10

 

 

Had an amazing dinner w/Drew. Candlelight, homemade stew, and SOAP! Ugh! He’s fab n I don’t know what to do about it! The guy is a walking powder keg!

After Kassidy launched that text to her trio of besties, her phone nearly exploded with incoming messages.

OMGoodness! What? Soap? Powder kegs? Fill me in! That came from Aileen just seconds after Kassidy’s transmission.

Setting the phone aside, Kassidy pulled on her pajamas then grabbed the device again as another chirp went off. This time Siobhan pinged her. D-R-E-A-M-Y. The soap comment needs major explaining—whoa!

Kassidy laughed at that, leaving her phone behind when she padded to the bathroom.

On her sink rested Drew’s watch.

His presence, his impact, slid straight into her bloodstream and in that instant, she understood why coming upon her soap had stirred him so deeply. Now it was her turn to tremble.

The phone went off again—it was Maeve judging by the alert of piano strains—but for now, Kassidy ignored the beacon. Knees weak, she lifted Drew’s timepiece from the basin and a delicious, feminine shiver swept through her body.

Nipping the corner of her lower lip, she stroked the face of the watch then ran her fingertips against its heavy steel links. Strong—striking—bold, yet classic. Substantial.

Just like the man himself.

Now that she held it, she wanted to wear it…if only for a little while. Feeling like a girl with a crush—which is precisely what she seemed to be these days—Kassidy slid his watch into place on her wrist and snapped the band closed. She returned to bed, and as she pulled back the bedcovers and tucked in, his timepiece slid up and down her arm. When she keyed into her text messages, it rode nearly to her elbow. The excess sizing didn’t matter to Kassidy whatsoever.

Savor the discovery. Call if you need reinforcement to stay strong. Love u much.

Typically tender and protective, Maeve’s message left Kassidy feeling blessed beyond imagining by the love of her friends. She shifted and snuggled, preparing to douse the light as the intimate feel of Drew’s watch became a welcome weight against her skin.

The timepiece, coupled with Maeve’s message, prompted mental cogs to click and turn and elicited a heartfelt prayer.

God, if this emotion comes from You, I welcome every new discovery and joy. If not, please…please…take this feeling away so I don’t dishonor You.

Soothing silence, peace, stilled her at once. Another text alert beeped.

Sleep tight, angel. It seems…

Kassidy jumped when the start of a message from Drew scrolled across the top of her phone’s home screen. While a jazz-style ringtone played, she squiggled beneath the bed blankets and rolled to her back, tapping into his missive. Lamplight glinted against the face of his watch.

Sleep tight, angel. It seems I left something behind at ur apt 2nite. Something important. Something that drives the tempo of my life. Something I rely on completely. Keep it safe.

Kassidy’s lips bowed; she tapped a reply. I’m so sorry to hear that. My, but ur attached to ur watch! ::wink:: XO, n sweet dreams.

His answer flashed just a minute or so after she hit send. I’m not talking about my watch.

Confused, Kassidy shot back a small stream of question marks.

Drew’s reply came back fast and featured a solitary graphic. The icon for a heart.

 

****

 

The next morning, Kassidy spied Drew in the wings of the Westerville Theater. Her grin took off on a push of expectation—and love. She was early and the facility was almost empty. She walked slowly across the length of the stage, eyes trained on Drew alone. Expectant tingles lit her nerve endings. He hadn’t seen her yet; he stood next to the stage tech, at a podium where they reviewed onion skin plans detailing a subtle tweak to the set layout. Conversational details engrossed him. Perfect. That gave her an opportunity to enjoy the view.

Hands stuffed into the pockets of his pants, posture relaxed, Drew finally slid a glance her way along with a lazy, appreciative smile. She returned the gesture automatically and in full. He spoke a few concluding words to the tech who then slipped away to work on stage modifications. Drew met her halfway, catching her hand and pulling her in slightly.

“I’ve been behind schedule all day today.” His murmured words tickled her skin with goose flesh.

