by Irene Hannon
“Don’t be afraid,” he said quietly.
Her throat constricted, and she swallowed with difficulty. “You sound like Kate.”
“How so?”
Amy broke eye contact and dropped her cheek to her knees. “She told me I was afraid, too. And you—you’re both right.”
Cal slid closer and took her cold hand, cradling it in the warmth of his clasp. “You know what? So am I. But there’s something between us too powerful to ignore. I’ve seen it in your face. And I’ve spent too many sleepless nights grappling with it. We need to deal with this thing.”
She looked at him again. “We’re too different, Cal.”
“I used to think so. I’m not as sure anymore.”
“But we want different things out of life.”
“Do we?”
She drew a ragged breath. “Even if we had the same priorities, this isn’t a good time for me. I’m still trying to build my career.”
“It’s not the best time for me, either. I’m struggling with some pretty heavy decisions and, frankly, I don’t need the distraction. But I’ve got it whether I want it or not. Because you, lovely lady, are one big distraction.”
He reached over then and touched her face, his gaze locked on hers. The feel of his fingertips against her skin sent her pulse off the scale, and she closed her eyes as he slowly traced the line of her jaw and the curve of her cheek. When he let his fingertips glide over her lips with a feather-light touch, she moaned softly.
“Oh, Amy, I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he said hoarsely. And then he pulled her gently into his arms, one hand in the small of her back, the other beneath her hair, cradling her neck. For several long moments, he just held her tenderly, taking time to simply relish the long-dreamed-of closeness. He could feel her trembling, but she didn’t pull away, and he stroked her back reassuringly.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he murmured, his lips against her hair. “I’m just as scared as you are. We’ll take this slow and easy, okay?”
Amy wasn’t at all sure it was okay. This whole thing was moving far faster than she’d anticipated. But she could no longer deny her feelings for this man. She cared about him—deeply. Okay, so maybe this wasn’t the best time in her life for romance. Maybe Cal didn’t exactly fit the profile she’d created of her “ideal man.” She’d always imagined that someday she’d be half of a “power” couple, living a glittering, jet-set type life. Yet Cal had no interest in that. He liked things simple and unpretentious, and his priorities clearly didn’t include power or prestige or worldly success. Amy’s did. Or had. Oddly enough, she wasn’t so sure they did anymore.
But she put those thoughts aside for the moment. As she savored the feel of Cal’s strong arms about her, she felt safe, protected, cherished—and free. Which was odd. Even in a perfect relationship, she’d always imagined that one was less free because the partner’s needs always had to be considered and accommodated. But for the first time, she considered the possibility that maybe she’d had it all wrong. Because here, wrapped in his arms, she sensed a love so supportive, so unconditional, that it was liberating, freeing her to take risks she might otherwise not consider because she always knew she had the safety net of his arms—and his love—to catch her if she fell. It was an astounding revelation, one to be carefully thought through later, when her mind was behaving rationally. Certainly not now, when the feel of his hard chest against her soft curves was driving all lucid thoughts from her brain.
Cal felt the tension in her body slowly ease, and he pulled back slightly to gaze down at her, framing her face with his long, lean fingers as he brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. She looked up at him, her deep green eyes slightly dazed—but also trusting. It was a look that said, “I don’t know where this is leading. I’m not even sure if it’s a good idea. But I care for you. I trust you. And, at least for the moment, my heart is yours.”
Cal’s throat tightened. He’d dated any number of women through the years, but none had looked at him in quite this same way. And given how hard Amy was fighting this thing, he was even more deeply touched. He drew a long, unsteady breath, then combed his fingers through her hair, careful to avoid the back of her head. When he lifted her soft tresses aside to brush his lips against her nape, he heard her sigh softly. And as he slowly kissed her forehead, then each eyelid, making a slow, tantalizing journey toward his ultimate destination, he felt her hands clutch his back convulsively.
When at last he claimed her lips, her surprisingly ardent response almost snapped the tenuous hold he had on his emotions. She gave as she lived—fully, completely, no holding back, without pretense or reservation. His initial touch, gentle and exploratory, rapidly grew fierce and demanding as he gave way to the hunger that had consumed him for weeks.
Amy had been kissed before, but never with such a mix of tenderness and passion. It took her breath away and sent her world spinning out of orbit as a long, sweet shiver of delight swept over her. When Cal’s hands moved over her back, molding her slender frame against the muscular contours of his body, she made no protest. The tension between them had been building for weeks, and it was pure joy to at last release her feelings. Strangely enough, Amy felt that she’d been waiting for this moment not just for the last few weeks, but all her life. Here, in this man’s arms, she felt somehow as if she’d come home.
When at last Cal pulled reluctantly away, Amy shakily raised her fingers to her lips, which still throbbed from his touch. She stared at him dazedly, stunned by the storm of emotion that had swept over her.
Cal tried to draw a deep breath, only to discover that his lungs weren’t working very well. Nor was his heart, which was thudding as hard as if he’d just run a thousand-yard dash. He ran unsteady fingers through his hair, then reached over and took her hand.
