But could she trust him? Was he keeping something from her? An occasional flash of unspoken concerns sparked in his eyes, then faded. Or was it her own doubt? She wanted to believe in him. Since Al’s death, he was the first to stir her heart and her emotions.
She turned and ambled back toward the cabin. In the distance, a person headed her way, and she knew without question it was Ryan. As they neared, his hand raised in a welcoming wave. She gestured back, her pulse skipping for a moment at the sight of him.
“Morning.” His voice drifted to her on the breeze. A smile rose to her lips without effort while all her fears faded like her footprints in the wave-washed sand. She found her legs carrying her like the wind to his waiting arms.
“Hi,” she gasped.
He wrapped her in his arms, nearly lifting her from the ground in his powerful embrace.
Her pulse raced with the joy of his touch.
“Whoa! Just holding you rattles my senses.” He released her and stepped back. “What’s gotten into me?”
A flush rose on her cheeks, looking into his amazed eyes. “I don’t know.”
“I do. You. You addle me. I’m putty in your hands. I’m a fool, misbehaving. Put me in a corner and give me a time-out.”
“That would be safer.” Tess chuckled, yet acknowledging her own behavior. “You’ve heard of shipboard romances. Well, it’s the water. Moonlight rippling on the waves. Something like that.”
“No moonlight, my love,” he said, gesturing to the cheerful sky, “It’s pure day, but I suppose sunlight could be the culprit, too.” He drew back with the most timid, boyish expression that made her heart sing. “Could I, at least, hold your hand?”
“Only if you behave.” She wanted to swallow those words, but God’s will nudged her to follow her faith.
He crossed his heart with the index finger and held his hand up in a pledge. “Scout’s honor.”
“I’ve known some pretty nasty scouts in my day.” She chuckled and stretched her hand to his.
Ryan grasped it, and his firm touch brought a sense of wholeness to her empty life. They ambled, side by side, in the direction of the cabins as the sun-tipped tide washed the tangled vines and pink-hued shells around their feet.
Waves and gulls were the only sounds. They walked in comfortable silence until Tess broke the quiet. “Could you do me a favor while we’re here?”
Ryan’s curiosity surged. “Sure. What?”
“Could you do an appraisal on the cabin? If I decide to sell, then I’ll have what I need and you could list it for me.”
His anxiety subsided. He sensed Tess forcing the sale of the cabin, and he worried about her haste. “Sure, but I thought—”
“In fact, Ryan, there’s no question. I need to sell the place as much as I don’t want to. It’s foolish to hang on to it.”
He saw her defiant chin, flaunting false bravery like the night behind the cabin. “Don’t make a rash decision. I’ll give you a market evaluation. But wait until you’re back home. I’d rather you think on it first.”
Her determined voice softened. “I know, but the taxes and the upkeep are expensive, especially when the place needs repairs or a fallen tree removed. Have you ever seen what winter does to trees up here?”
Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Ever think about a miracle?”
She raised her reticent eyes to his. Tess shook her head. “I’ve given up on those.”
As she lowered her gaze, Ryan’s mind billowed like the rolling tide, spilling tangled thoughts at his feet. He’d rescued her before, and he longed to do it again. Anything to put a smile back on her face.
Tess tucked her arm around his waist with a gentle squeeze. “You can see I can’t be here alone. First of all, I’m nearly helpless by myself. Everything that could go wrong does.”
She didn’t know, but he could say the same. Donna’s phone call flashed before his eyes. “Things aren’t always perfect for me, either. I might look competent, but things go very wrong for me, too. Don’t let me fool you, Tess. I have fears just like you do.” The unwelcome concerns reeled into his thoughts.
She stared at him, her expression disbelieving. Then a faint smile softened her face. “I thought you were my hero. You could save the day. What happened to that?”
He squeezed her shoulder. “I lied. Men lie all the time.”
Tess flinched when the words tumbled from his mouth, and he wanted to kick himself. “I’m sorry, Tess. I was only kidding. All men don’t lie. I don’t.”
