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The bright, full moon hung high in the inky sky as we pulled up into Kane’s driveway. During the six weeks I’d been staying at the house, I’d used his truck as transportation because he didn’t trust Sally and had pulled into this driveway dozens of times. But this time, tonight, reminded me of the first night I’d been to his house. It was just the two of us, alone, which hadn’t happened since that night.
It might be my imagination, but it felt like Kane had avoided being alone with me. He only spent time in rooms I was in when either Harper, Otto, or both were also there. At first, I was sure it was just my imagination. But after a few weeks, I started testing my theory. If I heard Kane in the kitchen, I’d walk in to get a glass of water, and without fail, he’d quickly make an excuse to leave. One night he was out on the back deck barbequing, and I went out under the guise of getting fresh air. He abandoned his post at the grill and nearly burned our hot dogs. There were a dozen more examples that proved my theory.
I was so convinced he’d been avoiding me that when he’d shown up at my door tonight, inviting me to go to the park with him, I thought I must have fallen asleep on my bed and was dreaming about the interaction. But it was real.
I’d watched The Goonies with him, Harper, and Bandit on the same blanket I’d used for picnics in the park. We’d all shared a large pepperoni pizza and popcorn. Once the movie ended, Harper went over to JJ and Destiny’s house for a sleepover with their daughter Lilah, and we headed home. Other than a little small talk about the movie, the ride had been silent. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I was sure he could hear it in the tiny cab.
Kane stopped me as I reached for the door handle.
“Wait,” he instructed before getting out and coming around to my side.
As I waited for him to open my door, my swoon-o-meter shot off the charts. Kane Kingston was the epitome of a Southern gentleman. He always opened and held doors, walked on the traffic side of the street, carried any bags or boxes, and offered his hand whenever a lady was walking up or down steps. It didn’t surprise me that he’d gone into the career he had. He was fiercely protective.
I had gotten used to a degree of danger being my constant companion while living in New York. But being home in Wishing Well and living with Kane had filled me with a sense of safety that I’d been missing for a long time.
When he opened the passenger side door, Bandit, who had been curled up between us, hopped out first. He ran up to the door as Kane offered me his hand. I placed my fingers in his palms, and a shudder overtook me. The totally innocent graze sent shockwaves of bliss rushing through my body. I did my best not to reveal the way his touch had affected me as we made our way to the front door.
Once inside, I walked past him into the foyer, and the tiny hairs at the nape of my neck stood at attention as I inhaled the fresh, woodsy scent of Kane’s body wash, which had me remembering the way I’d nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck as he’d carried me up the stairs.
“I’m gonna go check on Grandad.” His voice was gravelly as he motioned to the room down the hallway where Otto was staying.
I nodded and found myself on pins and needles, waiting for him to ask if I wanted to share a glass of wine, watch a movie, or get a snack—anything that would prolong this night.
His deep brown gaze pinned me in place as anticipation swirled around us until he finally said, “Goodnight,” turned, and walked down the hallway.
Disappointment enveloped me. “Goodnight.”
All night during the movie, I could see out of the corner of my eye, that he’d been staring at me. I felt like there was a shift in our dynamic. During the month and a half that I’d been here, I’d caught him looking at me, but not very often. He hadn’t ignored me, but his attention had been focused on Harper and Otto. Tonight, he seemed different. I’d hoped that with Harper gone for the evening, something might happen. But as I watched Kane’s retreating back down the hallway, I knew now that it wasn’t.
It was for the best. I knew that. I was leaving at the end of the summer. There was no future for us. It was better this way. No blurred lines. Just a clean getaway. Still… I wouldn’t say no to one more night together, I thought as I went upstairs and changed into my oversized nightshirt before going to the bathroom to wash my face.
I stood in front of the sink, pulled my hair up into a pile on top of my head, and scrubbed off my makeup. I’d planned on having a relaxing night in, but I was glad I’d gone to the Movies in the Park. When I was growing up, I’d avoided going to the weekly summer events and festivals because I’d always felt like an outsider. But tonight, I felt a sense of community I hadn’t known I was missing. I wondered if I’d find that again in California.
I dried my face, and when I opened the door, I saw Kane waiting in the hallway. His dreamy eyes were dark with an intensity that stole my breath. Something was going to happen. It was inevitable. Unescapable.
“Hi,” I smiled.
“I just…I wanted to say…. you look so…beautiful tonight,” he rasped as his knuckles brushed the side of my cheek.
My lids closed as I leaned into Kane’s touch.
“This is not a good idea,” he gritted out.
Goosebumps lifted on my arm as the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight. This man could turn me on by just walking into a room. By smiling. By hearing his voice. By smelling his aftershave. By seeing his work boots sitting beside the door. When he touched me, it was near sensory overload. I’d never known that level of arousal, of connection, of intimacy.
The first night we were together, I initiated it. If we were going to do this again, it had to be him. There was no way I was going to put myself out there like that again, not after we’d talked and he said we couldn’t do this.
I waited, my breath coming in shallow pants, to hear what the verdict was.
“I should say goodnight.” His voice was thin with tension.
My mouth watered as I stared at his full lips, then I lifted my gaze to meet his. I could see the torment in his stare. As much as I wanted to be with him again, the last thing I’d ever want was for him to regret his decision.
“Goodnight,” he rasped as he dropped his arm.
Another tidal wave of disappointment flooded through me when I heard that the jury was in, and it had come back with a very sensible decision. If we spent the night together again, it would only complicate things.
“Goodnight.” I parroted before walking past him into my room. I shut the door behind me and then rested my head against the cold wood. My hand lifted, and my fingers spread on the hard surface as I waited to hear his footsteps retreating to his room.
