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Kari smiled.
“Didn’t she turn out pretty?” Ida Mae said fondly. “But then, you were always a lovely girl. You should have entered the Miss Texas pageant. You could have gone far with a title like that.”
Kari smiled weakly. “It was very nice to see you both,” she said politely, then headed toward the squad car that the deputy had pulled around.
“Gage has had a couple of close calls,” Nelson called after her, “but no one’s gotten him down the aisle.”
Kari waved by way of response. She wasn’t going to touch that particular topic.
“Good to have you back,” Nelson yelled louder.
This one Kari couldn’t resist. She turned toward the older man and shook her head. “I’m not back.”
Nelson only waved.
“Just perfect,” she muttered as she climbed into the car with the deputy. He’d told her his name, but she’d already forgotten it. Probably because he looked so impossibly young. She was only twenty-six, but next to this guy she felt ancient.
She gave him her address and leaned back against the seat, breathing in the air-conditioned coolness. There were a thousand and one details to occupy her mind, yet instead of dealing with them, she found herself remembering the first time she’d met Gage. She’d been all of seventeen and he’d been twenty-three. At the time, he’d seemed so much older and more mature.
“I know this is a crazy question,” she said, glancing at the young man next to her. “But how old are you?”
He was blond, with blue eyes and pale cheeks. He gave her a startled glance. “Twenty-three.”
“Oh.”
The same age Gage had been eight years ago. That didn’t seem possible. If Gage had been as young as this guy, Kari shouldn’t have had any trouble standing up to him. Why had she found it so incredibly difficult to share her feelings while they’d been dating? Why had the thought of telling him the truth terrified her?
There wasn’t an easy answer to the question, and before she could come up with a hard one, they arrived at her house.
Kari thanked the deputy and stepped out into the late afternoon. In front of her stood the old house where she’d grown up. It had been built in the forties, and had a wide porch and gabled windows. Different colored versions of the same house sat all along the street, including the home next door. She glanced at it, wondering when she would have her next run-in with her neighbor. As if returning to Possum Landing for the summer wasn’t complicated enough, Gage Reynolds now lived next door.
Kari walked inside her grandmother’s house and stood in the main parlor. Never a living room, she thought with a smile. It was a parlor, where people “set” when it wasn’t nice enough to settle on the front porch. She remembered countless hours spent listening to her grandmother’s friends talking about everything from who was pregnant to who was cheating on whom.
She’d arrived after dark last night. She hadn’t turned on many lights after she’d come in, and somehow she’d convinced herself that the house was different. Only now, she saw it wasn’t.
The old sofas were the same, as was the horsehair chair her grandmother had inherited from her grandmother. Kari had always hated that piece—it was both slick and uncomfortable. Now she touched the antique and felt the memories wash over her.
Maybe it was the result of all the emotions from the robbery, maybe it was just the reality of being home. Either way, she suddenly sensed the ghosts in the house. At least they were friendly, she told herself as she moved into the old kitchen. Her grandmother had always loved her.
Kari looked at the pecan cabinets and the stove and oven unit that had to be at least thirty years old. If she expected to get a decent price for the old place, she would have to do some serious updating. That was the reason she’d come home for the summer, after all.
A restlessness filled her. She hurried upstairs and changed out of her clothes. After showering, she slipped on a cotton dress and padded back downstairs barefoot. She toured the house, almost as if she were waiting for something to happen.
And then it did.
There was a knock on the door. She didn’t have to answer it to know who had come calling. Her stomach lurched and her heart took up that thundering hoof dance again. She drew in a deep breath and reached for the handle.
Chapter Two
Gage stood on Kari’s front porch. She didn’t bother pretending to be surprised. Her time with him in the bank had been too rushed and too emotionally charged for her to notice much about his appearance…and how he might have changed. But now that they were in a more normal situation, she could take the time to appreciate how he’d filled out in the years she’d been away.
He looked taller than she remembered. Or maybe he was just bigger. Regardless, he was very much a man now. Still too good-looking for her peace of mind. He appealed to her, but, then, he always had.
