by Sharon Kleve
“I want to go to the lighthouse—”
“Why?” He snapped the word so loud she jumped.
Finally, she gathered the courage to speak. “Why don’t you want me to go there?”
The lighthouse was coming up on the left and without saying a word, he wheeled into the parking lot and slammed on the brakes. He shut the truck off, but didn’t get out like he had something to say.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.
“I’m sure.”
“Do you want me to stay here?” His dark demeanor was a bit unnerving and she almost decided to go in alone, then changed her mind at the last minute when she recalled the lighting situation. What if she fell and needed help?
She glanced at the archway of the lighthouse and back at him. “I don’t know why I need to go inside, but I do. If you don’t mind, I would like for you to go with me.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw followed by a slow nod.
When they got out and started up the walkway, her hand reached for his like it had a mind of its own, as if a demon was lurking in the shadows waiting to jump out at her. He tightened his grip on her hand. A raindrop hit her arm, then her face and she picked up her pace, trembling and he drew her to his side.
Hair rose on the back of her neck as she stared through the open archway, fighting the sudden urge to turn around and go back to the sanctuary of his truck. He pulled her into his arms and whispered against her hair, “You don’t have to do this—”
She whispered against his chest. “Something’s pulling me here. I may not get another chance, before I go back to Texas.”
“Fine,” he said, exhaling roughly.
They went inside the circular tower. Mindy was right. She had been there before. She could feel the familiarity of it the moment her foot crossed the threshold. Natural lighting poured in from a skylight above the staircase, casting ominous shadows on everything it touched. Everything began to grow fuzzy and she wobbled.
“Are you okay?” His voice was thick with concern as he steadied her.
Even though she felt drained, she pulled out of his grasp and started for the stairs. The second her palm rested against the iron railing, thoughts swirled in her head.
It was like she was outside her body looking in. A much younger version of Ryder with dark tousled hair, extended his hand to a seventeen-year-old version of herself.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tara sat straight up, wide-eyed, and gasping for air. The room was quiet except for her heart pounding in her ears. Sun filtered in past the thin bedroom curtains reaching out to her suitcase and the wrinkled sundress draped over a chair.
Her body softened as she collapsed on her back with her head resting against the pillow and her chest heaving beneath her over-sized T-shirt.
How could the dream be so different than what happened? she thought.
Last night’s ride home after leaving Ryder’s parents’ house, played out a little differently. She asked him to stop at the lighthouse. He agreed, but it was raining so hard they decided against it.
There was a loud rap on the door and Mindy shouted from the other side. “Hey sleepyhead, I’m going to town. Wanna go?”
Tara threw back the quilt and scrambled to her feet. “I’ll be right out.” She needed a tube of frost-color lipstick since her lipstick didn’t make its way into her suitcase before leaving Texas.
Mindy shuffled down the hallway toward the living room like she was wearing flip-flops. But, this was Key West. Everyone wore flip-flops.
Tara removed a pair of cut-off shorts, a clean white T-shirt and her bathroom bag from her suitcase, then flung the door open.
Bam. She ran into brawny muscle.
With her palm against Ryder’s chest, she took in his clean fresh scent which made her want to sprinkle tiny kisses along his smooth chest.
Finally, he leaned back but left one hand against the doorjamb near her head. She darted under his arm to the bathroom. Slamming the door, she pressed into it, smiling. He was certainly easy on the eyes and she could get used to running into him every morning.
Seriously?
In a little over a week, she would be on her way back to Texas slaving over court cases while Ryder would struggle with what he was going to do with the rest of his life.
She pursed her lips, wondering what kind of job a man would take after ten years of wartime deployment in Iraq? Actually, she thought he was adjusting well considering the rumors regarding suicide. Granted, Jerry offered him a job doing paint and body, but she couldn’t see him cooped up in a garage. But then again, what did she know? She barely remembered him, even though he said they used to be close. She still questioned his definition of the term close.
While Tara stood behind Mindy, waiting to pay for her lipstick, her phone rang. Jerry’s Garage popped up on the display.
“Hello?”
“Thought you would like to know, your car’s ready.”
“Great. Thanks, Jerry. I’ll see if Mindy can drop me by to pick it up.”
She ended the call.
“We’ll go straight there when we leave,” her friend said digging cash out of her wallet.
As soon as they checked out, Mindy drove straight to the garage. Tara thanked her for the ride and told her she didn’t have to wait, that she’d meet her back at the house.
Tara walked around her red Corvette Stingray, with shiny wheel rims and red brake calipers. Jerry had it detailed. It looked new, again. He even knocked fifty bucks off the bill because he didn’t use all the paint. After handing him a check, she slid into the driver’s seat, put the top down, and cranked the engine. The V8 motor, had more power then she’d ever need, but it sure felt marvelous purring under her.
She revved the motor and slipped on sunglasses. As she eased out, she was careful not to break the tires loose, Jerry grinned like he wished it was his.
Sorry, Jerry. It’s not for sale.
