“Actually, she looked more relieved than upset. Her father was downright jubilant.”
“You’re making jokes but the town won’t be. They’ll say—”
“I don’t want to hear another word about this town! Come away with me. My family will buy you a lake somewhere. You and Brody and—”
Terri turned away and started walking.
Nate caught her arm. “I apologize. I’ll come back in the fall and we—”
“That’s too soon. Make it a year.”
“Absolutely not! That’s too long.”
“Unless you can rewrite my life, that’s half the time it should be.”
A couple came outside, looked at Nate, then began whispering to each other as they moved on.
“They’re friends of Mayor Hartman.” She turned away.
“Terri, you can’t live in this fear. You can’t—”
She spun around to face him. “What do you know about it?” She was angry. “What right do you have to judge me? My father and I have spent twenty-four years trying to show this town that we’re respectable people and you want me to throw it away in one day? Why? Because you can’t wait a few months to get what you want? And besides, maybe you’ll change your mind. Maybe I’ll be the next Stacy.”
Nate’s face lost its anger and his hurt showed as he stepped back from her. “You’re right. A hundred per cent right. I’ll, uh... I’ll see you in a year. Maybe. Who knows what the future holds?” He put his hands in his pockets, turned his back on her and walked away into the darkness.
Chapter 16
“I am not going to cry,” Terri chanted to herself. “I’ll see him again. It isn’t over. I’ll—” The door to her house was standing open. She often forgot to lock it, but she didn’t usually forget to close the door.
There was a flash of li
ghtning, the beginning of a summer storm.
Terri went inside the dark house and reached for the light switch, but another flash revealed Nate in front of the windows. He was just standing there in his white shirt and black trousers, saying nothing, but he was watching her—and she knew what he was thinking.
But wasn’t that their problem? They ate alike, worked alike, thought the same things.
Tonight, she thought. We have tonight.
She let her keys slide to the floor, then she stood and waited for him to come to her. It took only a few steps and he had his arms around her.
He’d kissed her before but it was nothing like when his lips touched hers this time. He was a man who was hungry for her, who desired her down to his very soul.
Hours, days, weeks of longing were in his kiss. His lips opened over hers, his tongue sought hers. His hands encircled her body, pulling her close to him.
Terri had dreamed about this moment, fantasized about it. But the actuality was better. Their bodies were perfectly suited for each other. Strong and tight; muscular and solid.
When he stepped away from her, she started to go with him, but he held his arm out straight, his hand lightly on her collarbone.
She stood still, puzzled by what he was doing. Did he mean for this to end at a kiss? Would he kiss, then run away?
Terri frowned at him. “We can—”
Nate drew back his hand—and when he did, Terri’s dress fell forward. She caught it. He had unfastened the tie in the back.
With a wicked little smile, Nate looked at her.
Terri moved her hands, gave her shoulders a twist, and the silk dress fell to the floor.