“If you’re inviting me to attend another bank robbery,” she said with a smile, “I’m going to have to pass.”
Gage grinned and held up both hands. “No more crime…not if I can prevent it.” He leaned against the door frame. “The reason I stopped by was to make sure that you were all right after all the excitement today. Plus, I knew you’d want to thank me for saving your life by inviting me to dinner.”
She tilted her head as she considered him. “What if my husband objects?”
He didn’t even have the grace to look the least bit worried. “You’re not married. Ida Mae keeps track of these things, and she would have told me.”
“Figures.” She stepped back to allow him inside. Gage moved into the front room while she closed the door behind him. “What makes you think I’ve had time to go to the grocery store?” she asked.
“If you haven’t, I have a couple of steaks in the freezer. I could get those out.”
She shook her head. “Actually, I did my shopping this morning. That’s the reason I ran out of cash and had to go get more at the bank.” She frowned. “Come to think of it, I never did cash that check.”
“You can do it tomorrow.”
“I guess I’ll have to.”
She led the way into the kitchen. Having him here was strange, she thought. An odd blending of past and present. How many times had he come over for dinner eight years ago? Her grandmother had always welcomed him at their table. Kari had been so in love that she’d been thrilled he’d wanted to spend mealtimes with her. Of course, she’d been young enough to be excited even if all he wanted was for her to keep him company while he washed his car. All she’d needed to be happy was a few hours in Gage’s presence. Life had been a whole lot simpler in those days.
He leaned against a counter and sniffed. “That smells mighty good. And familiar.”
“Grandmother’s sauce recipe. I put it in the slow cooker this morning, right after I got back from the grocery store. I also got out the old bread maker, but as it’s been gathering dust forever, I can’t promise it’ll all work.”
His dark gaze settled on her. “It works just fine.”
His words made her break out in goose bumps, which was crazy. He was a smooth-talking good-ol’ boy from Possum Landing. She lived in New York City. No way Gage Reynolds should be able to get to her. And he didn’t. Not really.
“Did you get all the paperwork wrapped up, or whatever it was you had to do after the robbery?” she asked as she checked on the pasta sauce.
“Everything is tied up in a neat package.” He crossed to the kitchen table and picked up the bottle of wine she’d left there.
“Kari Asbury, is this liquor? Have you brought the devil’s brew into our saintly dry county?”
She glanced up and chuckled. “You know it. I remembered there weren’t any liquor sales allowed around here and figured I had better bring my own. I stopped on my way over from the airport.”
“I’m shocked. Completely shocked.”
She grinned. “So you probably don’t want to know that there’s beer in the refrigerator.”
“Not at all.” He opened the door and pulled out a bottle. When he offered it to her, she shook her head.
“I’ll wait for wine with dinner.”
He opened the drawer with the bottle opener in it on the first try. Gage moved around with the ease of someone familiar with the place. But then, he had been. He’d moved in next door, the spring before her senior year. She remembered watching him carry in boxes and pieces of furniture. Her grandmother had told her who he was—the new deputy. Gage Reynolds. He’d been in the army and had traveled the world. To her seventeen-year-old eyes, a young man of twenty-three had seemed impossibly grown-up and mature. When they’d started dating that fall, he’d seemed a man of the world and she’d been—
“Are we still neighbors?” she asked, turning back to face him.
“I’m still next door.”
She thought of Ida Mae’s comment that Gage had never made it to the altar. Somehow he’d managed to not get caught. Looking at him now, his khaki uniform emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders and the muscles in his legs, she wondered how the lovely ladies of Possum Landing had managed to keep from trapping him.
Not her business, she reminded herself. She checked the timer on the bread machine and saw there was still fifteen minutes to go, plus cooling time.
“Let’s go into the parlor,” she said. “We’ll be more comfortable.”
He nodded and led the way.
As she followed him, she found her gaze drifting lower, to his rear. She nearly stumbled in shock. What on earth was wrong with her? She didn’t ever stare at men’s butts. Nothing about them had ever seemed overly interesting. Until now.