“Hmm…I wonder why.” She dipped her hand into the pocket of her sweats and extracted his watch, dangling it from her fingertips. Drew’s chuckle rumbled through his chest, vibrating through the air and stirring a delicious ache in her tummy.

He gave her neck a quick nuzzle. “It seems I was somewhat distracted last night.”

“Makes two of us. Plus, I had trouble sleeping.” He leaned back, looking at her in question. She smiled into his eyes and caressed his chin with the back of her fingertips. “I wore it last night. It felt nice to have a connection.”

Drew paused from sliding his watch into place. “You did?”

Intensity glittered in his eyes. His reaction stunned Kassidy, because never had she seen such raw emotion in a man’s gaze. “Yeah. I hope that’s OK.”

Drew snapped the piece closed, and his smile spoke with far greater impact than words ever could.

 

****

 

After rehearsal, Kassidy and the girls opted to linger at the theater. They claimed a trio of seats toward the midsection of the facility. In unison, they studied the fully dressed stage that awaited their evening performance.

“It feels so weird to be back here, where it all began.” That came from Aileen.

Maeve nodded. “So much has changed, in so short a time.”

“A God thing, to be sure.” After last night’s interlude with Drew, Kassidy would never question the fact.

“No doubt of that,” Siobhan added. “Two of us are now engaged, and unless I miss my mark, Kassidy here seems to be teetering on the edge.”

“Whoa there, chica. Let’s not get too carried away.”

“Oh. OK.” Siobhan arched a brow and paid Kassidy a knowing smirk. “Tell me again about soap smells, bike rides in the rain, and powder kegs.”

Siobhan had her there, the crafty minx. Kassidy’s cheeks fired with a full-on blush. “Oh, my word, ladies. He is such a great kisser, and what a romantic.”

Aileen snickered. “We’ve seen the dancing, remember?”

Kassidy whapped her arm. “Stop it.” They bumped shoulders and shared a smile. “Guys, I’ve been attracted to men before, but I’ve held on to the promises we made. The temptation was there, but it wasn’t overwhelming. What I feel for Drew is entirely different. I love the way it feels when he touches me and holds me, the way my whole body wakes up when he smiles. My pulse goes crazy when I’m near him, and my heart jumps. But beyond all of that is the way he lives in my mind. The way we’ve shared things. It’s like he already seems to know every crack and crevice of my heart.”

Her friends sighed with delight.

“He’s trying to figure out his beliefs, and you know Drew. He’s not going to be pushed. When he showed up for church, when he sat next to me in the pew, I was taken in by something a lot stronger than physicality. It was mental. Emotional. Now he’s said he wants to come to Holy Spirit Church with me this Sunday. That means so much—and it’s increasingly hard to refuse everything my heart and body begs for.”

Maeve expelled a puff of air that ruffled wispy curls of red hair and set them dancing against her cheeks. “I admire you, KC. You have strength and powerful conviction. Stick to it.”

The words came with a smile, but Kassidy was confused by the layer of sadness that covered Maeve’s words. Vaguely aware of the way her friend firmed her lips and squeezed them tight, sensing the way she slid within herself, Kassidy had no chance to explore the reaction because Aileen gave Kassidy’s arm a gentle squeeze.

“The rings we wear, the resolutions we made to hold on to something sacred and beautiful—the gift we’ll give our husbands—is totally worth the struggle. You girls know me better than anyone else. You know I’ve loved Liam since I was a girl. The miracle of being held in his arms, the idea of giving myself to him in every way once we were married is something that’s completely worth waiting for, but it’s far from easy. There are times when all I want to do is make love with him. What makes the immediate sacrifice so precious is the knowledge that we’ll give ourselves that honor after we stand in church, side by side, and pledge our love and our lives to one another in the way God deems best.” Aileen wrapped an arm around Kassidy’s shoulders and gave her a side hug. “Maeve’s right. You’ve relied on your faith with such power, KC. Don’t worry about being tempted. We’re all tempted. Just hang on to God. He’ll help you resist temptation and that natural ache and desire. You’ll be rewarded by a relationship that’s amazing.”

