by Ava Catori
Chapter 9
“I hope to be back sometime next week. How is Molly making out?”
“She’s good, we’re buddies. She likes my table scraps more than her food,” he laughed.
“You’re going to fatten her up.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he said. “How’s your mother doing today?”
“Good, she’s wrapping up with physical therapy, though she’ll have some things she’ll still do at home. I can’t believe it’s been six weeks,” she hesitated, “I’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you. I hope you’ll hurry back to me.”
“As soon as I can,” Kristin answered. “Give Molly a hug for me.”
“Will do,” he agreed.
After saying their good-byes, Kristin hung up the phone and sighed. She did miss him, more than she expected to.
It was good to see her parents again, even under these circumstances, but she longed to get back to Ty. It surprised her at first, but once she accepted what her heart wanted, she gave into the feeling. There was something between them, and she needed to know where it was going.
With her mother healing up and getting around easier, Kristin was on her way back to Wyoming the following week.
She couldn’t wait to see Ty and Molly. Heading home, she watched the clock. She’d see them in less than two hours. Two hours felt like forever after seven weeks. She wanted to speed up and hurry back, but it wasn’t worth risking the ticket or her life. Her heart was beating faster the closer she got to home. She was happy to see Molly, but knew it was Ty making her anxious. She’d talked to him often over the last few weeks, but hadn’t been in his arms since she’d left.
Pulling into his driveway, she was relieved to see his truck. She wasn’t sure what time his appointments ran until. On getting out, he came out to greet her.
She couldn’t help herself, and ran into his arms. She’d missed him so much. On seeing him, she knew what she needed to know – he was the one she needed, the one that made her heart sing. He was the one she wanted to start over with.
Ty’s smile said it all, and wrapping his arms around Kristin, he felt like he was complete. He never expected to fall so hard, but on seeing her again, he knew what he needed to know. She was the one that made him feel like a man, the one that he wanted to take care of, and the one he wanted to start over with.
Tangled in each other’s arms, they stood unmoving, simply enjoying the moment. Molly came out with him, and was running circles around them. Laughing, Kristin pulled away long enough to greet her old friend.
“Have you been a good girl?” She bent down to pat her on her head.
“We’ve missed you,” Ty smiled.
“It feels good to be home.”
“Home?”
“Home,” she said. “At least for now,” she said cautiously. “All I know is that I need to be here, with you.”
Ty pulled her back into an embrace, holding her close. “Those are words that warm my heart.”
Standing in the driveway, holding Kristin, Ty felt complete. With his hand, he tipped her chin up toward him. Leaning down, he let his mouth speak for him, telling her how much he missed her. Parting his lips, brushing them against hers, he kissed her with love and passion. Kristin accepted the love. It was as if her feet were glued to the very ground. She couldn’t move, didn’t want to the moment to stop.
Ty’s hands moved up into her hair, raking his fingers through it, and pulling her closer. Locked in an embraced, a heated kiss between them, Ty knew things would be okay. For the first time, there was an unspoken understanding. They were in this together, they were both ready to move forward, and they both wanted this.
Taking her hand, he led her into the house. He pressed her to the closed door, needing to taste her sweet lips again. Labored breathing, tiny words slipping out, “I want you,” he whispered.
Their kisses great more heated, and as his hands started to roam, Kristin slowed things down. “I’m not ready to do that yet,” she said, embarrassed to stop him in his tracks. “I do want to go there, eventually, but not yet. Are you okay with that?”
“As long as you’re mine, we can take as long as you need.” His hands came up and stroked her cheek softly. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
Her liquid blue eyes looked into his warm face, filled with wanting, but knew it was the right thing to go slowly. It would be so easy to go there, let go and let passion take over, but she wanted to be sure. She knew she was ready to be in a relationship – but until she was fully committed, until she knew they’d be together forever, she wasn’t ready to consummate their relationship just yet.
“Come here,” she whispered, wanting to taste his kisses one more time.
She didn’t have to ask him twice. Leaning into her, their heated breath between them, their lips came together sharing secrets and dreams.
“It got cool outside,” she said, finally breaking free from the kiss.
“Wyoming does that this time of year.”
“It was chilly at home too, but we get lucky and still get a couple of nice days in the fall.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, would you like to celebrate the holidays with me? You could go meet my folks, and then we could have a quiet night here.”
“I’d love to spend them with you.”
Falling into his arms, they spend the next hour catching up, snuggling, and then Kristin had to head out. Gathering Molly, she made the trip back to her own home, after making plans to see Ty the following day.
“It’s been wonderful to see you,” she said, not wanting to leave.
“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered. “We don’t have to do anything; I just want to hold you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she admitted. “I should head home. It’s been a long day.”
“You’re right, maybe another time.”
