Reverend Nichols nodded. “There are many changes I need to make. I’ll start with Helen.”
“Andi,” Luke said softly, “can I speak to you in the hall?”
“Sure.” She hoped this was a good sign. If he gave another “I want to be friends” speech, she would scream.
After glancing around to make sure they were alone, Luke placed his briefcase on the tile and took both of her hands in his. “I miss you.”
She resisted the urge to cry. “I miss you, too.”
He stared down at their joined hands and rubbed his thumb over her knuckle. “I did a lot of thinking, and I understand why you didn’t feel the need to keep your promise to me. I broke my promise to you.”
“It was an honest mistake. I get that now.”
He nodded his understanding. “This morning, I remembered how I felt when I realized you were almost killed. I decided life has handed us an opportunity to give our relationship one more try. That is rare. We shouldn’t throw this chance away.”
She sniffed back her tears. “I agree.”
He stepped back, straightened his posture, and then reached out his hand to shake hers. “Hello, I’m Luke Ryder, the property manager. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her heart warmed, wanting to explode. They weren’t getting their second chance—it was their third, maybe even a fourth.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she managed to say despite the lump forming in her throat. “Would you like to join me for coffee after the meeting?”
His gaze met hers. His eyes darkened with emotion and unspoken promises. “I would love to.”
He brushed a tender kiss on her lips. Every worry she ever held about their relationship melted away.
“I love you, Andi.”
Her heart exploded with joy.
“I love you, too.” She jumped into his arms and planted a long, firm, passionate kiss on the man she intended to keep for the rest of her life. The sound of the door opening forced her to her feet, back away from Luke, but not before Meg caught them.
“Sorry.” Embarrassment flickered across Meg’s face. “I didn’t mean to interrupt a private moment. Valerie wants to start the meeting.”
“We’ll be right there.” Luke waited for the door to shut before he gingerly placed the palm of his hand on Andi’s cheek. “I guess it’s time to get to work.”
She touched his hand and gazed into his eyes. “This is one board meeting I don’t mind attending.”
“I’m looking forward to the part where the meeting ends and we can be alone again.” He winked, then opened the door and followed her up the aisle to the table where the rest of the board waited for them.
Judging from the murmuring in the small group gathered for the meeting, Meg must have announced what she saw when she opened the door. Their grins said they approved of Andi’s romantic relationship with Luke. A smile tugged at her lips. She approved, too.
“Speaking of the neighborhood,” Roxie said, watching Andi and Luke sit at the end of the table. “I hear Mrs. Spitzer has been acting strange lately.”
“I bet her ex-husband is threatening her again.” Meg’s eyes narrowed. “He’s a horrible man.”
Meg passed the plate of cookies around while exchanging glances with Roxie, Valerie, and Reverend Nichols. They all turned to watch Andi.
Their unspoken words asked if she planned to investigate.
“No. No. No.” Andi shook her head and held her palms out in gesture that said “back off.” “I am hanging up my detective shoes. Spring break is over Monday. I will be too busy grading papers and planning lessons.”
Ignoring their looks of disappointment, she bit off a piece of cookie and wondered how long the woman had been having trouble with her ex.
A giggle escaped her lips. “Summer break is only two months away. I might have time then.”
Roxie and Meg both offered their assistance.
Luke took a cookie she offered and added, “I have vacation time coming. Perhaps I could help.”
Andi grinned, wondering if she had ever been this happy before. She had finally found her euphoria.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tina Swayzee McCright is a multi-award winning author of romantic mysteries. Her writing was influenced by watching hours of Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis: Murder. She lives in Arizona with her wonderful husband, in an HOA community where she once served on the board. She has a BS in Communications and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction. Although she has been an educator for over twenty years, she believes her greatest accomplishment was raising an amazing daughter. You can read more about Tina at www.BooksbyTina.com.
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