Every Time We Touch: A Redeeming Love Novel (Book 5)

by Parker, J. E.

  Every Time We Touch

  A Redeeming Love Novel (Book 5)

  J.E. Parker

  Edited by

  Sara Miller

  Illustrated by

  Letitia Hasser

  Contents

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  Also by J.E. Parker

  Prologue

  1. Kyle

  2. Carissa

  3. Kyle

  4. Carissa

  5. Kyle

  6. Carissa

  7. Kyle

  8. Carissa

  9. Carissa

  10. Kyle

  11. Carissa

  12. Carissa

  13. Kyle

  14. Carissa

  15. Carissa

  16. Carissa

  17. Carissa

  18. Kyle

  19. Carissa

  20. Carissa

  21. Kyle

  22. Carissa

  23. Kyle

  24. Carissa

  25. Carissa

  26. Kyle

  27. Carissa

  28. Kyle

  29. Carissa

  30. Kyle

  31. Kyle

  32. Carissa

  33. Carissa

  34. Carissa

  35. Kyle

  36. Carissa

  37. Carissa

  38. Kyle

  39. Carissa

  40. Kyle

  41. Carissa

  42. Kyle

  Epilogue

  Find J.E. Online

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Copyright © 2019 by J.E. Parker. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the copyright law.

  Resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

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  Also by J.E. Parker

  Redeeming Love Series

  Every Moment with You

  Every Breath You Take

  Every Promise You Made

  Every Tear You Cry

  Dedication

  Sara Miller.

  A simple thank you will never be enough.

  Five books ago you helped me out when I needed it most.

  You’re an amazing editor and a beautiful person with the patience of a saint.

  Thank you for everything.

  Prologue

  Kyle

  Twelve Years Old

  It was a Saturday, half past four p.m.

  Bored out of my mind, I laid on the couch; one arm slung over my stomach, the other tucked behind my head. My seven-year-old sister Lily sat cross-legged at my feet, her wide, unblinking eyes fixated on the TV across the room. Her lips moved the smallest bit as she mouthed the words to Finding Nemo, her favorite movie.

  She had every line memorized.

  Pulling her eyes from the screen, she glanced over at me. Her big brown eyes shone with curiosity. “Why aren’t you playing basketball with Hendrix?”

  I rolled my eyes at the mention of my best friend. “He’s doing something with Maddie.”

  Like always, I mentally added.

  Irritated at being ditched for a girl, I pulled my arm from behind my head and sat up, putting my feet flat on the floor. Ever since we started middle school, Hendrix had been blowing me off left and right to spend time with Maddie. The idiot had always been stuck up her butt, but lately, they were always together.

  It drove me crazy.

  Hard as I tried, I didn’t understand his fascination with her. Thinking about the way he followed her around like a lost puppy made me so dang mad.

  Maddie was nice and all, but she was a girl.

  And most girls sucked.

  Beside me, Lily scrunched up her nose. “Are Hendrix and Maddie boyfriend and girlfriend?”

  “Something like that,” I mumbled, reaching for the remote.

  Lily snatched it from the coffee table before my fingers made contact and shoved it between the couch cushions. “When can I have one of those?”

  “When can you have one of what?”

  “A boyfriend.”

  My reply was immediate. “When pigs fly.”

  Lily wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend.

  Never ever.

  I’d heard the boys at school talk, and I knew the kind of gross stuff that went through their heads. There was no way I was letting any boy near my little sister, especially one who may try to kiss her.

  I’d slingshot their eye out first.

  Lily was too sweet for some stupid boy to kiss.

  As her big brother, it was my responsibility to take care of her, and as far as I was concerned, she needed to stay little—and boyfriend free—forever.

  Lily huffed, crossing her skinny arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed, and if looks had the power to kill, I would’ve been six feet under. “That isn’t fair.”

  “Don’t care, Lily. I’m not letting any boy near you. It doesn’t matter if you’re seven or seventeen, you can’t have a boyfriend.”

  “Why not?”

  My face heated with annoyance. “Because he may try to kiss you,” I said, jumping to my feet. “Or worse, he may make you cry, and then I’ll get in trouble for shoving his teeth down his throat.”

  Just the thought made my head pound.

  The room fell silent.

  I expected Lily to dig her heels in and pitch the biggest hissy fit Kissler County, Georgia had ever seen, but she didn’t.

  Instead, she smiled.

  Standing, she rocked back on her feet and fiddled with the charm bracelet that dangled from her left wrist. Her baby white teeth gleamed in the afternoon light, and her dark brown curls bounced the slightest bit. “That’s okay,” she said, swaying side to side. “I don’t want a boyfriend anyway because me and you are going to live together forever. Even when we’re big like Mommy and Daddy.” She nodded, adding emphasis to her words. “We’re going to live in a big house with a pool, and we’re going to watch movies all day and stay up past our bedtime. Cause you love me, and I love you.”

