Authors: Trish Milburn
"I know the feeling." She drew little circles on his chest with a wandering finger. "I felt a little guilty at first, then realized Troy would probably be happy."
"I know he is."
Shelly propped herself up on one elbow to look down into his eyes.
"And how do you know that?"
"I asked him."
He told her the story of his midnight talk with Troy and how his buddy had given him the sign he so desperately needed. She caressed his face, loving him more with this evidence that her feelings, and even those of his lost friend, were more important to him than his own.
"I don’t love you less than him," she said. "I loved him with all my heart, but I can say the same about you. I now know it’s possible to have two true loves in one lifetime."
He kissed her with a passion so intense it threatened to rob her of oxygen. When he pulled away, that wonder was shining in his eyes again.
"I never knew what this felt like. I’ve seen people in love, but there’s no explaining it until you’ve felt it yourself, maybe not even then." He paused, stared at her. "It’s scary."
She knew what he meant, heard the worry in his voice. "I think I’ve had my share of bad times. I’m not going anywhere."
For the next several hours, she didn’t. Chris could manage without her, Monday being their slowest day. She and Reed made love again, more slowly and tenderly this time, and then fed each other strawberries while sitting against the headboard of the bed. They followed that with a shared shower that led to more lovemaking. She’d never had sex in the shower, and all that wet, slippery skin made her body flush hot. Her release was so powerful she’d have fallen if not for Reed’s one strong arm holding her upright.
Male satisfaction and mischievousness sparked in Reed’s eyes. "We’ll definitely have to do that again."
Once they’d finally gotten themselves into clothes, Shelly made a picnic lunch and dragged Reed to her car, intending to take him to Abrams Falls. She ignored the knowing looks Chris and Anna and then Clyde and Sam, who seemed to have taken up permanent residence, shot their direction.
Reed laughed as she headed down the drive. "I think our secret is out."
"Until you rolled into town, it’d been a while since I was the topic of conversation in the Bobcat Ridge gossip mill. I might learn to like it."
"What about your parents, your dad’s parishioners?"
"I’ll deal with it. But you know what. While you were in the hospital, I got to talk to Mom quite a bit. I didn’t tell her anything about us, but I swear the woman can read minds."
"What did she say?"
"That it made her wish she was young again. And she had this suspicious twinkle in her eye."
Reed laughed. "I’ve always heard you have to watch out for the preacher’s sons, but never the preacher."
****
Shelly’s parents arrived home July 3, and within hours her father gained back more color and vigor than he had during his entire stay in the hospital. Firefly Run hosted a huge picnic the next day for the family, guests and the entire community of Bobcat Ridge to celebrate the twin occasions—plus the fact that Shelly was safe.
Shelly poured another glass of lemonade for a little boy visiting with his parents from Michigan.
"I swear, that kid is going to turn into a lemon," her mother said from beside her.
"More likely he’ll get sick and never want to see lemonade again as long as he lives," Shelly said.
"I seem to remember you doing something similar once upon a time."
"I still can’t stand the smell of root beer."
Shelly looked over at her mother and smiled, then to where her father sat in the shade talking to some of the guests. It was wonderful to have her parents back home, and telling them about the ordeal with Eddie hadn’t been as difficult as she’d imagined. Of course, having Reed by her side, both during the past weeks and when she retold the story to her parents, helped more than she could say.
Later, she’d gone for a long walk with her mother to the point at which Eddie had gone over the cliff. That also didn’t bother her as much as she’d feared. A chill had gone down her spine at the memory, but the forest and river had lost none of their magic despite what had transpired there. Her mother had known even before she told her that she’d fallen in love with Reed. Her mother had perhaps missed her calling. She would have been a wonderful counselor—or fortuneteller.
"You’re staring again, dear," her mother said, bringing her back to the present festivities.
She was, indeed, staring, watching Reed laugh at the antics of her niece and the other children as they chased first one butterfly, then another. The butterflies always eluded the little fingers, resulting in squeals and indignant stamps of preschool feet.