She sighed. Obviously, living next door to Gage was going to be more complicated than she’d realized.
He settled into a wing chair, while she took the sofa. Gage drank some of his beer, then put the bottle on a crocheted coaster and leaned back. He should have looked awkward and out of place in this fussy, feminine room, but he didn’t. Perhaps because he’d always been comfortable anywhere.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“That you look at home in my grandmother’s house.”
“I spent a lot of time here,” he reminded her. “Even after you left, she and I stayed close.”
She didn’t want to think about that…about the confidences that might have been shared.
Gage studied her face. “You’ve changed.”
She wasn’t sure if he meant the comment in a good way or a bad way. “It’s been a long time.”
“I never thought you’d come back.”
It was the second time in less than three hours that someone had mentioned her being back. “I’m not back,” she clarified. “At least, not for anything permanent.”
Gage didn’t look surprised by her statement, nor did he seem to take issue with her defensive tone. “So why are you suddenly here? It’s been seven years since your grandmother died.”
Her temper faded as quickly as it had flared. She sighed. “I want to fix up the house so I can sell it. I’m just here for the summer while I do that.”
He nodded without saying anything. She had the uncomfortable sense of having been judged and found wanting. Which wasn’t fair. Gage wasn’t the type of man to judge people without just cause. So her need to squirm in her seat had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her own state of mind.
Rather than deal with personal inadequacies that were probably better left unexplored in public, she changed the subject. “I can’t believe there was a bank robbery right here in Possum Landing. It’s going to be the talk of the town for weeks.”
“Probably. But it wasn’t that much of a surprise.”
“I can’t believe that. Things couldn’t have changed that much.”
He nodded. “We’re still just a bump in the road, with plenty of small-town problems, but nothing even close to big-city crime. These boys were working their way across the state, robbing hometown banks. I’d been keeping track of their progress, figuring they’d get here sooner or later. Four days ago, the feds came calling. They wanted to set up a sting. I didn’t have a problem with that. We talked to everyone at the bank, marked a drawer full of money, then waited for the hit to take place.”
Kari couldn’t believe it. “All that excitement right here, and I was in the thick of it.”
Gage narrowed his eyes. “As you saw, things got out of hand. I don’t know if those robbers got lazy or cocky, but this time, they decided to hold up the bank while there were still customers inside. Previously they’d waited until just before the doors were locked for the day, to go in.”
“So you weren’t expecting to deal with a hostage situation?”
“No one was. The feds wanted to wait it out, but those were my people inside. Someone had to do something.”
She turned that thought over in her mind. “So you just waltzed inside to distract them?”
“It seemed like the easiest way to get the job done. Plus, I wanted to be there to make sure no one went crazy and got shot. At least, no one from here. I don’t much care about the criminals.”
Of course. In Gage’s mind, they had brought the situation upon themselves. He wouldn’t take responsibility for their coming to Possum Landing to hold up a bank in the first place.
“I have to agree with the federal officer,” she said. “I don’t know if you were brave or stupid.”
He smiled. “You could probably make a case for either point of view.” He took another drink of his beer. “You know that I wasn’t really mad at you. I was trying to distract that one guy so he didn’t take you hostage.”
She shivered at the memory of the gun held to her head. “It took me a few minutes to catch on to what you were doing.”
But that didn’t stop her from wondering how much of what he had said was true. Did Gage really think she was the one who got away?
Did she want to be?
Once she easily would have said yes. Back before she’d left town, Gage had been her entire world. She would have thrown herself in front of a moving train if he’d asked. She’d loved him with all the crazy devotion a teenager was capable of. That had been the trouble—she’d loved him too much. When she’d figured out there were problems, she hadn’t known how to deal with them. So she’d run. When he hadn’t come after her, he’d confirmed her greatest fear in the world…that he hadn’t loved her at all.
They spent all of dinner talking about mutual friends. Gage brought her up to date on various weddings, divorces and births.