  I did love my little sister.

  A whole heck of a lot.

  “Plus, you promised Daddy that you’d always take care of me. That you’d protect me.” Lily’s hope-filled eyes searched my face. “Right, Kyle?”

  “Right,” I agreed, nodding. “Me and you, Teacup. Forever.”

  “Yep, me and you.” If possible, her smile grew. “Living in our own house where we eat ice cream for supper—”

  The house phone rang, cutting Lily off mid-sentence.

  Fast as lightning, she grabbed the cordless phone off the coffee table, hit the talk button and pressed it to her ear without looking at the Caller ID. Her face lit up at the sound of the voice on the other end of the call.

  I knew who she was talking to right away.

  Ty fricken Jacobs.

  I snatched the phone from Lily’s hand, ignoring the way she scowled at me. “Kyle Andrew Tucker!” she fussed, sounding exactly like Mama. “That wasn’t nice!”

  I didn’t care if it was nice or not. Ty may have been one of my best friends, but he was also notoriously girl crazy. The idiot had a different girlfriend every other week, and everybody in sc
hool knew he’d kissed most of them under the football bleachers.

  It was disgusting.

  I scowled, pressing the phone to my ear. “What do you want, Jacobs?”

  “How’d you know it was me?”

  By the goofy look on my sister’s face, I thought.

  “Caller ID, dummy,” I lied.

  “Oh,” he replied chuckling. “You hanging out with Hendrix today?”

  I didn’t miss the disgust in Ty’s voice when he spoke Hendrix’s name. Those two hated each other. Always had. Probably always would. And it was all because of Maddie. Ty wanted her, but Hendrix had her.

  They were both idiots.

  “No, he’s with Maddie.” Ty growled, and I almost laughed. “Why? You want to do something?”

  “Yeah,” he answered, his irritation clear. “Meet me at First Baptist Park in ten minutes for a game of one-on-one. Bring your ball.”

  My gaze found Lily’s.

  A hopeful expression slid over her face.

  “Alright but I’m bringing Teacup with me.”

  Wherever I went, I always took Lily with me. I’d never been able to stomach leaving her behind if I didn’t have to. Ty and Hendrix both knew that. Neither cared that she was always around either. They both liked her, and in return, she liked them.

  Though she liked Ty a little too dang much if you asked me.

  “Fine by me, man,” Ty replied. “I’m leaving now. See you in a few minutes.”

  “See ya.”

  I hung up the phone, tossing it on the couch.

  “Do you want to go to the park—”

  Not waiting for me to finish, Lily spun around and ran for the foyer. Once there, she yanked open the front door and ran out onto the covered front porch in search of our parents. Both were busy working in Mama’s prized rose garden.

  It’s what they did every weekend.

  “Mama!” she hollered. “Kyle and me are going to the park!”

  Knowing my father would want to talk to me—more like lecture me—before we left, I grabbed my basketball from the bottom of the stairs and headed outside.

  Both my parents were already climbing the steps when I made it on the porch.

  Dad veered toward me while Mama stopped next to Lily and pulled her into her side, squeezing her tight. “Hey, Love Bug,” she said, gently swaying Lily side to side. “Did you behave for your brother while Daddy and I were working out here?”

  “Yes, Mama,” Lily replied, smiling. “Kyle watched Nemo with me.”

  Dad chuckled and shook his head before meeting my eyes. Raising his chin, he wiped his soil-covered hands on a worn rag that Mama handed him. “Which park are you two heading to?”

  “First Baptist.”

  “Who’s going to be there?”

  “Just Ty. He wants to play ball.”

  Dad nodded and glanced from me to Lily, then back to me again. “Alright, you two know the rules. No talking to strangers and you come home the minute the streetlights start to flicker. Not a second later. Understand?”

  Lily nodded as I replied, “Yeah, Dad, we understand.”

  Uncrossing his arms, Dad placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “You’re responsible for your sister, bud,” he said, his tone serious. “I’m trusting you with her safety.”

  I squared my shoulders. “I’ve got Teacup. Nothing will happen to her while she’s with me,” I said, boldly. “I give you my word.”

  Dad’s eyes stayed locked with mine. “A man’s word is his bond, Kyle. You remember that.”

  I was unsure what that meant.

  Didn’t bother to ask either.

  “I will.”

  Ready to leave, I extended my arm and held out my hand for Lily to take.

  Dropping her arms from Mama’s waist, she hopped forward and placed her hand in mine.

  “We’ll be back later.”

  Together, we headed down the porch steps.

