Kassidy's Crescendo

by Marianne Evans

  “I think it’s fantastic.” Drew nabbed her hand and ran toward the nearest cover of thick, weighty branches.

  He positioned her against the tree standing before her to act as a physical buffer against the atmospheric tumult. As soon as their eyes met, the world fell away. Moving close, he tracked the motion of his fingertips as he stroked wisps of wet hair from her cheeks. Her skin was chilled and moist, but his heart pounded and his pulse pushed thick and rich, warming him through.

  Raindrops formed a cascade down her temples and cheeks. A bead of moisture landed on her lips. The droplet became his undoing. He could taste it—feel its silky moisture against lips full and supple…

  Leaving himself no chance to back down, Drew leaned in and captured her mouth with his. An exclamation of pleasure lifted instantly from Kassidy’s depths, feeding his heart. Her arms circled his neck, and her fingertips trailed through his hair. He cupped her face, tempering the kiss by slow degrees until at last he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. “I promised to take you by surprise.”

  “Mission accomplished.”

  Though laced by a smile, her words weren’t altogether steady. That pleased him, assured him of the power of her feelings. He nuzzled her neck and a musky, floral scent filled his universe. His lips touched hers once more, a back and forth brushstroke only…a feather dance meant only to retain their newfound intimacy.

  “I should have been a gentleman and asked for your permission first.”

  “No worries. You have it.”

  Drew kissed her just as he had promised—giving her all that he was—honoring and respecting the gift of trust she bestowed. How could he feel so vulnerable, yet at the same time, so indomitable?

  Once again he forced himself from the temptation she offered, gently cupping her face, glossing the pad of his thumb against her wet cheeks. “I think I hear that stew calling, KC.”

  “Yeah, we better get going.”

  9

  As soon as Drew crossed the threshold of Kassidy’s apartment, he breathed deep of air flavored by the aroma of cooking meat and simmering vegetables. His stomach rumbled, which made Kassidy chuckle.

  “I’m glad you approve.”

  “Can’t help it. I’m starving, and the food smells awesome.” Drew helped her slide free of her jacket then tacked the garment on one of the wooden pegs that formed a short line along the entryway wall.

  “Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I’m going to freshen up real quick.”

  While he pulled his coat off, she crossed through the living area and closed the door of a bathroom that he already knew was the Jack-and-Jill between her bedroom and the second guest suite. During a brief tour at the start of their day together, Drew had admired the open, modern style of Kassidy’s place. Candles and photos lined the mantle of a gas fireplace. French doors led to a small, patio and sloping green space dotted by trees. While he wandered, a wall hung tapestry captured his attention and imagination. Positioned above the fireplace, the delicately woven piece featured a Celtic cross of shimmering gold and rich green centered against a burgundy background.

  Quiet steps sounded from behind; Drew looked over his shoulder and froze in place. He had intended to ask her about the origins of the tapestry, but words fled. Kassidy emerged from a short changing session wearing a lace skirt of blue topped by a white satin shell. Hair made wavy by the effect of the rain fell free around her shoulders.

  And she smiled—a caress against his soul. “Aileen got that for me in Ireland. Actually, she gave one to each of us when she came home from her college graduation trip to Europe.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “I’d love to go there some day.”

  She stood next to him. Although she had primped he came upon the subtle and enticing scents of rain water, autumn spice, and vanilla.

  “I’ve never been to Ireland, either. Maybe the North American tour will lead to some international engagements.”

  Kassidy’s laughter chimed. “It never hurts to dream, right?”

  Drew followed her—and the call of simmering deliciousness—to the kitchen. “I don’t think it’s a dream, KC. I think it’s destined.”

  The kitchen was eat-in, but roomy. A dark wood table gleamed beneath recessed lights. An accent wall of pale blue featured a grouping of ceramic tiles featuring fruits and vegetables. Kassidy retrieved a pair of large mugs from inside glass-door cabinets, prompting Drew to ask if he could help.

  “I’m all set. I just need to pour the stew into a tureen and warm the bread. How does hot apple cider sound?”