The salt air whipped at her ponytail as she drove through town turning heads and then drove back to Mindy’s house. When she made the turn, she idled around every pot hole to keep from scrubbing the bottom. As she approached the lighthouse, she stopped, debating on whether to go inside. Shaking her head, she drove past the parking lot since she needed to start getting ready for the class reunion tonight.
When she pulled into the driveway, Ryder was on the porch. Smiling, he came down the steps and made a pass around the car, giving it a good go over.
She removed her sunglasses, replaced them in the hidden compartment in the visor and then crawled out.
“Jerry did a good job, huh?” she said, leaning against the door with her arms crossed.
“Yes he did,” Ryder said wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear. “He even matched the paint. I was worried about that since he said red had a way of fading over time.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be faded. It’s almost brand new.”
Ryder raised an eyebrow. “The question is, how long did it sit outside in the sun before it found a new home?”
“I didn’t think about that,” she said scrunching her nose.
“Well, it looks good. You got lucky.” She watched his eyes twinkle as he inspected it again.
He glanced up and she winked.
“If you’re nice, I’ll let you drive it tonight.”
“You mean to the reunion?”
“Yeah, why not?” She glanced at his truck. “Climbing into that monster truck of yours in a dress and heels is going to be tough.”
He shrugged like he agreed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Tara leaned across the dresser in her, Yaffa maxi dress to smooth frosty beige lipstick over her lips. She rubbed them together to distribute the color and stood back admiring the way the color blended with her pale lilac dress. A three-inch ruffle along the top accented her tan shoulders and the gathered waistband accented her hourglass figure.
She sat down with her tanned legs peeking through the front slit while wig
gling her feet into the beige and metallic four-inch heels she’d brought to go with the dress. As she tied the thin braided ankle straps, she was glad she didn’t have to climb into Ryder’s truck. Thank goodness, he agreed to take her Corvette instead.
Satisfied with her appearance, Tara took a deep breath, then picked up the matching clutch purse she’d laid out on the foot of the bed. She left the room.
Paul and Ryder were on the back porch.
Mindy did a double-take from the kitchen in a strapless maxi. “Wow. Where did you find that dress?”
“At the mall. I thought it would be perfect for the reunion.”
“Girl, that dress would be perfect anywhere. Casual or fancy, you’d fit right in.” Mindy glanced toward the back porch. “I can’t wait to see Ryder’s face.” She let out playful growl.
Tara ducked her head, blushing, as the door opened and the men strolled inside.
Ryder stopped in his tracks, staring like he’d seen a ghost. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
Paul went to Mindy and circled his arms around her from the back. “Do you remember how to dance?”
Mindy chuckled. “I’m sure it will come back to me.”
Ryder straddled a bar stool at the counter and smiled. But not at her. Mindy poured them a round of Mia Tia’s and Paul raised his glass for a toast. “To the old days!”
“Here, here,” said Mindy taking a drink.
Old days? Tara thought. If only she could remember the old days when she and Ryder were girlfriend and boyfriend.
Ryder downed the drink in his hand and shook his head when Mindy tried to pour him another. He looked at Paul, Mindy the view outside. Everything, but her. Why?
Finally, he said, “Are you ready?”
She nodded, trying to figure out why he seemed so distant. Mindy looked mystified by it too. She crinkled her nose and shook her head.
“We’ll meet you there,” is all Ryder said as he headed for the door like he expected her to follow.
When he shut the door, she called out, “Hey,” at his back. He stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Did I do something?”
His knuckles were white from where he gripped the porch rail.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
To her surprise, he whirled around. His mouth was so close to her mouth, short raspy breaths fanned her face. He dipped his head and she expected any second to feel his lips crash down on hers. But, at the last second, he pulled back, leaned in again, then pulled back away. It was like ten years of pent-up passion poured out all at once. She studied him bubbling over with emotion and the feral look in his eyes excited her.
Now, more than ever, she wanted his lips to grate against her lips and his tongue to wage war with her tongue.
As if exercising great restraint, he slowly pressed his forehead to hers. “That’s why,” he growled, huskily.
Footsteps came from inside the house. Right before the door flew open, Ryder stepped back and Paul and Mindy appeared in the doorway.
Mindy looked surprised. “I thought you two already left.”
Tara raked a trembling hand down the front of her dress. “We’re leaving now,” she said forcing one foot in front of the other to where Ryder stood next to her Corvette holding the door open.
Silence reigned inside the car on the ride to the reunion. Several times she looked over. Not directly, but out of the corner of her eye. Ryder just stared through the windshield. At the road? The oncoming traffic? The man thumbing a ride? Who knew.
While he didn’t physically kiss her, emotionally he had, and the heated exchange had a catastrophic affect. She forced herself to breathe, wondering what the hell just happened.
When they reached the high school, Paul took a spot in the front. Ryder chose a space in the rear that was less crowded. Probably to avoid door dings. He got out and came around to her side like nothing ever happened.
