by Mary Manners
“Sounds serious.” He gave his tie a tug, loosening the collar of his shirt, and Kaci’s heart raced off the charts. “I suppose Principal Myers and the others can handle it for a bit. Let’s go.”
****
The night air cooled the heat of Ryne’s nerves as Kaci fell into step beside him. They headed down the sidewalk toward a picnic table beneath a pavilion near the football field.
Kaci scooted onto the bench, and Ryne followed at the opposite side. Music pulsed in a muted beat from the school while moonlight bathed Kaci in a milky shadow. Her eyes glittered across the darkness.
“What’s on your mind, Kace?” He reached for her hand.
“You might not want to do that.” She pulled back. “At least, not until I tell you what I… have to tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
Kaci sighed and clasped her hands, settling them in her lap. Her voice faltered as she began to stumble over words. “I know about your letters, Ryne—the ones you sent to the “Love’s Lessons” column in the Angel Falls Trumpet.”
“You do?” A shock wave ripped through him. “But, how?”
“I thought the handwriting looked familiar, but I didn’t put two and two together until you gave me the sunflowers. Your note…the style was exactly the same. But even then, I didn’t realize until yesterday, when I was in my kitchen setting the seeds to dry so we can plant them in the spring. I read your card again before I tucked it away, and I suddenly realized…”
“Oh, Kace.” He slipped his hand beneath the table and found hers. Their fingers twined together, sharing warmth. “I have something to tell you, too. I knew you were the one…giving advice.”
Her eyes widened and she came up off the seat for a moment before settling back down to gape at him. “You did? When? How?”
“Not in the beginning, when I sent the letters. But that night I brought over the chocolates, when it was raining, I saw the stack of letters on your computer desk while I was getting my jacket to leave. Mine was on top.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugged. “At first, I didn’t want to believe it was you, because I guess I was embarrassed. I’m a guy, and guys are supposed to be able to handle this sort of thing on our own. But you were hurting, Kace, and I didn’t know how to get through to you, to make you see how I felt. And I didn’t want to make things worse…didn’t want to hurt you more.”
“You’ve been nothing but good to me, Ryne. I know…you’d never hurt me. Not on purpose, at least.”
“I’m glad I wrote to “Love’s Lessons”. Your advice helped me.”
“How?”
“It helped me because I love you, and you showed me how to reach you where it counts the most—where it matters the most.” He tapped his chest. “In here.”
“Oh, my…that’s a relief.” Kaci stood, paced the length of the table. “Because I’ve been so worried.”
“No need to be.” Ryne tilted his head toward the gym. “Do you hear that? The D.J.’s playing our song.”
“Our song?” Kaci’s chocolate eyes widened as he reached for her. “How do you know?”
“Because it’s a slow song, and I’d really like to dance with you.” He stood to face her, pulling her close. He inhaled the subtle, citrusy scent of her perfume. The feel of her in his arms caused his pulse to gun to Mach five. “Will you dance with me?”
“Here…in the moonlight?”
“Yes.” He began to sway to the music and felt her relax in his arms. “Just us, Kace. Right here.”
“Hmm…” She pressed her cheek to his chest, sighing. “Feels good, Ryne. Feels…right.”
He skimmed his lips across the crown of her hair, brushed a thumb across her temple. “Do you remember what you asked me that afternoon while we were washing paint brushes together in the art room?”
“Uh huh…yes.” She tilted her head back to look up at him. “I asked you to kiss me.”
“Do you still feel the same?”
“No.” She murmured, and he tensed at the single word. “I feel…more. So much more.” She slipped her arms around him and pulled him closer. “I love you, Ryne…with all my heart.”
He relaxed against her and slipped a hand beneath her chin. When his lips claimed hers, a burst of stars exploded in him. The aftershocks rushed down his spine to heat his belly. He knew Kaci felt the same when she gasped and shuddered at his touch. Her hands came up to rake his hair and settle at the nape of his neck.
“I love you, Kaci…with all my heart.” He kissed her temple, her chin, and then lingered at her lips. “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.”
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