“Aileen’s absolutely right.” Maeve stretched then moved past. A smile was fixed in place, but Kassidy registered Maeve’s taut posture, noting that the brief smile in no way reached her eyes, like usual.

“I’m parched.” Maeve’s tone was bright and breezy. Kassidy’s brows furrowed, for she wasn’t one bit fooled by the charade. “I’ll be right back after a water break.”

Kassidy tracked Maeve’s exit but continued their conversation. “I don’t care how fantastic he is. I’m going to do what God says. I’m going to trust Him to bring my life to a place where I’m happy and fulfilled. If Drew opts away from belief, and faith, I’ll walk away and hope for better things.”

Still, her heart twisted.

“I think Drew’s a similar spirit—good to the core, but with lots of intriguing layers.” For a moment, Siobhan studied Kassidy. “You recognize that in him and respond to it. There’s nothing wrong with that. He’s moving forward. He’s taking steps. He’s in the process of discovering what faith in Christ is all about. Don’t doubt God’s hand. Whether he ends up being ‘the one’ or not, you’re his guidepost right now. Don’t let him down. He’s seeking. Be his light.”

Kassidy pondered Siobhan’s words and found she liked the idea—very much. From the deepest flow of her heart, she wanted him to be the love of her lifetime. Until she knew for sure, though, she needed to shine for the Savior she had always cherished.

When Maeve didn’t return right away, Kassidy lifted to her feet and arched her back. “I’ll be right back.” She strode toward the exit of the theater and found her friend in the lobby. “Hey, Maeve, you OK?”

Maeve brushed her fingertips beneath water-glossed lips and lifted away from the drinking fountain. “Sure. Why?”

“You seemed a little…” Kassidy didn’t quite know how to polish the thought. “Were you OK with me talking about Drew?”

Maeve relaxed at once. “Of course, sweet thing. The two of you make an incredible couple.” A betraying tremble worked against Maeve’s lips. “Looks like you’ll be next, huh?”

Though light of heart, Maeve’s declaration pierced Kassidy’s heart. She didn’t want Maeve to feel alone. Kassidy couldn’t cope with the idea of this gorgeous, generous soul feeling like the last one standing. Besides, nothing with Drew had been etched in stone. Not by a long shot.

“Time will tell. For now, I’m nothing but confused.” Kassidy propped against the wall, studying her statuesque, fair-skinned friend who possessed a personality of pure radiance that captivated their audiences.

“Do you want me to be honest?”

Kassidy nodded at once. “Always, and nothing else.”

“It gives me a swift pull, right here”—Maeve pressed a hand against her chest—”to know Ailee’s planning her wedding, that Siobhan’s engaged and making her own plans. Now, you and Drew have connected in a big way. I find myself wondering what’ll happen next. To us. And to me.” Maeve’s lips trembled once more. With characteristic strength, she lifted her chin and forced a deep breath, a smile.

Kassidy grabbed Maeve’s hand and squeezed. “You won’t be single for long. Sometimes God saves His best for last.”

“I wish I could buy that theory.”

For the first time, Kassidy sensed the depth of Maeve’s vulnerability.

“When the time comes and the man comes, I suppose it’ll all work out.” Too fast, too bright, Maeve placed an end-stop to the topic. “Meanwhile, I hope you three won’t mind giving me a few extra hugs and some moral support as I bravely forge a life of solitude,”

Kassidy laughed at the comedic, overdone delivery of Maeve’s last few words, only because that’s the reaction Maeve expected—the one she shot for to bring their conversation to a comfortable and non-alarming close.

Although she let the topic rest, Kassidy detected the sadness that covered Maeve’s tease, and that sadness stemmed from something troubling—but what? Kassidy needed to pay closer attention to Maeve, maybe sound out Siobhan and Aileen about their friend. Why had the topic of relationships, sex, and marriage become so emotional?

Drew—Maeve—the Sisters odyssey—physical and spiritual longings—the most important aspects of Kassidy’s life swirled into a mini-hurricane as she returned home to change and give Drew one last spin through her hometown.

All the while, minutes ticked down to their next curtain call.