She slowed and lifted her eyes to his. “I’m sorry. I’m too sensitive.”
“I was stupid to say that.”
“It’s not you. It’s me.”
He shook his head, seeing no way to change her mind. She seemed determined to blame herself for everything, but he understood why. “Let’s talk about the cabin. I’ve hassled you about selling it, but I really understand. Would you like me to do the appraisal now?”
“Sure, it’s now or never, I suppose. I keep thinking about going home tomorrow. I suppose that’s making me sad.”
Going home tomorrow. The words plummeted to his feet. Home meant saying goodbye and, then, facing Donna once again to convince her the breakup was right. The situation knotted in his stomach. He hated confrontation.
He looked at Tess’s expression and realized that she suspected something was wrong. That had to be part of the problem. She knew he was keeping something from her. But how could he explain it until it was over?
On the way back from their last dinner together, Ryan had an idea. “How about a bonfire tonight?”
“A bonfire. It sounds wonderful. You don’t think it’s too cold by the water?”
“Not when I have my love to keep me warm.”
His boyish charm jangled her thoughts. She’d spent the last few days fighting desire—an alien sensation these past years. Though virtue was winning, part of Tess longed for it to lose. Inside she felt the battle between passion and control. She sensed Ryan felt the same.
The road loomed before them, and Ryan turned onto a lane, nearly as hidden in the trees as her own. When they climbed from the car, he went for the beach chairs while Tess grabbed pieces of fallen limbs and headed for the beach.
Working in the dusky light, they made quick work of the fire. Ryan dragged logs from a pile at the edge of the woods. The flames licked the air, and sparks rose into the darkening sky like fireflies.
They settled in the lawn chairs, and Tess relaxed, noting the burnished leaves bursting more fully into color each day. “Autumn’s my favorite time of year.”
“It is? Most people prefer spring or summer.”
“I know, but there’s something special about autumn. Sort of a promise.” Her chest tightened at memories of the past days she’d spent with Ryan. Days brightened by hope.
“I thought spring’s the season of promise. Rebirth, new life—”
“No. To me, it’s autumn…when you’re talking about real life.”
He rubbed his palm against her fingers resting on the arm of the lawn chair. “Real life?”
“As I see it, life isn’t always perfect. Things fade and die like the leaves.” She motioned to the colorful leaves floating on the breeze to the ground. “Things come to an end like life—even marriages. Hope fades. Disappointments come—cold and lonely like winter.”
“Tess, you’re depressing me.” He lifted her fingers and pressed them to his lips.
“Don’t be depressed. Remember I said autumn holds a promise. We always know after the leaves die and winter comes that sunshine and new life are around the corner.”
“Ah—spring.”
“Sure, but it all starts with autumn.”
He threaded her fingers through his. “Autumn makes me think of Thanksgiving sort of in the same way. We give thanks for all that’s gone before, knowing each year the harvest returns again.”
She squeezed his hand. “I love Thanksgiving, too, but for a different reason. It brings lov
ed ones together. Praising God, yes, but celebrating family as well as blessings.”
“Yes. Family.” The sound in Ryan’s voice caused her to turn. He had a faraway look in his eye that aroused Tess’s curiosity.
Silence surrounded them, and Tess watched lights come up on the island and outline the bridge. As the heat grew, she pushed back from the flames and Ryan followed.
“This campfire was a great idea, Ryan. What a nice way to end our week.” But the word end pierced her heart.
“It was.” He took her hand in his and pressed her fingers to his cool lips. “I can’t believe tomorrow’s Saturday already.”
“The time’s been special.”
He drew her hand closer and nestled it against his jacket. “I don’t want to leave you, Tess.”
“It’s been wonderful. So much more than I expected. I thought I’d read a novel or two, feel lonely and sorry for myself, botch up closing the cabin and go home miserable.”
His eyes sparkled in the firelight. “I messed up the book-reading, didn’t I?”
