Only You

by Deborah Grace Stanley

  Chapter Eight

  Josie touched the ring, then pulled her hand back, almost afraid she was dreaming. When she was young, she’d played a scene just like this out in her mind hundreds of times.

  Of course, no one had ever given her their class ring. She’d never had a boyfriend, or a date to a dance. She’d been uncomfortable around boys in high school. In college, she hadn’t found anyone she wanted to be with beyond a casual date. Even though she’d been mildly curious about moving past good night kisses, that’s all it had been. Curiosity.

  But now, things were different. Cole cared about her. And when he kissed her, her thoughts went light years beyond curiosity.

  She touched the ring again, took it and held it. The warmth left from his fingers seeped into hers. She turned in his arms. The dusky light of that time between day and night gave his hair a silvery cast, his face a chiseled look highlighted by light and shadow. He again reminded her of the handsome sword-bearing warrior depicted in the town’s angel monument. He looked just like an archangel come down from heaven.

  “You want me to be your girl?”

  He pushed her hair away from her face with gentle hands. “Always,” he whispered. “I’ve always wanted you.”

  Her heart swelled at his words and she let the fantasy take hold. “Can I tell you a secret?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ve always dreamed of finding someone who would want me. Someone who’d love me just for me, the person I really am. Not the person people expect me to be.”

  He trailed his fingertips up her cheek. “Let me be that someone.”

  Had she waited to hear someone say that most of her life? Suddenly, it felt that way. She circled his neck with her hands and kissed him. She longed to show him how she felt, but Cole surprised her by pulling back.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “First things first. You haven’t given me an answer yet.”

  He removed her hands from his neck and grasped her wrist. The gold ring she held between them sparkled with a life of its own. For now, she’d pretend it had magical properties that would bind them together when they went back to the real world.

  “I’d be honored,” she said.

  The smile on his face could have lit up the entire city. He slid the ring onto her index finger, but the too large size and weight of the stone caused it to spin toward her palm.

  “I have an idea. Where’s that senior key you found?” he asked.

  Josie reached over and pulled the key with its long, tarnished gold chain out of the jewelry box and handed it to Cole. Taking it, he put the ring on the chain, then secured it around her neck. He lifted her hair so that it wasn’t caught inside the chain.

  “There. Perfect,” he said.

  The ring and key nestled against her breast, near her heart. She clasped it in her hand. The comfort of its weight and warmth felt real. Confirmed that this wasn’t a dream.

  She touched his face, traced his high cheekbones with her fingertips. “I couldn’t agree more. Now, can we kiss?”

  “Absolutely.” He sank his fingers into her hair and slowly pulled her forward.

  Before he kissed her, she felt a warm gentle breeze. Too warm for a springtime evening on the ridge, but it seemed to heighten her awareness of everything. Cole’s hand on her face, his arm around her waist, her anticipation in kissing him . . . .

  Their lips met and the sensation was nothing short of electric. It sounded cliché. They’d kissed before, but those kisses couldn’t compare to this. This time, there was a connection. A oneness in the experience.

  Josie wrapped her arms around Cole and held on tight. She wanted the feeling to go on forever. It was like they were wrapped in a cocoon. Like nothing in the universe existed outside this moment and these intense feelings swirling around them, so that she didn’t know where she ended and he began.

  When he at last lifted his lips from hers, she opened her eyes with reluctance. What she saw when she looked into his beautiful eyes reflected what she felt.

  “Whoa.”

  “Did you feel that?” she whispered. She was afraid if she spoke too loudly, the spell might be broken.

  “Oh, yeah.” Cole continued in hushed tones as well.

  “The other times—I mean—the other kisses—”

  “I know.”

  An almost eerie quiet blanketed the clearing. No night sounds filled the air. No crickets, no tree frogs, nothing but utter silence.

  Cole pressed his mouth to her neck. He began a painstaking exploration of every inch of exposed skin from her chin to the bend of her shoulder. Being here with him like this felt like the most natural thing in the world. She wanted everything at once. To know all his secrets, to see inside his heart. She rested her hand on his chest. The strong reassuring beat she felt beneath her palm served as another reassurance that this was real rather than a dream.