“Are you okay?” His voice was as uneven as his pulse.
“Just make the world stop spinning, okay?” she whispered.
Somehow he summoned up a crooked grin. “Sure. Just as soon as I come back to Earth.”
Now it was Amy’s turn to try for a smile. “Well, I guess we know now that on at least one level we’re compatible.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“Cal, I—I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before. It was like—like an earthquake and fireworks and Christmas morning all in one.”
He smiled, and the warmth in his eyes made her tingle all over. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“But…” Her look of wonder changed to a frown and she distractedly brushed her hair back from her face. “I mean, where do we go from here? I’m not sure I can handle this kind of…intensity…knowing that we may not have any kind of future together.”
He studied her for a moment, a slight frown now marring his own brow. “You sound like you’ve already decided we don’t.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I’ve always been practical, and I see a lot of obstacles in our path.”
“Obstacles can be overcome if two people are committed to finding a way around them.”
“I’d like to believe that.”
“Then do. Let me tell you something, Amy.” He laced his fingers with hers and cupped the back of her neck with his other hand, massaging gently, his eyes only inches from hers. “I don’t know why our paths crossed at this particular time in our lives. I don’t know why we feel the way we do about each other, given our apparent differences. But I do know this. It happened for a reason. And I’m willing to put this in the Lord’s hands and trust that He’ll reveal that reason to us in His own time and in His own way. Until then, I’m inclined to let this develop. And to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure I could walk away now even if I wanted to.”
Amy gazed into his sincere, caring eyes, and knew she was lost. She couldn’t walk away, either. And maybe he was right. Maybe the best way to deal with this was to simply trust in the Lord to give them guidance. She hadn’t done that for a long time. But she was in
over her head on this one, and she needed help from a higher power to resolve her dilemma. At last she drew a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay. I’m willing to give it a try.”
His relieved smile chased the tension from his face. “Good. I was prepared to argue my case with some pretty convincing evidence, but I’m glad we were able to settle out of court.”
She smiled, a teasing light suddenly flitting through her eyes. “Do you think maybe you might want to present some of that evidence, anyway, Counselor?”
For a moment he looked surprised, then a deep chuckle rumbled out of his chest. “I think that could be arranged.”
And as his lips once more closed over hers, Amy prayed that they would somehow find a way to resolve their differences. Because one thing was becoming very clear to her. She was rapidly falling in love with Cal Richards. And it was getting harder and harder to imagine the rest of her life without him.
Cal glanced at Amy sitting beside him in the pew, still amazed that she’d agreed to go to Sunday services with his family. He’d told her last night that she didn’t have to do it for him, that if they were going to make this thing between them work, neither should feel compelled to do something out of character just to please the other person. But she’d assured him that she was doing it for herself, that it was something she’d decided even before they’d acknowledged their feelings for each other.
Gazing at her now as she raptly listened to Reverend Mitchell’s sermon, Cal couldn’t doubt her sincerity. She seemed genuinely interested in what the kindly minister was saying—as he should be, he reminded himself sternly, refocusing his attention on the pastor.
“And so it is that the Lord gives us choices. Free will is truly a wonderful gift—but it can also be a hardship. Because sometimes we must make difficult decisions. Decisions those we love do not agree with. Decisions that will change our lives forever, in ways we cannot fathom at the time. Decisions that we know in our hearts we must make in order to be true to ourselves and to the Lord.
“But we never have to make those decisions alone, my friends. For as Matthew tells us, the Lord stands ready to help us if we simply make the request. ‘Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.’
“As all of us know, today’s world is not always compatible with the ways of the Lord. It’s easy to lose sight of priorities in this material age. Temptations face us at every turn. But on your journey through this world, I encourage you to cling to the things that truly last—faith, hope and love. For these will sustain you into eternal life, long after the fleeting glories and gratifications of this world have faded away.
“So as you face the choices in your life, ask yourself if your decision is consistent with those three things—for yourself and for others. And when you answer that question honestly, your decision will be clear—though not always easy. But remember, my friends—the Lord never promised us an easy life in this world if we followed his teachings—only eternal life in the next. And His grace to help us along the way in this one.
“And now let us pray….”
As the minister led the congregation in prayer, Amy was struck by the odd coincidence that Reverend Mitchell would have chosen this weekend to speak on the subject of choices and priorities. Or was it a coincidence? she wondered, lost in thought.
Only when a beautiful, soaring solo voice began to sing did she return to her surroundings. She glanced over at the choir, her eyes widening when she realized that the voice belonged to Amanda. When she turned to Cal, she found him watching her with a smile.
“Why didn’t you tell me your grandmother could sing like that?” she whispered in awe.
“I thought it would be more fun to surprise you,” he murmured.
“Surprise is hardly the word. She could be a professional.”
“Ask her about it sometime,” Cal said quietly as the congregation joined in on the refrain.
Amy intended to do just that, but after the service they were kept busy as Cal greeted and introduced her to a number of old friends.
“Cal! I thought that was you!”