“You did, but you saved me from the other consequences.”
“I’m glad.”
Darkness had lowered, and Tess tilted her head back to gaze into the star-spangled sky. Away from the city lights, the Milky Way spread above them across the ebony universe. She smiled into the darkness. “Look at the sky.”
Ryan focused upward at the brilliant display. “Like fireworks.”
They sat in near silence with only the measured rush of the waves lapping against the shore and the crackle of the fire.
“Listen,” Tess whispered.
Ryan sat unmoving beside her. The silence stretched to minutes. “Nothing.”
“I know. You’ll never hear silence like this in Birmingham or Rochester.”
“You can say that again.”
His earlier playfulness traveled through her mind, and she looked at him, her mouth ready to repeat her sentence. But instead of silliness, Ryan brushed her chin, then drew his fingers to the nape of her neck. A tingle shivered down her arms, leaving her breathless and wanting more.
Tess captured his strong jaw between her palms, feeling the evening stubble of his whiskers and breathing in the heady aroma that surrounded him.
He drew her closer, tilting his chair toward her, his look caressing her face as completely as his fingers had done. “I’m trying to behave myself.”
“You are,” she agreed, wishing against good sense he hadn’t stopped.
As he released her, his tilted chair toppled sideways. Thrashing his arms, he flipped into the sand.
A barrage of laughter split the quiet night, and Ryan jumped up, nearly hopping into the glowing embers before he regained his balance. As he brushed at his clothing, his voice echoed his embarrassment. “Now that was silly.”
Tess swallowed her laughter. “But cute.”
“Cute for you, not me. I’m covered in sand.”
“Help me up, and I’ll brush you off.”
She stretched her hands toward him, and he pulled her from the chair. She brushed the back of his jacket as he dusted the front.
When they cleaned him off as best they could, Tess took his hands in hers. “If I say something, please don’t laugh.”
He peered at her in the firelight. “Laugh? Why would I?”
“Because I’ll sound sappy.”
“And?” A wry grin flickered on his face.
“I deserved that. Anyway, I’m serious now.” She pressed her fingers to his lips as he had done once to her. “I have to be honest with you. I feel as if, well, as if our meeting was sort of arranged. Like this was meant to be. Do you know what I mean?” From the expression on his face, she knew he had.
“Tess, I’ve felt it since I saw you behind the cabin. To be honest, years earlier I wished you’d been single. I thought you were a wonderful woman, and I wished I would have met you first…but you were married and I respected that.”
Her heart soared. “I’ve never felt so wonderful in years.”
He slid his arms around her shoulder, and she moved into his embrace as if she had always belonged there.
“And it’s not as if we’re total strangers,” she added, reliving the feeling she’d had since they met.
“We’re like old friends.” He tilted her face to his. “Well, not so old, and maybe, more than friends.”
Lifting her lips to his, they kissed, kindling a flame stronger than the one that warmed them earlier. Ryan eased back and kissed the end of her nose. “I suppose we should put out the fire.” His chuckle punctuated his double meaning.
Ryan spread sand on the embers and gathered the chairs. Tess carried the flashlight and guided them toward the cottage glowing warmly at the top of the rise. Their free hands joined in the darkness, and she felt safe and loved.
“How about some hot chocolate before I walk you back? We need to talk about tomorrow anyway.”
“Sounds good. I packed as much as I could before we went to dinner. You can help me with the rest in the morning.”
They entered Jill’s cottage, and Ryan put on the kettle. “Relax. This’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
Tess plopped into an easy chair, enjoying her view of Ryan working in the kitchen. As he filled the cups, she grinned when he added some tiny marshmallows.
“Marshmallows? You planned ahead.”
“The only way to drink hot chocolate.” Then he confessed, “Jill must have them here for Davie.”
Ryan gazed at Tess’s warm smile. Things seemed perfect. He carried the mug to her side and settled in a chair. How could a few days change his life so completely? Their gazes met, and contentment washed over him.
