

him close to her. The poor man was already in a daze, and the

his chest. She had only wanted to tease him

breath hitched, and she narrowed her pretty doe-eyes for a second before looking up to see the perfect, sumptuous curve of his lips. Abruptly, she found herself thinking audaciously, What

coordinated, Angela rose on the tip of her toes, and before Richard could react, she gave him a quick peck on his

at the girl incredulously, but she had already pulled away from him and ran away like a kitten that got caught scratching up

She couldn’t believe she had kissed him. Of