“I can’t believe Sally has twins,” Kari said, as they moved to the porch and sat on the wooden swing.
“Two girls. I told Bob he has his work cut out for him once they become teenagers.”
“Fortunately that’s a long way off.”
Kari set her glass of wine on the dusty, peeling table beside the swing and leaned back to look up at the sky. It might be after dark, but it was still plenty hot and humid. She could feel her dress sticking to her skin. Her head felt funny—fuzzy, heavy and more than a little out of sync. No doubt it was due to the combination of the fear she’d experienced earlier in the day and a little too much wine with dinner. She didn’t normally allow herself more than half a glass on special occasions, but tonight she and Gage had nearly split the bottle.
Gage stretched out his long legs. He didn’t seem bothered by the wine. No doubt his additional body mass helped, not to mention the fact that he wouldn’t have spent the past several years trying to maintain an unnaturally thin body.
“Tell me about life in New York,” he said.
“There isn’t much to tell,” she admitted, wondering if she should be pleased or worried that he’d finally asked her a vaguely personal question. “When I arrived, I found out that small-town girls who had been told they were pretty enough to be a model were spilling out of every modeling agency within a thirty-mile radius. The competition was tough and the odds of making it into the big time were close to zero.”
“You did okay.”
She glanced at him, not sure if he was assuming or if he actually knew. “After the first year or so, I got work. Eventually I made enough to support myself and pay for college. As of last month, I have teaching credentials, which is what I always wanted.”
Gage glanced at her. “You’re still too skinny to be a PE teacher.”
She laughed. “I know. I sure won’t miss all those years of dieting. I’m proud to tell you that I’ve worked my way up from a size two to a six. My goal is to be a size ten and even eat chocolate now and then.”
He swept his gaze over her. She half expected a comment on her body, but instead he only asked, “So what kind of teacher are you?”
“Math at the middle-school level,” she said.
“A lot of those boys are going to have a crush on you.”
“They’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know. I still get a hankering for Ms. Rosens. She taught eighth grade social studies. I don’t think I’d bothered to notice girls before. Then she walked into the room and I was a goner. She married the high school football coach. It took me a year to get over it.”
She laughed.
They rocked in silence for a few minutes. Life was so normal here, Kari thought, enjoying the quiet of the evening. Instead of sirens and tire screeches, there were only the calls of the night critters. All around Possum Landing people would be out on their porches, enjoying the stars and visiting with neighbors. No one would worry about half a glass of wine causing facial puffiness, or being too bloated for a lingerie shoot. No one would lose a job for gaining three pounds.
This was normal, she reminded herself. She’d nearly been gone long enough to forget what that was like.
“Why teaching?” Gage asked unexpectedly.
“It’s what I always wanted.”
“After the modeling.”
“Right.”
She didn’t want to go there—not now. Maybe later they would rehash their past and hurl accusations at each other, but not tonight.
“Where are you applying?”
“To schools around Texas. There are a couple of openings in the Dallas area and in Abilene. I have some interviews scheduled. That’s why this seemed like the perfect time to come back and fix up the house. Then I can move on.”
She paused, expecting him to respond. But he didn’t.
Which was just as well, because she suddenly found that sitting next to him on the old swing where he’d kissed her for the first time was more difficult than she would have thought. Her chest felt tight and her skin tingled all over.
It was just the wine, she told herself. Or it was the old memories, swimming around them like so many ghosts. The past was a powerful influence. No doubt she would need a little time to get used to being back in Possum Landing.
“Did you apply locally?” Gage asked.
“No.”
She waited, but he didn’t ask why.
“Enough about me,” she said, shifting in her seat and angling toward him. “What about your life? Last I heard, you were still a deputy. When did you run for sheriff?”
“Last year. I wasn’t sure I’d make it my first time out, but I did.”
She wasn’t surprised. Gage had always been good at his job and well liked by the community. “So you got what you always wanted.”
“Uh-huh.” He glanced at her. “I was always real clear about my goals. I grew up here. I’m a fifth-generation resident of Possum Landing. I knew I wanted to see the world, then come back home and make my life here. So I did.”