It certainly was good to see Reed laugh again. In the days since he’d returned from the hospital, he’d gradually lightened up and become more of the fun-loving man she used to know. Coupled with the love now in full bloom between them, he was intoxicating.
"Although," her mother continued, "I can’t blame you for staring."
"Mom!"
"What? Is it too weird that your mother can recognize a good-looking man when she sees one?"
"Well, no, I mean..."
"Don’t worry, dear. I don’t believe anything would attract his attention any more than you."
Shelly hugged her mother. "I’m glad you’re home."
"It’s good to be back, and to have your father back with me." Margaret Wynn glanced toward Reed, who was standing in the shade of a giant pine tree with her son. "Maybe this time nothing will spoil your happiness."
Before Shelly could say anything about the uncertainty of the future, her mother glided away toward a knot of women she’d known most of her life.
Shelly played hostess until the last of the barbecue was gone. She left a table filled with lemonade and precut desserts and went to watch the youngsters play with sparklers as twilight faded. Everyone looked happy, even Marianne, who was in attendance with an attractive man she’d met while shopping in Knoxville.
"Come with me," Reed whispered in her ear. She shivered at his sudden appearance behind her and the sensual sound of his voice.
She didn’t ask why, but took his hand. The laughter and conversations faded as he led her away from the crowd, guided her past her cabin and down the path toward the cliff. The sounds of the whispering pines and the rushing river gradually drowned out those of the party. When they reached what she’d come to think of as the kissing log, he drew her down beside him. It was too early for the fireflies, but the memory made her smile.
"I hear this is the spot to be for the best fireworks show in the Smokies tonight," he said.
She smiled up at him, and he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss.
"I’ve been wanting to do that all day," he said when he broke away.
"And here I was thinking I was the only one lusting from afar."
Since her parents’ return, it hadn’t seemed right for her and Reed to share a cabin. He’d bunked on the couch of the cabin Sean and his family were occupying.
"I’ve been mighty lonely the last few nights," he said.
She snuggled next to him. "That makes two of us."
"I think I might have a cure for what ails us."
"Really? Are you going to sneak in my window tonight?"
"That’s a tempting thought, but I was thinking of a more long-term arrangement."
Shelly’s heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to breathe normally, to not jump to conclusions.
"I’ve been thinking a lot lately."
"Oh?"
"I’m thinking Texas might be a mite uncomfortable after all this nice mountain weather."
She couldn’t help it. Her heart catapulted over all the intervening gears and slammed straight into overdrive. She pulled back and looked up into his face in the dimness, wishing the fireflies would come out early tonight and light up his features.
"You’re thinking about staying here?"
"Yes. It all depends on one thing."
"Whether you can get a job?" Dare she hope that he could give up being a detective in a large city and all the danger that came with that job description?
"Nah. I figured I could mooch off my sugar mama." He planted a playful kiss on her forehead.
She swatted him on the arm. "Reed," she pleaded, wanting him to alleviate the suspense.
Even without the benefit of full light, she sensed the change in him. More serious.
"It all depends on you and how you feel about me."
"I love you. You know that."
"Enough to take a second chance on marriage?"
Tears popped into her eyes as she nodded.
"Will you marry me, Shelly?"
"Oh, Reed. Yes."
He kissed her until her head spun, making her thankful she was sitting down. When they paused to breathe, the night suddenly lit up across the river, illuminating the length of Firefly Run. Shelly remembered what Reed had said about the night he’d asked for a sign from Troy, and tears threatened again.
An all-consuming peace settled over her. This time, she knew she’d be able to love for years to come.
****
Thank you for purchasing this book. I hope you enjoyed Reed and Shelly’s story. If you did enjoy it and could leave positive reviews at various online booksellers’ outlets, I would appreciate that very much.
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Trish Milburn lives in the South with her husband and spends what little free time she has reading, watching TV and movies (Is that her TiVo smoking?), hiking, taking road trips and valiantly fighting the weeds in her flowerbeds.
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