  “Like perfection.” Drew watched while she poured cider into a heating pan, admiring her grace, the smooth, fluid way she moved. “I like this place, KC. You’ve filled it beautifully.”

  “Thanks. It’s not my permanent spot, but all the same, I didn’t want a cookie-cutter apartment. I fell in love with this place as soon as the rental agent took me through. It’s got character, and I love the way it backs to a small pond.”

  He hadn’t noticed that detail, so while she fussed over a quartet of long, soft breadsticks, Drew strolled to the living room once again and took in the view. The pond was lovely, and the peace and cozy feel of Westerville continued to grow on him.

  “We’ll be ready in just a few. If you’d like to wash up before dinner, feel free.”

  Not a bad idea since he hadn’t had a chance to do so yet. In the bathroom, he removed his watch and set it on the basin. He grabbed the bar of soap from a holder next to the faucet and when he lathered, his motions came to an abrupt standstill.

  Kassidy.

  She floated around him in a fragrance so tantalizing his shoulders went weak. Water cascaded over his hands, frothed by the soap, and he paused to simply close his eyes for a second and indulge in a deep breath. Spices rose to meet him—cinnamon maybe—and there was something else—something earthy and rich—a bit of sandalwood that he recognized only because it was an element of the cologne he favored. He studied the bar he held, hand-milled in shades of brown and gray.

  Romantic. Over soap. Oh, man was he a goner.

  Drew toweled his hands dry and peeked into Kassidy’s room, which adjoined the bath. The door was open to reveal a neat, well decorated space with light wood furniture. Pops of vibrant colors—red, purple, and yellow—came from a number of large throw pillows strewn across the head of a large bed covered by a plush white down comforter.

  Snapping to proper focus, he disengaged from the tempting image and returned promptly to the kitchen.

  Seated at the dining table, Kassidy waited. Illuminated tapers threw soft light and shadow against her skin, adding life to her eyes, transforming her welcoming smile to bewitching.

  Drew sat across from her, unfolding a napkin and settling it across his lap. “I’m about to admit something you’re never allowed to share with anyone else outside this room. You agreeable?”

  “You bet.” She tilted her head and a curl of hair slid against her shoulder and arm. She claimed his bowl and lifted the lid of the tureen, preparing to dish his food.

  “OK. Here goes. And, I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, because I pride myself on being kind of a guy’s-guy and all, but the soap in your bathroom—”

  Kassidy’s hand went still as she lifted a ladle of stew. Her smile spread as soon as he mentioned the soap. “Everyone seems to comment on it.”

  “Add me to the list.”

  “Really?” Her eyes flashed merrily. “Why?”

  Drew accepted his bowl, savoring the bloom of heat against his fingers. “It’s dark but sweet. It lingers. It’s intriguing.” He paused. Shrugged. “It’s you.”

  Kassidy’s playful sense of élan disappeared against wide eyes and a tender blush. “It’s my favorite. I always keep it in supply. It’s called Medieval Mist.”

  “How fitting for a classic Irish woman.”

  The blush intensified, and so did the layer of warm, heavy atmosphere in the room. “I got it at Cellar
Door, a gift shop downtown.”

  “Take me there before we hit the road again.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. I think I’d like to get a bar of my own, just to keep you close.”

  “Drew, you’re such a charmer.”

  Her chest rose and fell; her voice turned husky. He needed to step back fast or land himself in a world of trouble. Stretching back, he lifted his hands in an easy, dismissive gesture. “That said I’ll bet I’ve completely desecrated my reputation as a macho man.”

  “You’ve enhanced it, actually.” She dished herself a helping of stew then propped an elbow against the table and leaned forward, cupping her chin in her hand. “We’ll go there after rehearsal tomorrow. I’m glad you’re enjoying Westerville. You seem happy here.”

  Happiness. A simplicity that fulfilled. The idea quirked its finger at him and tempted him forward. Sure, the contentment Kassidy mentioned came from spending some down time in Westerville, but mostly it stemmed from spending one-on-one time with Kassidy Cartwright.