She admired his ability to know what he wanted and go after it. She had never been quite that focused. There had been the occasional powerful distraction. One of them was sitting right next to her.
“I’m glad you’re where you want to be,” she said. Then, because she wasn’t always as bright as she looked, she said, “But you never married.”
Gage smiled. “There have been a few close calls.”
“You always were a favorite with the ladies.”
His smile faded. “I never gave you cause to worry when we were together. I didn’t fool around on you, Kari.”
“I never thought you did.” She shrugged. “But there were plenty of women eager to see if they could capture your attention. The fact that you and I were going out didn’t seem to impress them.”
“It impressed me.”
His voice seemed to scrape along her skin like a rough caress. She shivered slightly.
“Yes, well, I…” Her voice trailed off. So much for being sophisticated, she thought wryly. Yup, her time in the big city had sure polished her.
“It’s getting late,” Gage said.
He rose, and she wasn’t sure if she was sad or relieved that he was going. Part of her didn’t want the evening to end, but another part of her was grateful that she wouldn’t have another chance to say something stupid. As much as she’d grown and matured, she’d never quite been able to kick that particular habit.
She stood as well, noticing again how tall he was. Especially in his worn cowboy boots. Barefoot, he only had four inches on her. Now she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze.
The look in his eyes nearly took her breath away. There was a combination of confidence and fire that made her insides sort of melt and her breathing turn ragged.
What on earth was wrong with her? She couldn’t possibly be feeling anything like anticipation. That would be crazy. That would be—
“You’re still the prettiest girl in Possum Landing,” he said as he took a step toward her.
She suddenly felt overwhelmed by the Texas heat. “I, um, I’m not really a girl anymore.”
He smiled a slow, easy, “I’m in charge here and don’t you forget it” kind of smile that didn’t do anything positive for her equilibrium. She seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
“I know,” he murmured as he put his hand on the back of her neck and drew her close. “Did I mention I like your hair short?”
She opened her mouth to answer. Big mistake. Or not, depending on one’s point of view.
Because just at that moment, he lowered his mouth to hers. She didn’t have time to prepare…which was probably a good thing. Because the second his lips touched hers, protesting seemed like a really silly idea—when Gage could kiss this good.
Kari wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing that was so special. Sure there was soft, firm pressure and plenty of passion. As if the night wasn’t warm enough, they were generating enough heat between them to boil water on contact. But there was something else, some chemistry that left her desperate and longing. Something that urged her to wrap her arms around him so that when he pulled her close, they were touching everywhere it mattered.
He moved his mouth against hers, then lightly licked her lower lip. Pleasure shot through her like lightning. She clutched at his strong shoulders, savoring the hardness of his body against hers, liking the feel of his hands on her hips and his chest flattening her breasts.
Her head tilted slightly, as did his, in preparation for the kiss to deepen. Because there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that they were taking this to the next level.
So when he stroked her lower lip again, she parted her mouth for him. And when he slowly eased his tongue inside, she was ready and very willing to dance this particular dance.
He tasted sweet and sexy. He was a man who enjoyed women and knew enough to make sure they enjoyed him. Kari had a hazy recollection of her first kiss with Gage, when he’d been so sure and she’d felt like a dolt. Right up until he’d touched his tongue to hers and she’d melted like butter on a hot griddle.
Now that same trickling sensation started deep inside. Her body was more than ready for a trip down memory lane. She wasn’t so sure the rest of her could play catch-up that fast…even if the passion threatened to overwhelm her.
He moved his hand up from her hips to her sides, then around to her back, moving higher and higher until he cupped her head. He slid his fingers into her short hair and softly whispered her name.
She continued to hold on to him because the alternative was to fall on her rear end right there on the porch. When he broke the kiss and began to nibble along the line of her jaw, she didn’t care where she fell as long as he caught her. And when he sucked on her earlobe, every cell in her body screamed out that sex with Gage Reynolds would be a perfect homecoming.