  He eased her down to the blanket. She pushed his hair back from his face as he slid a hand over her hip to her thigh. The feelings rocking her intensified, if that were possible. She felt ultra-sensitized to his touch, his kiss.

  She slipped her hand inside the collar of his shirt and quickly became annoyed when a button halted the downward progress of her hand along the warm, hard, satin smoothness of his chest. She undid one button, two, then three. His teeth scraped the skin of her neck and chin before he plunged his tongue into her mouth, completely possessing her with his kiss.

  He slid his knee between hers and she bent her leg until she’d nestled his hip against her thigh. Her shirt must have ridden up in the back, because his hand was against the small of her back and moving inside the waist of her jeans. Josie arched her back. Cole moaned his pleasure into the kiss.

  “Cole—”

  “Josie—”

  They’d both spoken at the same time. Their names, though a mingled whisper, filled the clearing and echoed in the silent night until the sound merged and settled in the tall pines that seemed to reach straight up to heaven. Suddenly, the crickets began to chirp again. The tree frogs continued their song of coming summer.

  Cole and Josie just looked at each other. She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t have the words to explain what had just happened. Still, something new and strange burned inside her so that it filled her heart almost to bursting with feeling for him.

  He sat up and pushed the hair back from his face. She followed and wrapped her arms around one of his. She couldn’t stand to be separated from him.

  “Josie, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened just now. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I care about you.”

  “Shh . . .” She pressed her fingertips to his lips. “I know. Just hold me.”

  Sheltered in the warmth of his embrace, Josie knew that she would be linked to Cole Craig for the rest of her life. She hadn’t planned on this happening when she’d returned to Angel Ridge. Books were her life. Relationships, foreign territory. But wrapped in his strong arms here in the Lovers’ Clearing surrounded by the magical tall pines, she felt safe in exploring what a new life with someone like him could offer.

  She wasn’t kidding herself. The problems of a relationship between them still existed. Maybe they could live out the fantasy, at least for the rest of the weekend. But come Monday morning, she’d have to figure out a way to deal with Mrs. McKay.

  *

  Cole entered the First Baptist Church of Angel Ridge to discover the back pews already filled. He checked his watch. Right about time for services to begin. Had to get to church early to get a good seat in the back. He smiled. Some things never changed.

  He scanned the back rows, looking for Josie. She sat on a pew to his left that was filled to capacity. All prim and proper in a dark blazer, she’d pulled her pretty hair into that tight knot that he hated. As if she sensed that someone was staring at her, she turned and their gazes locked, but she looked away almost as soon as she saw him. What was that all about?

  “Psst.”

  Dixie Ferguson
, who sat on the opposite side of the church, was shoving her brother, Blake, over to make room for one more. How could he have missed Dixie? She was wearing a bright red hat that matched the large flowers printing her painfully yellow dress. He walked over to join them.

  The astute Dixie wasted no time. “So, what’s put that nice color in your cheeks?”

  He just shrugged. “Hey, Dix. You look bright. How’s it goin’, Blake?”

  “No complaints,” Blake replied.

  “Well, I’ll take your lack of response as the male code of ‘don’t kiss and tell.’”

  “Give the man a break, Dix,” Blake said.

  She swung her brother “a look,” then said, “Well, since you haven’t told me what to do in, well, ever, big brother, I’ll just ignore that, especially since I am a grown woman with a mind of my own.” She rolled her eyes and returned her attention to Cole. “So, did you take her out yesterday?”

  No need in denying it. She’d pry it out of him eventually. “Yeah,” he confirmed.

  She nudged him with her elbow. Man, what was it with women and elbows anyway?

  “And it went well?”

  Cole rubbed his ribs. “I thought so.” He looked over his shoulder at Josie. She gave him a little smile this time before breaking eye contact. That was encouraging.

