Yes, she mouthed, but no sound came out.
He didn’t smile, as she’d expected him to. Instead, his dark brows drew together in a frown. “There’s something you should know about me, Skye.”
“What’s that?” she whispered.
“I . . . I haven’t always lived the way I should. I partied hard for a lot of years. Wasn’t very respectful of the girls I dated. Never thought it mattered because I didn’t have any intention of settling down.” He ran a hand over his hair. “God got my attention a few years back, and I’ve been trying to live right since. It’s one of the reasons I came to Kings Meadow. To move away from the man I used to be. I didn’t come here to . . . to get into a serious relationship. I never had plans to fall in love with anybody.”
Serious relationship? A warm thrill passed through her. Fall in love?
He reached across the corner of the table and took hold of her hand. “I don’t know for sure where this is going. Maybe it won’t go anywhere. But I’d sure like to find out. Wouldn’t you?”
She nodded.
He leaned in slowly, his gaze on her mouth. Unable to breathe, she waited for their lips to meet. The sensations, when it happened, were delicious. She wanted it to last forever. It ended in seconds. But brief as it had been, she knew she would never be the same.
Skye was still asleep the next morning when the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“You were supposed to call me when you got back yesterday.”
“Hi, Mom.” She pushed hair off her face. “I . . . forgot.” It was the truth. Her mind had been in a muddle after Grant brought her home late in the afternoon.
“So . . . tell me about your young man.”
“It’s a little early to start calling him that.”
“Is it?”
She remembered the brief kiss in the restaurant. She also remembered the second, slower kiss they’d shared, standing on her doorstep.
“Skye?”
With her free arm, she drew a pillow to her chest and held it close. “Oh, Mom. He’s really special. I know nobody’s perfect, but I think Grant’s perfect for me.”
“Tell me about him.”
Eyes closed, she launched into a litany of all she’d learned about Grant since the moment they first met. Every wonderful, thrilling, fascinating, charming thing she knew about him.
“My goodness,” her mom said when Skye fell silent at last. “He does sound perfect. Doesn’t he have any flaws?”
Trying to sound more serious and less starstruck, she answered, “He isn’t a very good dancer.”
“Hmm.”
“But we’re working on that.” Eyes open again, she laughed. She couldn’t help it. She was too happy to hold it in for long.
“Your dad and I would love to get to know him. More than to just say hello in church. Could we have you two over for dinner sometime soon?”
“Sure. That’d be great.” Skye shoved aside the pillow and sat up. “Sundays and Mondays are his days off. He’s pretty busy the rest of the time. Working two jobs and all.”
“Well, how about next Sunday after church?”
“Okay. I’ll ask him if he’s free and let you know.” She glanced at the clock and quickly counted the hours until she would meet Grant at the dance studio. Anticipation caused her insides to spin.
Her mom deftly changed the subject, and they chatted for a few more minutes before saying good-bye.
After dropping the phone back into its cradle, Skye was tempted to fall back into bed and pull the sheet over her head. Going back to sleep sounded like the best idea, but something told her it wouldn’t happen, even if she tried. Not with Grant’s image planted firmly in her mind. She would blame her mom’s call, except she’d been dreaming about him when the phone rang.
Smiling, she got out of bed and headed for the shower. Fifteen minutes later, wet hair wrapped in a turban, she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, dressed in her underclothes, and applied makeup. Normally, she was in too much of a hurry to care. A little eye shadow. A bit of mascara. A quick brush of mineral foundation. Even when competing, she’d never been one to primp too much. But today she didn’t want to look normal or even settle for pretty. She wanted to look beautiful. For Grant.
Is it real? Can this be happening?
She lowered her hand, still staring at her reflection.
God, I think Grant’s the one. I hope he is. Did You bring us together so we can build a future together?
A husband. A home. Babies. Meeting Grant, loving Grant, could mean all of that.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of the children of his youth. Isn’t that what You say, Lord?
There was that luscious swirl of sensations in her midsection again.
“Mmmm.”
She dropped the makeup brush into a bin in the middle drawer, then reached for the blow dryer. If she didn’t hurry up, she wouldn’t be ready for that lesson with Grant this afternoon.