Then Ryder slipped her key ring into his front pocket and interlocked his fingers with hers. As they walked toward the gym entrance decorated with a large banner, Paul and Mindy were waiting by Mindy’s Jeep.
“Guess who I just saw?” Mindy asked, wide-eyed.
“Who?”
“Sally Peterson.”
“Really?”
“She was valedictorian, voted most likely to succeed.” Mindy lowered her voice. “I heard she’s back in town living with her parents and she’s in and out of rehab fighting a cocaine addiction.”
Tara felt sorry for the girl when she’d had so much going for her in high school. It just showed anything could happen. She glanced at Ryder who was talking to Paul, but still had her hand, and his gaze drifted to her.
“Let’s go inside,” Mindy said, tugging on her husband’s hand.
When they entered the gym, upbeat music blared from the speakers and strobe lights flashed across the designated dance floor. Small round tables were tightly knit together to accommodate the whole senior class.
Mindy put her hand to her head as if listening. “Do you hear what’s playing?”
Tara frowned then her mouth dropped open and she turned to Ryder who was staring right at her. She remembered where she’d heard that song before and what it meant. He acted like he recalled it too as he pulled her onto the floor to dance to what used to be their favorite song.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tara felt Ryder’s palm rest at the small of her back. Her hand on his shoulder, their free hands met mid-air. They began to sway to the music and the applause they received finally died down. Couples filled in around them and she relaxed in his arms, floating around the dance floor. Every move was calculated and planned.
Each time Ryder took a breath, the ruffle on the top of her dress brushed his suit jacket. Her heart rate spiked as she followed his soft but subtle lead. Their bodies never touched, yet the air between them was like a furnace. Even though he gave fellow classmates an occasional nod, he seemed in tune with her in his arms.
As the song progressed, she summoned the courage to look around and noticed everyone staring.
“Ryder?”
His gaze locked with hers.
“Everyone’s watching us.”
“Not us,” he said, giving her a lopsided grin. “You. You’re beautiful.”
Her heart thudded once, then settled back to its natural rhythm. He pulled her in and she rested her head against his chest in a spell-like trance breathing in his cologne and listening to his rapid heartbeat against her ear.
He whispered, “This feels right.”
She closed her eyes, thinking the exact same thing. For a moment, she saw them in her mind’s eye back in high school. It was prom night and they were slow-dancing to the same song playing now.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she jerked back, blinking.
“What?” he asked, hoarsely.
“I remember our senior prom.”
“You do?”
“You had on a black suit and pink tie to match my pink formal dress.” Tara giggled at the thought of him wearing pink.
He chuckled. “Don’t let my platoon buddies hear you say that.”
Tara barely heard the song stop and the next one begin.
Ryder stopped moving his feet. “Thirsty?”
She nodded and he took her hand and led her back to a table that Mindy and Paul had saved for them. Tara sat down and Ryder went to get them some punch.
Mindy squeezed her arm and pointed to a table across the room. Sally Peterson had her chin propped on her hand, eyeing Ryder over her wire-rimmed spectacles as he filled two plastic glasses with punch. Sally got up and strolled over to the table like she was going to get some, but never did. Tara and Mindy giggled because they both knew she only went over there to strike up a conversation with Ryder.
Sally tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and smiled. They talked for a minute until Ryder picked the up the glasses and came back to their table.
Tara giggled when he sat down beside he
r. “So, what did Sally have to say?”
Ryder took a drink of his punch and set it down. “Sally was just being Sally,” he said, chuckling.
Mindy leaned across the table. “You know she’s had a crush on you since elementary school, right?”
“I didn’t notice,” Ryder said, sarcastically.
“She’s not the only one,” Mindy glanced over at Tara.
Tara blushed and ducked her head. A memory flashed in her mind of her and Ryder on the playground. He’d snuck up behind her and pulled her pigtail and then ran off like he didn’t do anything. She knew better, even at eight years old. The meaner a boy was, the more he liked you. He must have liked her a lot because he was always doing something to get her attention.
Ryder was staring at her. “What are you thinking about?”
“I remember you pulling my hair on the playground.”
He smiled but didn’t deny it.
Tara shrugged. “Trust me. You didn’t have to pull my hair to get my attention.”
Ryder reached up and tugged on a strand of her hair then tucked it behind her ear. He leaned over. “Let’s go.”
“We just got here.”
“We need to talk.” It sounded serious and she swallowed hard, then leaned over and told Mindy that they were leaving because Ryder wanted to talk to her.
Mindy looked surprised until she glanced at Ryder, then smiled like she knew what he wanted to talk to her about.
He took her hand and led her out of the gym back into the parking lot.
“Where are we going?” she asked, trying to keep up with him in her heels.
“You’ll see.”
When they left the parking lot, he turned like he was going back to Mindy’s house. She didn’t understand what this was all about, but had a feeling she was going to find out.
Ryder turned into the parking lot of the lighthouse, turned the car off and stared through the windshield, but didn’t say anything.
“What’s going on Ryder?”
“You’ve wanted to come here ever since you arrived and I have kept you away for my own personal reasons.”