Kelly snorted. Yeah, well–she’d had a pretty vivid imagination. And almost every little girl in the world had, most likely, had that same–kind of stupid, identical fantasy.
Her nickname of ‘Princess’ had been well-deserved, though. Nearly as far back as she could remember, Kelly had been interested in fashion–beginning first with her fascination in dressing-up, and then continuing on with the stylish details, she’d insisted on, in her every day look as she grew older.
She’d nearly driven her mom crazy.
But it was funny how, once her mom had become proficient with using a computer, that that pair of shoes that Kelly had asked for, or that lovely jean jacket had appeared under the tree at Christmas, or in a shiny gift bag on Kelly’s birthday. Kelly had a feeling that she was spoiled, compared to her older siblings. But it’d been different when her older sisters and brother had been growing up–their family hadn’t attained financial security until after the Dragonfly Pointe Inn had been renovated by her father’s company, Callahan Construction.
It’d been Kelly’s interest in fashion that’d drawn the attention of Danielle Loughlin, Jake Loughlin’s wife. The Loughlins were owners of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. After Kelly had modeled in one of the inn’s yearly charity events, Danielle had referred Kelly to her former agency.
And the rest was history.
Or, as in her case, Kelly would’ve really liked for it to become history. Even now, she was still getting calls about additional work. But, occasionally, she still accepted a job because she couldn’t resist the exorbitant amount of money that the agency offered her.
Reaching the final curve of the pathway leading down to the beach, Kelly glanced over at the park and froze.
His eyes met hers as he drew on his lit cigarette, one last time. Letting the butt drop unconsciously to the ground, he stamped it out with his boot.
When Kelly, accusingly, held Luke Bryant’s gaze, mumbling unintelligibly, he quickly bent down, and snatched up the butt from the ground.
Hiking up her skirt, Kelly left the path determinedly to join him. “Damn it, Luke Bryant–you know better than to just drop a lit cigarette, out here in the woods. Besides—I thought you quit?”
“I did, Princess.” He sighed. “But sometimes, it helps steady my nerves.”
Kelly hesitated, taking a long, hard look at Luke. Even with his dark brown hair cropped short, and that shadow of stubble appearing along his chin, he was still the sexiest man alive. And tall and lean, but incredibly muscular, he had a body to die for. His facial features were ruggedly cut, and sometimes appeared severe and harsh, since he rarely smiled–which was probably the reason so many kids had been scared of him when they were growing up. Well, that nasty scar along the side of his face might’ve had something to do with it too. But he was thinner—and his face appeared to be incredibly pale—against the deep dark blue of his uniform. “This Air Force stuff looks like it’s taking its toll on you, Luke.”
Luke smiled sheepishly. “Ah, but the flying part is great. I wanted to be a pilot, and I’ve become a pretty damned good one, at that.”
That gravelly voice sent shivers down her spine. But there was something he still wasn’t telling her. She could see it in his eyes, as she continued to study him with concern. “But?”
He hesitated, staring her down, before seeming to come to a decision. He finally shrugged. “But, nothing. I’m here for the wedding–and to hook back up with a few of my friends.” He suddenly smiled and winked. “I wanted to enjoy the last couple days of my leave.”
Kelly nodded her understanding. “I’ve got about thirty-five minutes before I need to get back to the reception for pictures.” She hesitated. “How about taking a walk with me?”
He grinned, and her stomach did a flip-flop. “Sure, Princess.”
She gave him a rueful smile, and reached for his hand.
Kelly’s eyes shot to Luke’s, as the shock from his touch sent an electrifying jolt shooting straight through her entire body.
CHAPTER
TWO
Electric–that was the only word he could think of to describe their connection. They both stood motionless for a long breathless moment, with their eyes remaining locked.
Somehow, overnight, she’d transformed into the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Luke’s head was still reeling from the shock of seeing Kelly again. And despite the awe he’d experienced, since stepping onto the grounds of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn–he had to admit, this wedding setup was pretty incredible–he’d spent the majority of the afternoon shaking hands and going through the motions, after observing Kelly mingling with a few of the guests. He’d never really been willing to acknowledge that his connection with her was quite this strong.
