Because of Him: A Christian Romance (New Hope Falls Book 2)

by Kimberly Rae Jordan

  “That’s really sad. It’s hard to lose a family member so unexpectedly.”

  Remembering her emotional dancing, it dawned on him that perhaps she had personal experience with sudden loss. Of course, he did too. “Yes, it is. My mom mentioned that you’ve been out of town visiting a sick family member.”

  She stared at him for a moment before nodding. He waited for her to expound on the person and the situation, but she didn’t say anything more. It was just one more thing that intrigued him about her.

  Every time they were together, he got the feeling that she wasn’t keen to share too much about herself. It made him suspicious, but then, he wasn’t revealing everything about himself either. He just needed to chill out and not try to force things this early in their acquaintance.

  It was a downside to his job. Just because someone didn’t share everything with him, didn’t mean they were guilty of something. If Cara were a suspect, however, he definitely would think she was hiding something. But she wasn’t, so he needed to not look too deeply into what she wasn’t saying.

  “Have classes been going well?” Kieran asked. “My mom seems to really enjoy them.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I was pleased she decided to come. I’m still waiting to see if Lisa will show up.”

  Kieran smiled at that. “Well, it’s not really a surprise that she hasn’t. Lisa always jokes that she’s allergic to exercise.”

  He wasn’t going to tell Cara that his mom had had an ulterior motive for attending the classes. Surprisingly enough, despite her initial motivation, his mom had recently been talking about how she was finding it easier to move, and she credited Cara’s classes with that. Whatever might have drawn her there in the first place, she was definitely sticking around because she felt it benefited her overall well-being.

  “I’m working with the kids’ dance classes to prepare them for the Christmas program.”

  “That’s neat. I bet the kids are excited about that. They probably have a lot of fun in your classes.”

  Cara tilted her head. “How do you know they have fun?”

  “I can’t imagine that your classes for the kids would be anything but.” Kieran shifted forward, leaning his arms on the table. “I get the feeling that you want the kids to love what they’re doing, and in order for that to happen, they need to have fun learning. I bet if I came to watch you teach, I’d see a bunch of kids who absolutely adore their teacher.”

  A light flush crept over Cara’s cheeks, and her head dipped before she glanced up through her lashes. “I do try and make it fun for them. I’ve had both super strict teachers and teachers who were more fun, and though I learned from both types, I definitely enjoyed the teachers who were encouraging and fun.”

  As he looked at her, the memory of her dancing alone in her studio came into sharp focus. The emotion. The athleticism. The beauty. He wished he could tell her how talented he thought she was, but that would require him revealing that he’d watched her without an invitation to do so.

  “I’ll have to come and watch the program. Is it open to everyone? Where do you have it?”

  “We use the theater at the high school, and while it’s open to everyone, we don’t usually have too big of a crowd. It’s usually just the family of the kids performing.”

  “Let me know the date and time, and I’ll be there.”

  Her smile at that was the biggest so far. “I’m sure the kids would love to see the chief there.”

  Missy reappeared with his food, and Kieran sat back to allow her to slide it onto the table in front of him. After she checked if Cara needed anything more, she left them alone again.

  “So have there been any more break-ins?” Cara asked after he’d bowed his head and said a quick prayer of thanks for his food.

  “Nope. Which is weird. To have two happen like that, and then nothing more is odd.” He took a mouthful of the soup. “Not that I’m complaining because I’d rather not have any more break-ins, but we currently have no leads on either case.”

  They talked a bit more about the businesses that had been targeted as Kieran ate his sandwich. Their conversation moved on to other crimes that had been committed in the area since he’d taken over the position of chief. Once again, there was no personal conversation, but he figured what they had was better than nothing.

  Though she’d finished her food ahead of him, Cara didn’t seem to be in any hurry to end their time together. He found that as long as the conversation wasn’t centered on her, she was happy to talk at length with him. Maybe they just needed to spend more time together, and hopefully, she’d become more at ease with him and open up.

  When he’d finished eating, Missy came to clear away their dishes and asked if they wanted dessert.

  “Not today,” Kieran said with a pat of his stomach. “Going to Mom’s tonight, so I have to pace myself.”

  “I’m fine too,” Cara told her. “It was all very delicious.”

  When Missy laid their bills on the table, Kieran picked them both up. Cara protested, but he just shook his head.

  “This wasn’t even planned,” she said. “I don’t expect you to pay for my meal.”

  “I know you don’t, but it’s my pleasure.” He paused, then said, “Think we might share a meal that was planned one day?”

  Her eyes widened a bit before she gave what was quite obviously a hesitant nod.

  “In that case, would you be willing to go out Friday night?”

  “Go out? For dinner?”

  “Sure. Dinner. Coffee. Movie. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

  “Oh. Well, anything would be okay.”

  “Anything?” Kieran asked. “Like, are you into sports or escape rooms?”

  “I’m not a big fan of any sport, but I don’t mind watching them on occasion. Never been to an escape room.”