  Dixie frowned. “What do you mean, ‘thought so’?”

  “She didn’t save me a seat.”

  “Did you ask her to?”

  “No.”

  “Well, then you should have gotten here sooner and claimed your place.”

  “I had a few things to take care of.”

  “Havin’ to work on a Sunday?” Blake asked.

  “What would Pastor Strong say?” Dixie added.

  Cole just shrugged. He noticed that Blake nodded his understanding. Blake was probably the only person in town that knew his secret. The fact was, all the time he’d been spending in town the past couple of weeks, looking for opportunities to spend time with Josie, had put him behind on a couple of projects that were deadlining. Which brought him to another reality. If he and Josie were going to have something, that something couldn’t get started ona ground littered with secrets and half-truths. He had to tell her everything. The sooner the better.

  He chanced another look back at her. She was beautiful even with her hair pulled back like that. She was even more beautiful today. Had a kind of glow about her.

  Last night had been amazing. Holding her and kissing her had been like nothing he’d ever experienced. He’d heard about all those romantic notions of mystical things happening when you were with “the one,” but he never would have believed it to be real. Not until last night.

  “Oh, there’s Miss Estelee.” Dixie nudged him again. “Don’t she look nice in that pretty blue hat?”

  Cole and Blake shared a look. Women. “Real nice color,” Cole agreed, because it was expected. He’d never understood the rapid topic shifts women seemed to enjoy, or the fashion commentary. He probably wouldn’t have even noticed Miss Estelee’s hat if Dixie hadn’t pointed it out.

  Unlike Dixie, Miss Estelee wore much more subdued colors. Now that he thought of it, Miss Estelee always wore a hat to church. Something she and Dixie had in common.

  The choir walked in five minutes late, as usual, and took their spots in the choir loft. While they sang a short, upbeat song to begin the service, Dixie whispered, “You bringin’ Josie over to the diner for Sunday lunch?”

  “Nope. Thought we’d picnic at the Fort.”

  She arched a brow. “That’s a bold move, takin’ her out in front of the whole, entire town. Good for you!”

  He frowned. “Whole town? What are you talkin’ about, Dix?”

  He had to wait for a response while they stood and turned to the appropriate page in the Baptist Hymnal and sang a congregational hymn. He could hardly wait for it to end and the morning announcements to begin. While Pastor Strong recounted what missions group would meet when and where the seniors would be going this Friday, Cole asked Dixie again. “Somethin’ going on at the Fort that I don’t know about?”

  “Encampment weekend,” Dixie whispered. “Supposed to be a beautiful day. They should have a good turn out.”

  Cole groaned inwardly. The last thing he needed was a crowd. He wanted Josie to himself for more reasons than one. They really needed to have a heart to heart.

  Throughout the service, he couldn’t help glancing back at Josie. He caught her eye a few more times. He smiled. At least he was on her radar. The service couldn’t end too soon for him. Maybe she’d let him give her a ride back to her house.

  As luck would have it, Pastor Strong went extra long today. He always got that way when he preached about morality, which was about once a month. As soon as the last notes of the benediction ended, Cole said goodbye to Dixie and Blake, then tried to get to Josie. Everyone crowded into the aisles at once. He couldn’t move an inch, but Josie had a clear shot out the side door. Dang it.

  “Cole! Cole Craig!”

  He turned to find old Mrs. McKay bearing down on him. Great. He took a deep breath and prepared himself.

  “Hello, Mrs. McKay,” he nodded to the tall, thin woman. “Vistin’ the Baptists this morning?”

  “Reverend McElroy is ill, so there are no services at First Presbyterian.”

  “I hadn’t heard. Hope it’s not anything serious.”

  “Yes, yes. I have a cold draft in my bedroom.”

  Cole almost burst out laughing at the woman’s abrupt statement. Dixie must have heard, because she had to cough to cover hers. A cold draft in her bedroom. Big surprise. Everybody knew the woman was the coldest fish in town.

  When he made no response, Mrs. McKay propped a long, thin hand on her bony hip. “I’d like you to come over and plug it.”