So, when she’d turned from her position at the altar, Luke had sucked in an unsteady breath when Kelly’s beautiful blue eyes had met his. She simply took his breath away. Somehow, he’d managed to smile while she was walking down the aisle.
Luke had been through so much with the Callahan family, when he’d been growing up in the town of Crystal Rock. Kelly’s older brother, Dan, had been his rock when he’d been forced by his stepdad to operate with a gang of teenage thugs.
And Kelly had been just like his little sister.
But it was time to face facts. He sure wasn’t looking at Kelly like a little sister now.
For some unlikely reason, back when she was ten years old, Kelly had chosen him to crush on. Luke hadn’t thought a whole lot about it at the time. But the first summer he’d visited here on leave from the Air Force, he’d unexpectedly found himself feeling a little differently about sixteen-year old Kelly, when he’d suddenly realized, he was kind of crushing on her. She was beautiful and smart, and, not to mention, self-assured and intelligent. Luke knew for a fact that there weren’t too many guys here in town who were immune to her spell.
And that’s exactly what Kelly had cast over him, he’d realized, when he’d traveled the war torn paths in Syria and Iraq–a spell. And even though he hadn’t lived in Crystal Rock for several years, it’d seemed like all he’d done overseas was dream about Dragonfly Pointe–and coming home to Kelly.
Two years later, Luke had run into her again, when he’d returned to Crystal Rock on leave. When she’d confessed her feelings for him, Luke had been in shock, and had done everything in his power to discourage her. He was seven years older than her–she was much too young to know what she really wanted. Besides, she deserved better than him. He’d assumed a couple of days of hanging out with his girlfriend Jen, and having great sex, would put the problem of Kelly completely out of his mind.
Man, had he been wrong. He hadn’t been able to put his conversation with Kelly behind him. His time in Iraq had changed him, and he’d taken a good hard look at his life. Something had been going on with Jen, too. She was talking about marriage way too much—considering they’d spent very little time together over the past couple of years. Plus, the sex had been…well…not nearly as mind-blowing as he’d remembered.
Of course, that might’ve had something to do with the fact that he was thinking about Kelly the entire time that they’d been doing it.
But one week later, he and Jen had broken it off. Turned out, she hadn’t been as faithful to him as she’d pretended either. And the reason she’d wanted to marry Luke? Luke was planning on becoming Air Force career, and he’d come to the conclusion that that was exactly what Jen had wanted–a steady income, and an absentee husband.
Luke gazed down at Kelly. He was a little embarrassed to admit it, but there hadn’t really been any one else since he’d broken up with Jen.
Because the only woman he’d ever really wanted was Kelly Callahan.
He couldn’t make a commitment to her now—it just wouldn’t be fair. He was returning to Iraq in a couple of days. But recently he’d begun to rethink all of his decisions. Serving hadn’t been the rewarding experience he’d expected it to be. It was difficult to live with some of the things that he�
��d seen and done. And it was getting to be increasingly difficult to live with himself.
Yesterday, unexpectedly, he’d found himself pulling out his phone and giving Dan Callahan a call—belatedly accepting his invitation to Kate Callahan and Michael Murphy’s wedding. He’d wanted…no, he’d needed to return to Dragonfly Pointe one more time. And something in his gut had told him that it was important for him to reveal some of his feelings to Kelly before he returned overseas.
But, was she with anyone now? The possibility had crossed his mind time and time again. He’d shot her down pretty hard, when she’d confessed her feelings for him two years ago. The idea of her with another guy…well, the thought had been driving him kind of crazy.
Luke had always believed Kelly Callahan was just too damned good for him. Besides, what would she want with a guy like him? Not only was he scarred physically, but he was kind of a mess mentally too.