  She initiated a prayer before eating and the moment unsettled Drew as they began to eat, pointing arrows at everything he now sensed was lacking in his life.

  “I keep thinking about the way faith, and Christ, have played such an important role in your life.”

  Kassidy ate, but waited on him to continue.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that depth of belief. In anything. I’ve never felt your level of commitment to anything other than my work, and certainly not anything as intangible as faith, and God, but look at what it’s given you.”

  “That doesn’t mean you can’t start. Maybe you’re being called to give it a try. Faith in God, in Christ, has never steered me wrong.” Kassidy met his eyes straight on, but her look didn’t condemn. Gentleness lived along the line that connected them—yet so did the power of her resolve.

  “I love what we’ve shared today, KC. I’ve loved getting to know you better, and becoming closer. It means a lot to me.”

  “I feel the same way. I think this was a great idea. We needed the break, and we needed to…figure this out.”

  He grinned. “This.”

  “Us.”

  “I’m not going to lie, or evade the issue. I love the sound of that word when it comes to me and you.”

  A slight pause followed. “That word represents unity. Are you sure you’re ready for that? Are you ready to embrace the kind of life, the faith that I do, Drew? It’s important to me. Important enough that I won’t let anything stand in its way. Even the wishes of my heart. In my world, God always knows—and provides—what’s best. So, I won’t lie or evade, either. I hope God put us together for a reason. I hope ‘us’ is the reason why we’ve been delivered to one another. But, if it isn’t—”

  Lightning quick he placed his hand on top of hers, held it snug and leaned forward. He captured her gaze and shook his head. “Leave it at the first part, OK? Leave it at the first part. I’m working on the rest.”

  Speaking the words aloud caused his heart to jack-hammer, because they released the growing truth of his heart. He came closer and closer to God, but could he cross that final line and commit himself fully?

  “Find your way to faith, to God, on your own terms. Don’t seek Him because of the tour, or the people you’re getting to know, or—”

  “Or you,” he interjected in a quiet voice, because that’s where this was headed.

  Kassidy looked down for a second, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear. “Or me.” She met his gaze once more. “Approach Him on your own. For you. That’s the only way it’ll work.”

  “I can’t say yes or no right now, Kassidy. To do so would be a disservice to us both. I’m uncertain, but I’ve never come as close to touching faith as I have during the past few months. I like how it feels. Not just you, but…”

  “God?”

  “Yeah, God, and finding a way to something whole, and good.”

  “Then the same thing that happened to me will happen to you, Drew, once you make the choice to listen—and follow. Maybe that’s what you’re longing for. Earlier today you asked me about “Rocketown.” You mentioned how similar we are in our backgrounds and upbringing. Maybe that’s why the song hits you so hard. It’s not because of me; it’s because of God. Until you figure it out, I can be patient. Good things are worth waiting for.”

  Flickers of golden light danced against her hair, along the curves of her face. Her beauty—inside and out—shot a dose of desire through his system.

  “Nothing gets in the way of God’s plans,” she added. “Nothing gets in the way of the gifts He gives to accomplish His plan. I believe He’s using you to do mighty things. If you come to embrace that truth, you and I could…we would…”

  She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, not quite retreating, not quite going for broke. She spooned a serving of stew and blew softly across the surface—Drew wondered if the gesture wasn’t a bit of a time stall. After she ate and took a sip of water, he slipped his fingers beneath hers and held on tight, caressing the back of her hand for a moment.

  Dinner continued with talk of the weekend shows to come that would welcome Sisters in Spirit home to upstate New York. Saturday’s performance would take place in the evening followed by a Sunday matinee before the tour resumed in Nashville, then Detroit in the days to come.

  Their date concluded at Kassidy’s door, where he pulled her close for a long, tight hug before leaving with a kiss that simmered through his blood until she moved slowly, slowly away.

  “Careful,” she whispered.

  “I know. I agree.”