  “Me neither, but I keep hearing about them.” Kieran regarded Cara for a second, then said, “So it’s settled? Friday night.”

  “Okay. Friday night.”

  “Once I’ve settled on the plans, I’ll let you know.” He hesitated, eyeing her closely. “Are you going to back out?”

  Her brows rose slightly at his question. “That’s not my intention. At least not without good reason.”

  “I just have to say I’m a bit surprised you’ve agreed.” He really should stop talking. The last thing he wanted to do was to talk her out of going out with him.

  She shrugged. “I’m a bit surprised too, but honestly, life’s too short to hold myself back from things.”

  “So it has nothing to do with my charismatic personality and stunning good looks?”

  Laughter tumbled from her lips. From her reaction, his comment had caught her totally off-guard. “It might have a little to do with that too.”

  Kieran grinned at her, and when she smiled back at him, he felt hope flare in his chest. If she really did believe that life was too short, then that might mean she’d be willing to take a chance on him for more than just a date, despite his job.

  “Well, I’d better get back to work.” With great reluctance, he got to his feet. “It was a real pleasure to have lunch together.”

  “It was,” Cara agreed. “And thank you for treating me.”

  “You’re welcome.” Before turning away, he added, “I’ll see you Friday.”

  At her nod and smile, he was able to leave the restaurant confident that she wasn’t going to bail on him before they even had a chance for their first date.

  ~*~

  Cara couldn’t believe that she was actually getting ready for a date. Her first date in years. She wasn’t going to count the few times she’d tried to date before her mom had been killed. A couple of those dates had been as a result of a dating app, and they’d crashed and burned within minutes of the meeting when she realized the men had really misrepresented themselves on the app.

  The others had been attempts to date within the ballet company, which she quickly realized wasn’t wise. Too much gossip. Too
much togetherness. Too much jealousy.

  She was sure people would laugh at the idea that she’d reached the age of twenty-six without ever having had a serious relationship, but her life over the past few years had just not been conducive to long-term dating. And okay, maybe there was a little bit of fear mixed in with it too.

  Still was, if she was honest. Over the past few days, she’d tried to figure out the best way to talk about her family if Kieran came right out and asked her about them. Obviously she’d had parents at some point, so she had to figure out the best way to share about them without going into details. As far as Kieran knew—and as far as he’d ever know—she was Cara Morgan. Carolina Jameson had died as the result of a car bomb.

  The federal agent who’d worked with her to set up her new identification had said that anyone looking into her past would find enough information to not raise red flags. The last thing they wanted was for someone to look and see that Cara Morgan had come to life just four years earlier.

  No one needed to know that her father was in prison or that her mother had passed away from an act of extreme violence. Or that her own half-brothers had been responsible for her mother’s death.

  Standing in front of her full-length mirror, Cara took in her appearance. Kieran had said to dress comfortably, so she’d decided to go with a pair of fitted jeans and a loose sweater. It was what she felt most comfortable in, and when she wasn’t dressed for her classes, it was what she tended to wear.

  At one time, she’d enjoyed dressing up, donning skirts, pretty blouses, and high heels. But after everything that had happened with her mom’s death, her dad’s arrest, and the move to New Hope Falls, her desire to dress up had been muted. And really, her life in her new hometown hadn’t required she resurrect that old style. She had been perfectly happy to live in more casual clothes.

  Turning from the mirror, Cara put her wallet and phone into the purse she’d chosen for the evening. Nerves fluttered in her stomach as she made her way downstairs. Even though she’d promised Kieran that she wouldn’t cancel, she had to admit that the thought had crossed her mind. Several times.

  She wasn’t ignorant of the fact that she was taking a big risk. Not just by dating in general, but by dating a cop. The average man wouldn’t have access to searches that could lead him to find any holes in her new identity. The agent may have said it was foolproof, but she hadn’t tested the theory.

  But what she’d realized was that her heart was telling her that Kieran was worth the risk. Her response to her father’s question lingered in her mind. She might not love Kieran yet, but as she learned more about him, it was easy to think that she could.

  His devotion to his mother and his town made her think that, given the opportunity, he would be devoted to her as well. Also, she appreciated his sense of humor, and even though he could be intense, particularly about his work, she’d glimpsed a more chill easygoing side of him.

  The only possible negative was his career. Who her father was put them on opposite sides of the law, but once her father passed away, her last tie to that past would be gone. She wouldn’t have to go to the prison for visits any longer. She’d never forget her parents, but she knew her father wanted her to move forward. They wouldn’t want the violence and crimes that had directed her journey to this point in her life, to hold her prisoner in the future.

  As she stood near the garage door waiting for Kieran’s text to let her know he was there, Cara resolved to do her best to honor the sacrifices her parents had made for her. She would at least try to live her life. For the past few years, she’d hesitated to make connections in the town, but as the end of her father’s life loomed, she knew it was time to reach out. She needed something to anchor her in her life. Maybe…hopefully…Kieran would just be the start.

  Her phone buzzed with a message from Kieran. When she opened the garage door, she saw his Jeep idling in the back lane. She stepped out and hit the button to close the door behind her.