  At the bottom, Lily looked over her shoulder and blew our parents a kiss. “Bye Mama!” she yelled. “Bye, Daddy!”

  “Love you two,” Mama replied, waving. “Y’all have fun.”

  “Streetlights, Kyle,” Dad yelled next. “Not a second later.”

  “We’ll be back on time!” I called back. “Promise!”

  It was a promise that wasn’t kept.

  * * *

  Two Hours Later

  I stood in the center of the basketball court.

  My back was facing the hoop, along with the setting sun. Ty stood in front of me, his right hand dribbling the ball. Over his shoulder, about fifty yards away, Lily sat on a swing, her legs pumping as she sailed through the air. The red bow in her hair fluttered when she leaned back, making herself fly higher.

  Ty glanced over his shoulder right as Lily looked in our direction.

  “Hey, Ty!” she hollered, waving wildly with one hand.

  Smirking, Ty waved back. “Hey, Teacup!”

  Irritated, I stepped forward, stealing the ball from Ty’s unsuspecting hold. His head whipped around. “Don’t be such a dick, Tucker,” he snapped, glaring my way.

  I glared right back. “Don’t call her, Teacup, maggot. Nobody calls her that but Dad and me.”

  Ty opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut when Lily yelled again. “Kyle!”

  I pulled my narrowed eyes from his and focused on her.

  “Come play with me!”

  “I’ll be there in a minute!” I dribbled the ball once, twice. “But first I’ve gotta knock Jacobs down a peg or two.” I smiled. “His ego is getting awfully big.”

  Lily jumped off the swing and shrugged.

  Then she ran for the slide.

  Ty’s cheeks reddened with anger. “No way you’re beating me, Tucker. I’ll wipe—”

  I broke for the hoop, passing the ball from my right hand to my left.

  Only needing one more shot to win, I went in for a reverse layup, banking the ball off the board. The net swooshed as the ball dropped back to the asphalt court.

  I picked it up and turned, a cocky grin on my face. “That’s the game, suck—”

  Ty planted his palms on my chest and shoved me backward. Hard. I stumbled but caught myself before falling to the ground.

  My temper flared.

  “What is your dang problem, Ty?” I yelled, shoving him back just as hard.

  My free hand fisted.

  “You cheated, that’s my problem.” Ty’s jaw clenched tight. “You stole the stupid ball when I wasn’t paying attention. I want a rematch. Right here, right now.”

  The sun dipped below the horizon.

  The streetlights surrounding the park flickered on.

  It’s time to go, I thought.

  “I can’t,” I growled, tucking the ball under my arm. “I have to get Lily home.”

  Ty looked like he wanted to punch me.

  Luckily for him, he didn’t.

  Instead, he turned around and stormed off toward the playground where Lily played.

  I followed, my back teeth gritted in frustration.

  We’d only taken a few steps when Ty suddenly stopped, his back snapping straight.

  Confused, I came to a standstill beside him. “What’s the matter with you? You see a ghost or something?” I teased, my anger dissipating. “No, wait. I know what it is. You’re scared of the dark, aren’t you? Do you need me to walk you home, Jacobs? If so, just say the word. I won’t even tell Hendrix. I swear.”

  It was a lie.

  Telling Hendrix was the first thing I’d do.

  Ty pointed across the playground. His face paled. “Who’s that guy?”

  “What guy?” I asked, following the trajectory of his finger.

  “The one talking to Lily.”

  My eyes found Lily, along with the man she was talking to.

  They were on the sidewalk, positioned directly beside an idling grey pickup truck, which was parked next to the curb. The man, a big dude I didn’t recognize, was squatted down, his attention focused
squarely on my little sister. Lily stood mere inches away from him, her head tilted to the side, a sweet smile on her face.

  Alarm bells rang in my head, and my gut said the man wasn’t good, that Lily wasn’t safe. Call it instinct, intuition, whatever, but I felt those truths in the depths of my soul.

  The basketball slipped from my hold as I darted forward. “Lily!” I shouted, willing my legs to pump harder, to propel my body forward faster.

  Ty ran beside me, his frantic steps matching my own.

  The man glanced our way.

  At the sight of Ty and me, his features hardened, and his eyes narrowed. He stood, towering over Lily and opened the truck door with his right hand.

  Lily’s body stiffened.

  A look of fear crossed her face.

  Like me, she knew something was wrong.

  But it was too late.

  “Lily!”

  The man wrapped his hand around Lily’s small arm and jerked her to the side. In one quick move, he lifted her from the sidewalk and tossed her into the cab of the truck. She cried out in a mixture of fear and pain.

  A roar of fury ripped from my throat.

  The man jumped in the cab beside her, slamming the door shut.

  I reached them within seconds.

  When my feet hit the sidewalk, I lunged for the truck.