Thomas gave her a hug and then shook Hayes’ hand. “You’re a lucky man,” he said with a smile.
“Don’t I know it,” Hayes replied as he glanced down at his beautiful bride. “It’s good to see you again, Thomas.”
“Thanks. Congratulations again,” Thomas said before stepping out of the way so that the receiving line could continue.
He glanced around for Kara as he walked away. She was near one of the round white tables that had been set up for guests.
“Did Michelle know you were coming?” she asked when he approached her.
“No,” he said. “Why?”
“Because she still has us seated together,” Kara answered dryly. “I guess I should be glad you showed up and I don’t have to eat alone.”
He pulled the chair out for her as everyone gathered to eat. The meal was awkward and silent but at least she hadn’t stormed off when she saw him or screamed at him and run away. He’d been terrified that he might cause such a scene that he’d ruin Michelle and Hayes wedding day by showing up, but he hadn’t been able to talk himself out of taking the chance. They were both startled by the ‘ting’ of a spoon on a champagne glass. They, and the other guests, turned their attention to the couple.
“Now would be the time to cut the cake in most ceremonies,” Michelle said shyly. “But, as many of you may know, I inherited this house from my grandmother and she loved nothing more than gardening and taking care of her beloved trees. They’re still healthy after all these years and more beautiful than ever thanks to my wonderful husband.” She paused to smile up at Hayes before she went on. “So we thought there was no better wedding dessert for us than apple pie! We hope you all enjoy!”
Everyone chuckled when she uncovered a long tray with individual slices of rich, tart apple pie and with generous dollops of vanilla ice cream melting over them. Thomas went up and brought back two slices. Kara scooped up a bit of ice cream and watched as he took a forkful of pie.
“This is delicious,” he said in amazement in an attempt to break the awkward silence between them.
“Michelle’s grandma had a secret recipe,” Kara said. “Michelle is one of the few people who got to know the secrets of the pie.”
“It was certainly worth keeping a secret,” Thomas acknowledged. “Hands down this is the best pie I have ever eaten.”
Kara nodded. “When I was a little girl I used to come here when Michelle came over and her grandma seemed to always have a pie handy to give us. She made her own ice cream, too. I loved the strawberry.”
“My grandmother made ice cream too,” Thomas said. “The peach was always my favorite.”
Just hearing the smooth drawl in his voice was making her want to cry. When a breeze stirred the air around them and the musky scent of his cologne washed over her while the light wind ruffled his hair, it reminded her of how it always looked when he first woke up.
“Thomas,” she said as she glanced down at her fork to try and avoid the memories. “Please tell me what you’re doing here.”
Thomas looked deep into her eyes. “I miss you,” he said so softly that she thought she must have misheard him.
“What?” she asked as she leaned closer, almost leaning into her slice of pie.
Thomas slid the plate back out of the danger zone and gave her a hint of his old, easy grin. The flash of his dimple made her stomach tighten.
“You don’t want to mess up such a beautiful dress,” he cautioned. “Or, for that matter, you don’t want to ruin such a delicious piece of pie.”
“Yes,” Kara said, pushing her plate even further to the side. “But I’m not worried about this dress or this pie right now. What did you say?”
“I said that I miss you, Kara,” he said clearly, but a little nervously.
“But you haven’t even called,” she said, stunned. “I haven’t heard anything from you in weeks!”
“I know,” he answered. “I was catching up on my homework, studying for finals and taking my finals. I’ve been very busy.”
“Oh I see,” Kara said, her temper flaring. “You finally have time for a girlfriend again so you thought you’d just waltz in here and get me back at the snap of your fingers?”
“Of course not,” Thomas said seriously. “I’m not even sure that we can work this out, Kara.”
She sat back in her chair, shocked at his honesty.
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” she informed him honestly, after a long moment of silence.
“What I’m getting at is that I have another semester before I get my degree,” he said, pushing his own pie plate aside and leaning across the table to be nearer to her. “What I’m getting at is that I love my job and being good at my job is very important to me. If the only way you can be happy with me is if I put all my free time in your hands to do whatever you want with, then we aren’t going to work any better this time around than we did before.”
She closed her gaping mouth with a snap and looked out across the yard. Michelle and Hayes were dancing. Even from a distance she could see the happiness radiating from them. They were so happy together and so level headed as well.
Maybe it was possible to be stable without being boring. Michelle and Hayes proved it. Mrs. Turner and Gerry proved it as well. She knew without a doubt that none of her freewheeling, wild and crazy romances had ever made her even a fraction as happy as her relationship with Thomas had made her.
He had never once tried to change her, but she realized now with a guilty flush that she had taken every opportunity to try to change him. She’d dragged him to clubs he wasn’t comfortable in, to movies he didn’t like and on trips he didn’t have time to go on.
“You don’t even want to talk to me about it,” Thomas said sadly. “I’m sorry, Kara. I shouldn’t have come. I’ll just go and let you enjoy the rest of the wedding.”
He was on his feet and halfway across the yard before she processed what he had said with her overloaded mind.
“No!” she gasped, but he was too far away to hear her.
She didn’t think about it anymore. Instead, she just got up and ran across the grass. She saw Michelle give her a concerned look, and several other guests stopped and stared as well. Kara didn’t care.
“Thomas!’ she said breathlessly when she caught up to him.
“Kara?” he asked as he turned around. “What are you…” He didn’t have time to finish his question because she flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his fervently.
For a second or two, he worried about the spectacle he was creating at someone else’s wedding. Then her lips parted under his and he realized he didn’t care. He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and eagerly devoured her willing mouth.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered when she pulled back a few minutes later.
“What?” he asked. It wasn’t his most intelligent moment, but he was dazed from both the sudden descent into the pleasure and the speed with which it had been taken away.
“I’m sorry for trying to turn you into something you aren’t instead of accepting how wonderful you are,” she said sincerely.
“I’m sorry too,” he said as he cupped her beautiful face in his hands. “I shouldn’t have just thrown away what we had together. I should have tried harder to make you understand before I let you walk away.”
“You letting me walk away was what made me understand,” Kara admitted. “Please don’t freak out and run away when I say this but…,” she took a deep breath and looked into his eye
“I love you, Kara,” he cut in quickly. “I love you so much.”
“You spoiled my big reveal!” she squealed with a big smile. “I love you too, Thomas. Now that your finals are done, do you want to come stay with me tonight?”
“Kara,” he said honestly. “There’s nothing I’d want more.”
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Impulsive (Reach out to Me) Page 9