The dim lamplight played on her wavy dark hair, her translucent skin in the soft glow, and her electric blue eyes. She was beautiful and fragile, inside and out.
“Why are you so quiet?” She raised the mug and blew on her hot drink.
“Thinking about you. I don’t want to overwhelm you with a list of your wonderful attributes.”
A soft flush rose to her cheeks. “Try me.”
He loved the way her eyes brightened and color rose on her face. “I’ll keep you dangling. Maybe you’ll want to see me again when we get back home so you can hear the list I came up with.”
“Oh, really.”
Her leaving tomorrow had set his emotions on edge. Ryan wanted to see her again, to spend time together like they had these few days. Donna’s call seemed a minor problem. Once he talked with her, she’d realize they had made the right decision.
A deep urge settled in his chest. An urge to be honest and tell Tess that he and Donna had only ended their engagement a few weeks earlier. Tell her that Donna had called today, but that he had no intention of getting back with her. His only dream was to get to know Tess better and someday…
As Ryan basked in his warm thoughts, a sound struck his ear. He jumped, the cocoa sloshing from the mug to his jeans.
“What was that?” Tess asked, staring toward the door.
“An animal…maybe,” he said, yet knowing full well he’d heard a car door slam.
This time a clear knock penetrated the silence. Ryan looked at Tess, then the door. No one would come to the cabin except for an emergency. He dashed toward it while Tess sat clinging to the edge of her chair.
His heart plummeted to the ground when he saw the intruder.
Donna.
Chapter Eight
Perspiration beaded Ryan’s hairline as he stared at Donna. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me,” she said in the doorway as she draped her arms around his neck in greeting. Embarrassed, Ryan quickly disentangled himself from her embrace. She stepped over the threshold and came to a dead stop, her smile skewing to a glower. “But I didn’t know you had company?”
In panic, Ryan turned to Tess, seeing his worst nightmare coming to fruition. “Tess, I hadn’t any—”
Tess rose, her face frozen in shock and
dismay. She grabbed her jacket from the chair.
“Please, let me explain.” He stepped toward her pleading for her to stay. But in a heartbeat, she slipped past Donna out the door.
Ryan gaped at her, a sense of foreboding thundering through his body. “I have a problem here, Donna.” Ryan didn’t care anymore. He grabbed a flashlight from a nearby doorsill, brushed past her and dashed from the cottage into the black night following Tess. He took a shortcut through the woods, branches tearing his sleeves, ruts tripping his steps as he called to her. “Tess, please wait. Please. Let me explain.”
He heard the snap of twigs and the rustle of underbrush ahead of him, but in the pitch-black, she had gotten too far. When he came to the clearing, she was already inside the cabin.
Ryan tried the door, but she’d thrown on the lock and he pounded against the heavy wood. “Tess, please. Talk to me.”
He darted around the cabin, pressing his face against the windows like a Peeping Tom, but she proceeded him, snapping off the lights one step ahead of him.
“I’ll sit here all night, Tess. Let me talk to you. I can explain.” His voice knotted, choking his words. He leaned his head against the bedroom window where the last light had been extinguished. “Open the window so you can hear me, Tess. Use a little reason.”
The cabin lay in silence.
Use a little reason. Why hadn’t he heeded his own words? He’d been stupid. Why hadn’t he told her Donna had called? That would have been simple. Surely she would have understood. Now he had done more damage than he could ever imagine.
He stared at the dark cabin, his lone light, one pitiful ray piercing the gloom. It was as pitiful as the empty hope that lit his darkened heart.
Sitting outside in the cold woods was senseless. He had to talk with Donna and send her to a motel for the night. No need explaining anything to Donna now. At this point, after what she’d seen, he figured things were clear.
He turned away from the cabin. No matter how irritated he was with Donna, he’d never wanted to hurt her. He would send her on her way, and come back to Tess’s early in the morning. Maybe she’d listen to his explanation then. A night’s sleep might help them both.
The Harvest Page 6