But it was still there, that spark between them. His eyes greedily devoured the features of her lovely sun-kissed face. Her inviting mouth, with its plump upper lip, was still slightly parted in shock as she stared into his eyes.
Luke cleared his throat, breaking the spell. He’d had a little more time to gain control over his emotions, since he’d recognized, with clarity, his feelings for Kelly from the moment he’d seen her again.
He’d always loved her. But, now, he knew for sure that he was head over heels in love with her.
Still appearing to be slightly dazed, Kelly blinked before shaking her head. Luke watched, as with her usual poise, she quickly regained her composure, and began tugging him along through the park and up to the weatherworn path.
The scent of cedar and pine invaded his senses as they strolled along the path together, side by side.
Yep…he could still feel it as they began to get closer to Dragonfly Pointe–that same old magic was there.
Just as beautiful as ever, he thought, as they began to approach the grassy overlook near the top of Crystal Rock. But Luke wasn’t gazing out at the lake when Kelly turned her eyes to the sunset.
After a few quiet moments, he finally spoke. “You don’t know how many times I’ve thought about coming back here, Kel…how many times that I’ve dreamed of you when I was overseas.”
Her eyes jerked immediately to his. “Oh, Luke. You’ve never said those kind of things to me before.” She closed her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re finally going to admit your feelings for me now–when I’ve worked so hard trying to get over you? You shot me down pretty good a few years back.”
“You’d never believe how hard it was for me to say no to you.” He hesitated. “You were just so young, Kel.” He gave her a rueful smile, before studying her keenly. “So, you’d better just tell me–I’ve been worried sick…are you seeing anyone now?”
She was definitely taken aback. But finally, resignedly, she shook her head no.
“We need to talk. I know you have to get back to the reception for pictures. But can we get together later tonight?”
Kelly sighed, but then, slowly, she nodded her agreement.
“I…” Reaching out to clasp her hand, and staring into her deep-blue eyes, he became instantly mesmerized. All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms. He’d been thinking really hard about their first real kiss. But those beautiful blue eyes held a world of hurt. At only eighteen, Kelly had been sincere when she’d confessed her feelings for him. His rejection must’ve felt like a huge slap in the face. But, as difficult as it’d been for him, Luke knew it’d been the right thing to do. “Later. We’d better get you back for those pictures.”
“Alright,” Kelly answered quietly.
After taking a huge deep breath of the crisp night air, still holding Kelly’s hand, Luke guided her back to the quickly darkening pathway, and on through the woods.
When they eventually began to approach the inn, Kelly pulled to a halt near one of the park benches.
Luke lifted his brow–but then he began to smile, when she dropped to a bench and slid out the shoes that were shoved underneath. She still liked to walk around barefoot? It’d never failed to amaze him, since she was a woman who’d always made a conscious fashion statement.
“The bottoms of your feet gotta be like shoe leather,” he muttered. “I would’ve thought, by now, you would’ve have grown out of that habit.”
Kelly wrinkled her nose. “It’s not like I walk around everywhere without shoes.”
“Yeah, Princess. But what about the wood chips and pine needles, scattered all over that path we just walked on? Didn’t anything get stuck in your feet?”
She shrugged as she studied her feet, and began to laugh. “Apparently not.”
Luke laughed along with her. But when she slid up the hem of her dress, and began slipping the hose over her feet, his mouth went suddenly dry. Damn, she had gorgeous legs.
And feet. And toes. And…
He started. Crap, everything about the woman was sexy as hell. Tall and thin, she had an amazing figure. The deep rosy purple of the gown that she wore, along with her shimmering white-blonde hair, set off the lightly tanned creaminess of her skin. And the swell of her breasts…well—they were exposed–enticingly in her off the shoulder gown.
Clearing his throat, Luke shook his head dazedly.
And Kelly looked at him oddly. But then she apparently noticed the direction of his gaze, and gave him a deliberately provocative smile.
“Alright,” he growled. “You do that way too well.”
“What good is it having feminine wiles, if I never actually get the chance to use them?”
