Page 37 of The Baxters
Ryan still had hold of her hand. “In here. We’ll be safe till the storm passes.”
The cave had a wide-open mouth and wasn’t too deep. Nothing about it seemed scary or dank. No bats hung from the ceiling—at least not as far as she could see. They sat side by side on a large rock ten feet back from the cave’s opening. Kari had waited till she could feel the warmth of his body next to hers. “How… how did you know about this?”
He grinned at her. “I found it when I used to come here a long time ago.”
“How long?” Kari was no longer afraid. “You never told me about it.”
“A guy has to have some secrets.” He gave her a playful nudge with his elbow. Then he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I don’t know, maybe the first yearwe moved here. My dad and I were fishing and we tried to find a shortcut back to the parking lot.” He looked around the cave. “Instead we found this.”
Not only was the place safe from falling trees and lightning and tornadoes, but from where they sat they had an incredible view of the lake and the approaching storm. “This is amazing.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper. She sat there safe against Ryan, aware of his arm around her. After a minute she spoke again. “I hate that you’re leaving in a week.”
At first Ryan didn’t say anything. But then a long sigh came from deep inside him. “I wish you were finished with college. You could move to Dallas. Get a place with some roommates. Find a modeling job or whatever.”
Kari remembered how it had felt to hear him say that, how her heart had soared at the fact that he wanted her with him. Even if it wasn’t possible just yet. She leaned her head on his shoulder. “A year feels like a long time.”
“It does.” He ran his fingers along her arm. She wore shorts and a T-shirt because it had been eighty-five degrees when they set out. But the temperature had crashed with the coming storm, and as the wind picked up it actually felt cool.
He shifted so he could see her, his hand on her shoulder now. “Things might get a little crazy, Kari. Pro football camp takes every minute of the day. That’s what my agent says.”
She nodded. How was she supposed to respond? Shehad no choice but to understand. More than that, she was happy for him. Her smile came from deep in her heart. “This is your dream year, Ryan. What you’ve been hoping and praying for as long as I’ve known you.” Her smile remained. “If I don’t hear from you as often, I’ll understand.”
“Thanks.” His hand was on her face now, and he brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I’ll be thinking of you every day. No matter what.”
“Me, too.” A crack of thunder had caught their attention and for a while they watched the storm. The wind picked up, and tree branches crashed down around the cave’s entrance.
Kari slid closer to him. “So intense.”
“It is.” He took her hand in his, pressing his fingers between hers. “But I sorta like it. Safe in here where the storm can’t get us.” He faced her again. “Sharing this with you.”
And then in a way that was inevitable, the electricity between them was suddenly greater than the raging storm outside. Protected in the shelter of the cave, Ryan moved his other hand alongside her face and into her hair. Without any more talking, they came together, his lips warm on hers.
Against the backdrop of pouring rain and pounding thunder, Kari remembered her heartbeat most of all. Racing, pounding as the kiss became another and another. A desperation had filled their hearts and bodies, the realization that time was running short. Their chemistry had never been stronger.
Just when Kari was about to pull away, about to tell him she needed a break, Ryan eased back and studied her. His eyes burned with passion for her, but his next kiss was more controlled. Gentle and tender. Same as his voice. “I’ll never love anyone the way I love you, Kari girl.”
And with that he helped her to her feet and they walked to the mouth of the cave. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her close as they watched the storm wane.
Yes, the kiss was one Kari still remembered. One she had known even in that moment she would never forget. When the danger passed, Ryan looked long at her. Tanned and handsome, the guy she had thought she’d be with forever.
His smile had lit up his eyes. “I’ll remember this day as long as I live.”
Of course he would, she had thought. They would both remember it. Who gets to live through a moment like that? Safe in a cave, sharing a breathless kiss while a storm pounded across the lake?
The memory lifted and Kari blinked. What was she doing? How could she be remembering that stormy afternoon now? Here in the bridal room? She felt ashamed of herself. She was not marrying Ryan Taylor today.
Nor did she want to marry him. Absolutely not.
So why was she standing here at the window staring at Ryan’s house and remembering that summer day? Ryan had cheated on her. He wasn’t honest or loyal. Period.
Tim was everything she had ever wanted.
Kari exhaled and turned back to the mirror. Then for the first time that day she noticed something on the end of the folding table. A framed photo of herself with Tim. Who had put it there? Her mother—or maybe one of her sisters—must have set it up. Part of turning the den into the bridal room, no doubt.
It was a shot of the two of them against a backdrop of hearts. Last February at the Valentine’s banquet at church. Kari crossed the room and picked it up. For a long time she stared at it, at the way Tim grinned at her, laughing about something she’d said. She turned her gaze to herself, and she smiled. The way her eyes sparkled, the way her hand fit so well into his. She exhaled.
And for the first time all day she felt her heart relax.
The photograph was exactly what she needed to see in this moment before leaving her childhood home for the chapel. Never mind her hesitation earlier. She did love Tim Jacobs. She loved how he looked at her and how he lit up her face from the inside out.