  Now that was a frightening visual. He shook his head to clear the image. “I’ll try to get over by there this week to see—I mean, have a look—Oh—”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Beg pardon?” He couldn’t believe her high and mighty tone, even though he should certainly be used to it by now.

  “You’ll come by tomorrow.”

  Mr. DeFoe walked by about then and having heard the command, just shook his head and kept moving, mumbling something under his breath.

  “I’ll do my best, ma’am.” He was purposely non-committal. He’d not be ordered about like a servant. He’d come by that drafty old mansion of hers when he good and well got around to it.

  The woman turned on her sturdy heels, and Cole thought he heard her saying, “Good help is impossible to find these days.”

  She had no idea. She’d be lucky if he got by there before two weeks passed. Cole turned back toward the exit, still hoping to catch Josie in the parking lot, but he almost walked right over little old Miss Estelee. He had to grab the back of a pew to keep from falling over her.

  “Miss Estelee! I’m sorry. I didn’t see you standin’ there.”

  “Tsk, tsk. That woman. She should treat folks better’n she does.”

  Surprised, Cole said, “Mrs. McKay? Oh, I don’t pay her no mind.”

  “Hmm. Well, that’s half the problem. Folks lettin’ her get away with it all the time. And in church of all places. Why I can remember when her people didn’t have more than two nickels to rub together. Course, she wouldn’t know about that. More’s the pity. Still, I have a mind to head out of here and give her a piece of my mind.”

  Cole touched the woman’s arm. “Don’t trouble yourself about it, Miss Estelee. I won’t.”

  She cackled and tapped his forearm. “You’re a good boy, Cole Craig.” She leaned in and whispered. “Why, if I was a few years younger, I’d give our young Josie a run for her money.”

  He laughed. “I’d have a decision on my hands, too. Good thing I don’t have to choose. I’m hopin’ you’ll both be my girls.”

  Was Miss Estelee . . . blushing? She smoothed the wispy, bluish-white hair framing her face.

  �
�You’re a natural born charmer, Cole Craig. Your slick talkin’s enough to turn a girl’s head. Even a girl my age.”

  He laughed. “Is there somethin’ I can do for you, Miss Estelee?”

  “I was hopin’ you could give me a ride back to my house.”

  Cole offered the woman his arm. So much for catching up with Josie. Still, he wondered . . . ”Doc Prescott not around this mornin’?” The town doctor usually took lunch with Miss Estelee. It had been a standing date for years. Everyone in town knew about it.

  “I think he must have gone out to check on the Reverend McElroy. I’d walk, but my old bones is a creakin’ today. There’s a cold rain settin’ in, I declare.”

  They’d made their way through the vestibule and out onto the front portico. It was a warm, bright sunshiny day. Not a rain cloud in sight, but he humored the old lady. “Could be. I’d be happy to drive you home, ma’am.” He had to pick Josie up for their date anyway. Date. He liked the sound of that.

  Miss Estelee patted his arm. “There’s a good boy. I do appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am,” he said. But as they approached his truck, he wondered how he’d help the old, diminutive woman up into the cab.

  “Oh, you brought your hound.”

  A sleepy Rick raised his head and thumped his tail against the truck bed. Cole unlocked the passenger door and opened it. “Josie and I are going to the Fort for a picnic. I thought I’d bring him along.”

  “Oh, he’s a dandy.”

  “That’s kind of you to say, Miss Estelee, but he’s about worthless. Just lays around and sleeps all day.”

  “Well, of course he does. He’s a hound dog,” she declared as if everyone should expect nothing more of such a dog.

  “Let me help you up,” Cole offered.

  “Thank you, dear.”

  There was nothing for it. Cole grasped the woman by the waist and lifted her up onto the seat.

  “Whew! I wasn’t expectin’ that.”

  “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you, ma’am?”

  Miss Estelee laughed and slapped her knee. “No, honey. I come from stronger stock than that. Hop in and let’s go.”