Luke snorted. But he was becoming doubtful again. Here was this hot, beautiful woman. What had she ever seen in him?
It was if she could sense his change in mood. Kelly smiled as she stared into his eyes with, what appeared to be, reassurance. “What time would you like to get together?” She stepped into her heels and stood up from the bench.
“Midnight?”
She nodded her agreement. “Why don’t we meet out on the gazebo?”
Luke gave her an enigmatic smile. “Maybe this time we can go for a walk along the beach?”
Her eyes met his, and she hesitated before giving him a wobbly smile. “Maybe.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet I was just thinking the same thing that you were? Lots of my memories revolve around that beach.”
“You’re telling me? Every time I go back there, I think about how you shot me down,” she added dryly.
“Yeah, I’ve thought a lot about that day, too.” Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms for a brief hug. “But I also keep thinking about how different it might’ve been, if I’d have just said yes,” he whispered into her ear. Pulling away, he stared into her eyes for a long hard moment, before giving her a tender smile. “Later,” he said.
Quickly, he turned and grinned as he began following the pathway toward the inn. Even if he lived forever, he’d never forget the stunned expression on Kelly’s lovely face.
CHAPTER
THREE
It was finally approaching midnight, and Kelly stood before a mirror in the restroom. Her hand was shaking as she attempted to repair the damage to her hair and makeup.
The reception would probably continue on for several hours yet; even after the bride and groom retired to spend the night in their suite. Tomorrow, Kate and Murphy would be heading off for, what promised to be, a fabulous honeymoon in Hawaii.
Leaving the restroom and making her way through the crowded reception, Kelly was relieved when she was finally able to step outside from the solarium. Music filled her senses as she walked slowly down the steps from the porch, and strolled along the extended cobblestone patio.
The moon was nearly full, and the stars shimmered brightly in the sky above, when she finally noticed that the gazebo was all lit up, like a fairy tale castle. There was magic in the air tonight, and something incredible was about to happen–Kelly just sensed it.
It couldn’t have anything to do with Luke
.
Or could it? As difficult as it’d been, Kelly had deliberately cast him out of her mind over these past couple years. Besides, he’d been pretty insistent about claiming they had no future together.
She shook her head in confusion. So–what had changed? But it wasn’t up to her to consider their future. She’d already confessed her feelings to him once, pretty sure that Luke’s feelings had been mutual at the time. She didn’t want to get hurt again. Kelly sighed resignedly. Although she was trying really hard not to think too much, a little voice inside her head was still urging her to keep her mind open for possibilities. She just couldn’t seem to help herself–she’d been in love with Luke ever since she could remember.
Sensing Luke’s eyes upon her nearly the entire night, Kelly had caught glimpses of him as he’d wandered through the banquet room while she’d danced. She’d been really disappointed–for some strange reason, he’d never asked to dance with her. In fact, he hadn’t even approached her at all.
Continuing to stroll onward while maneuvering her high-heels, Kelly stepped lightly over the ramp leading out onto the brightly lit gazebo. Finally leaning back against the railing on the edge of the deck, she stared upward at the star-studded sky. What a beautiful night it was, she thought, as soft music echoed from the speakers above. Firefly lights twinkled overhead in the gazebo’s canopy, while a light cool breeze blew in from across the lake.
Kelly started, when a voice shot out from the opposite end of the gazebo.
“Pretty cool–isn’t it?” Luke asked, appearing mysteriously from the shadows.
“Yeah, it’s really beautiful,” Kelly agreed, when Luke stepped up to the railing beside her. “They sure didn’t spare any expense with the details. I can’t believe there were speakers installed out here, too.” Damn, he looked hot dressed in his uniform. And sometime since he’d left the reception, he’d returned his cap onto his head. For someone who’d once been thin and scrawny, Luke had sure filled out nicely. She felt a sudden overwhelming surge of longing, as he stood staring down at her. It was a need so powerful and strong, it scared her nearly half to death.
Two Hearts Surrendered Page 3