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could bring a bottle of wine, and Katie put a couple of glasses out.
In the center of the table, she placed a candle and as she stepped
back, she heard the sound of an engine approaching. She saw
from the clock that Alex was right on time.
She drew a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Then, after
walking across the room and opening the door, she stepped out
onto the porch. Dressed in jeans and a blue shirt rolled up to his
elbows, Alex was standing at the driver’s-side door and leaning
into the car, obviously reaching for something. His hair was still a
little damp near his collar.
Alex pulled out two bottles of wine and turned around. Seeing
her, he seemed to freeze, his expression one of disbelief. She stood
surrounded by the last rays of the setting sun, perfectly radiant,
and for a moment all he could do was stare.
His wonder was obvious, and Katie let it wash over her, knowing
she wanted the feeling to last forever.
“You made it,” she said.
The sound of her voice was enough to break the spell, but Alex
continued to stare. He knew he should say something witty,
something charming to break the tension, but instead he found
himself thinking, I’m in trouble. Serious trouble.
He wasn’t exactly sure when it had happened. Or even when it
started. It may have been the morning when he’d seen Kristen
holding Katie after Josh had fallen in the river, or the rainy
afternoon when he’d driven her home, or even during the day
they had spent at the beach. All he knew for sure was that right
here and now, he was falling hard for this woman, and he could
only pray that she was feeling the same way.
In time, he was finally able to clear his throat. “Yeah,” he said. “I
guess I did.”