  Kieran climbed out of the car and greeted her with a smile. He walked around the vehicle with her and opened her door so she could slide into the passenger seat. While she waited for him to join her in the car, Cara used her phone to arm the security system for the whole building.

  “Ready for an evening of fun?” Kieran asked as he buckled his seatbelt and put the car in gear.

  “I think so.” Cara gave him a curious look. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise. I thought we’d go do something first and then maybe grab a bite to eat afterward. Sound okay?”

  Kieran guided the Jeep onto the road leaving the town. It was a single lane in each direction, and there was a steady flow of cars toward the town. She knew that people lived in New Hope and worked in some of the surrounding towns and cities, so no doubt some of these cars were bringing people back to their homes after a day at work.

  The day had turned cloudy a short time earlier, and with the sunset coming in less than an hour, twilight had settled over New Hope Falls and the surrounding area. Cara enjoyed that part of the day, especially seeing the warm glow of lights in the houses that lined the road. As she watched them slip by, she imagined the lives of the people who called those houses, home.

  “Did you have a good week?”

  Kieran’s question drew her attention from the view to the man himself. “Yes, it was good. How about yours?”

  “Seems it was about the same as others lately. More interviews with the detective overseeing Sheila’s case. I followed up on the accident from last Sunday. Spoke at the elementary school about stranger danger. Did some training with some first responders. A little bit of everything.”

  “Do you enjoy that?”

  He glanced over at her. “Enjoy what?”

  “Having something different happening all the time.”

  “Sure. Keeps things from getting boring. How about you?”

  “My life is pretty scheduled. My classes happen at the same time every week.”

  “So if I want to do stuff with you, I guess I need to give you some advance notice and not just try for spur of the moment outings?”

  She smiled. “Well, maybe?”

  “I can do that,” Kieran said with a nod. “As long as I know that’s what you prefer, I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Cara wasn’t sure what to think or say to Kieran’s response. She’d kind of thought he’d say she needed to loosen up. Learn to live in the moment. It touched her that he understood that was how she functioned, and he didn’t seem inclined to make her change.

  “We’re going to an escape room?” Cara asked as he turned into a parking lot in front of a one-story building. He’d mentioned escape rooms as a possibility, so ending up there wasn’t a big surprise.

  “Yep.” He parked the car then turned to her. “Is that okay?”

  “It’s fine. Never been, but I’m sure it will be fun.”

  “Great. Our reservation is at six, but they said to be here fifteen minutes early. I think we have to fill out a waiver of some sort.”

  As they approached the building, Cara glanced around and saw there were a few cars in the lot, so obviously they weren’t the only ones there. Kieran pulled the door open, his hand lingering briefly on her back before he followed her into the building.

  There were a few other people in the waiting area who looked over when they walked in. Cara edged closer to Kieran as a woman approached them with a broad smile and welcomed them to the escape room experience.

  They were asked to complete a waiver that was available online, so Cara pulled out her phone and sat down next to Kieran on a nearby padded bench. She worked her way through the form on her phone, listening to the chatter and laughter of the people who had apparently already completed their waivers.

  Once they had both submitted their waivers, the woman came to stand in front of all of them and began to explain what to expect and gave them some rules for their time in the room. Cara realized, as she listened to the woman, that they were going to be p
laying the escape room with the other people who were sitting there.

  She had to wonder how that was going to go because she was pretty sure she and Kieran were older than most of the others by several years, plus they all seemed to be together as a group. Finally, they were taken into the room they were going to have to escape from by solving a mystery.

  “Did you choose this one specifically?” Cara asked as they stepped into the room.

  He lifted an eyebrow for a moment before a smile curled one corner of his mouth. “Maybe?”

  She laughed softly as they stood next to each other, waiting for their time to start. “I hope this doesn’t aggravate you.”

  He glanced around the room. “Yeah. It might not have been my best choice.”

  She leaned closer to him, bumping her shoulder against his arm. “I think it will be fine.”

  Kieran looked down at her, close enough that she could see the dark gray flecks in his blue-gray irises. She was captured by his nearness, the scent of his cologne, and the steadiness of his gaze.

  “You two gonna help us out?”

  The question from one of the other guys had Cara shifting her attention from Kieran to the people in the room. They were watching them with varying degrees of interest. Most of the guys had turned their attention to the puzzles in the room, while the teenage girls giggled, casting them curious glances.

  “Guess we’d better get to work,” Kieran murmured.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Okay. That was ridiculous.” Kieran rested his hand lightly on her back as he held the door open for her.

  Cara tried to hold back a laugh, but it was hard. Kieran’s frustration had grown throughout the hour. Some of the group they’d been with hadn’t been all that interested in working together to solve the puzzles. The girls had giggled and flirted, distracting the guys from what they needed to do.

  In the end, they had failed to escape the room.

  “Next time, we’ll bring our own group.” Kieran opened the Jeep door for Cara. “Seriously. That was not how I expected our first escape room experience to go.”