  She leaned back just slightly, and the adoration in her eyes penetrated a place in his spirit he had never before allowed himself to acknowledge. A place of self-surrender.

  Soft as a breeze, her lips skimmed his cheek. Her tenderness floated around him, then seeped straight in. She kissed him once more—briefly but fully. He could taste its sweetness and now craved its purity—yet another unexpected development of this bold new adventure in his life.

  “G’night,” he murmured.

  “Goodnight, Drew.”

  Lost in thought, he strolled to his car and sank onto the driver’s seat. Still dazed, unable to move right away, he stayed put and worked at breathing normally, trying to gather his head and heart into some semblance of order. No other woman had ever socked it to his emotions like this. Being with her awakened him in ways that were foreign but ripe with promise.

  He engaged the vehicle and headed toward Liam’s condo, thinking Kassidy was right. Part of it was his passion for her, but part of it was the pull toward something even more powerful. A building and irrefutable calling from God.

  Through it all, Drew longed for just one thing: That nights and moments like those they had just shared could stretch on to forever.

  10

  Had an amazing dinner w/Drew. Candlelight, homemade stew, and SOAP! Ugh! He’s fab n I don’t know what to do about it! The guy is a walking powder keg!

  After Kassidy launched that text to her trio of besties, her phone nearly exploded with incoming messages.

  OMGoodness! What? Soap? Powder kegs? Fill me in! That came from Aileen just seconds after Kassidy’s transmission.

  Setting the phone aside, Kassidy pulled on her pajamas then grabbed the device again as another chirp went off. This time Siobhan pinged her. D-R-E-A-M-Y. The soap comment needs major explaining—whoa!

  Kassidy laughed at that, leaving her phone behind when she padded to the bathroom.

  On her sink rested Drew’s watch.

  His presence, his impact, slid straight into her bloodstream and in that instant, she understood why coming upon her soap had stirred him so deeply. Now it was her turn to tremble.

  The phone went off again—it was Maeve judging by the alert of piano strains—but for now, Kassidy ignored the beacon. Knees weak, she lifted Drew’s timepiece from the basin and a delicious, feminine shiver swept through her body.

&
nbsp; Nipping the corner of her lower lip, she stroked the face of the watch then ran her fingertips against its heavy steel links. Strong—striking—bold, yet classic. Substantial.

  Just like the man himself.

  Now that she held it, she wanted to wear it…if only for a little while. Feeling like a girl with a crush—which is precisely what she seemed to be these days—Kassidy slid his watch into place on her wrist and snapped the band closed. She returned to bed, and as she pulled back the bedcovers and tucked in, his timepiece slid up and down her arm. When she keyed into her text messages, it rode nearly to her elbow. The excess sizing didn’t matter to Kassidy whatsoever.

  Savor the discovery. Call if you need reinforcement to stay strong. Love u much.

  Typically tender and protective, Maeve’s message left Kassidy feeling blessed beyond imagining by the love of her friends. She shifted and snuggled, preparing to douse the light as the intimate feel of Drew’s watch became a welcome weight against her skin.

  The timepiece, coupled with Maeve’s message, prompted mental cogs to click and turn and elicited a heartfelt prayer.

  God, if this emotion comes from You, I welcome every new discovery and joy. If not, please…please…take this feeling away so I don’t dishonor You.

  Soothing silence, peace, stilled her at once. Another text alert beeped.

  Sleep tight, angel. It seems…

  Kassidy jumped when the start of a message from Drew scrolled across the top of her phone’s home screen. While a jazz-style ringtone played, she squiggled beneath the bed blankets and rolled to her back, tapping into his missive. Lamplight glinted against the face of his watch.

  Sleep tight, angel. It seems I left something behind at ur apt 2nite. Something important. Something that drives the tempo of my life. Something I rely on completely. Keep it safe.

  Kassidy’s lips bowed; she tapped a reply. I’m so sorry to hear that. My, but ur attached to ur watch! ::wink:: XO, n sweet dreams.

  His answer flashed just a minute or so after she hit send. I’m not talking about my watch.