They turned to find a fortyish, slightly balding man approaching them. Cal grinned and held out his hand. “Tony Jackson! I don’t believe it! What are you doing here?”
“I’m home for the weekend visiting my folks. Cindy took the kids to her parents’ for a few days, but I couldn’t get away from the station for more than a couple of days.”
“Station?”
“Didn’t you know? I operate a Christian cable station out of Knoxville now.”
“No kidding! Last I heard you were a business tycoon jetting all over the world.”
The man grinned. “Being an investment banker hardly qualifies me as a business tycoon. It had its exciting moments, though. But I found better work—not more profitable, you understand, but more worthwhile.” He nodded to Amy. “Are you going to introduce your friend, or do I have to take the initiative?”
Cal put his arm around Amy and drew her forward with an apologetic grin. “Sorry about that. I was just so surprised to see you. Amy, this is Tony Jackson. We grew up together. Tony, Amy Winter. You two have something in common, it seems. Amy is a broadcast journalist in Atlanta.” When he named the station, Tony’s eyebrows rose.
“I’m impressed,” he said.
Amy smiled and shook her head dismissively. “Don’t be. I’m still working my way up the proverbial ladder.”
“You have to be pretty exceptional to even get on that ladder, from what I hear.”
“‘Exceptional’ is a good word for Amy,” Cal said, his warm gaze connecting with hers briefly. She felt a flush spread over her face as she turned back to Tony.
“He’s being kind,” she demurred.
“Honest is more likely. Cal always had great judgment. Listen, I don’t suppose you’d consider it, but if you ever have any interest in exploring a different kind of reporting, I’d love to talk to you. Of course, we can’t compete with the glamour or salaries the big guys offer. We’re in the early stages, and building a station from the ground up is a gradual process. Still, slowly but surely we’re finding talented people who believe in our message enough to make a commitment to our work and sacrifice some of the worldly gain.”
Amy smiled. “I’m flattered. But I’m pretty happy right now where I am.”
Tony grinned engagingly. “Well, it was worth a try.” He held out his hand, and shook hers, then Cal’s. “Good to see you, pal. Keep in touch.”
“I will. And good luck with your new venture.”
Tony’s grin widened. “We can’t miss, you know. Remember—if God is with you, who can be against you?” With a wave he sauntered off.
Cal turned to Amy, but was interrupted by Reverend Mitchell before he could speak.
“Cal. Good to see you. And you must be Amy.” The minister turned and extended his hand. At Amy’s quizzical look, he smiled. “News of strangers travels fast in this part of the country. Though I hope you won’t be a stranger for long.”
She returned his smile. “Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand, then turned back to Cal. “Are you staying long?”
“Just a couple more days.”
“Too bad. I was hoping you’d have time to stop in and see Walter Thompson.”
Cal frowned. Walter was one of the hardest-working, most well-respected men in the community. He’d run a local trout farm for as long as Cal could remember and was always the first to offer a hand when his neighbors needed help. “Something wrong?”
“I think he could use some good legal advice. Or at least someone to point him to some good legal advice. There’s a big developer planning a mall of some sort next to his property and they’re putting a lot of pressure on him to sell a section of his land. He hasn’t budged so far, but now they’re getting pretty nasty from what I hear, digging up all sorts of obscure laws that he’s supposedly violated and threatening to put him out of business. H
e’s pretty worried. And none of the local attorneys he’s contacted seems able to cope with the legal eagles at this big conglomerate.”
Cal’s frown deepened. “I’ll put him in touch with someone who has experience dealing with corporate law firms.”
“He can’t afford big-city prices, you know.”
“Yeah, I figured. I’ll work it out.”
The minister smiled. “I’m sure anything will be appreciated, Cal. Sorry to bother you with this, but I know Walter’s at his wits’ end.” He turned back to Amy. “It was very nice to meet you. Take care, both of you. And don’t be strangers.”
As Reverend Mitchell walked over to talk to another couple, Amy turned to Cal. “Do you know everybody here?”
He gave her a troubled glance. “Pretty much.”
Amy tilted her head and gazed up at him. “You’re upset.”
He drew a deep breath and nodded. “I don’t like to see the little guy get trampled on.”
“Can you do anything?”
He sighed. “Not much. Except contact someone who can deal with the big guns of a corporate law firm. But it will come at a price.”
“Which Mr. Thompson can’t pay.”
Cal shrugged. “I might be able to call in a few favors. I’ll work something out.”
As they walked toward his car, Amy considered Cal’s response. He probably did have connections, probably could hook the man up with a good attorney who might discount his fees as a favor. But they would most likely still be more than the man could afford. And Amy suddenly had a feeling she knew who would pay the difference. The evidence was clear. Cal lived simply, and well below his means. The director at Saint Vincent’s had implied that Cal contributed more than time to the boys’ center. Amanda had said that he took good care of her and his father. It wasn’t too hard to figure out who would come to Walter Thompson’s aid, though the man would probably never realize it. Because Cal’s generosity would be quiet, unobtrusive and anonymous.