6
Early that evening Kevin trotted up the steps leading to the porch of Jodie’s apartment and issued a firm knock. The instant she pulled open the door, he became tongue-tied. She looked like a movie star.
Outfitted in a flowered dress that framed her curves perfectly, Jodie’s hair danced free, in soft curls that tumbled around her shoulders. The barest hint of jasmine drifted into his awareness. He stood silent for a moment, absorbing her glowing features, her open smile and dazzling eyes before he realized he was staring.
A foot shift and clearing of the throat helped clear his mind, and he finally remembered to hand her the bouquet of Lily of the Valley he clutched in his hand. Jodie accepted the gesture with a quiet exclamation of delight. Nose buried in the blooms, she breathed in the scent.
Kevin enjoyed her reaction. “I wish I could say I ran out to the flower shop and bought them for you, but there wasn’t time before our dinner reservation. They’re handpicked from my yard instead.”
A smile filled her face once more and transformed a gorgeous woman to positively stunning. “No man should ever make excuses for delivering flowers. Handpicked or not, I love them. Come on in for a second while I put them in water.”
“Sure.”
Meandering through the entry and into the great room, Kevin paused to take in his surroundings. All the boxes were gone now, and Jodie seemed firmly settled. That realization touched off a note of pleasure. A running faucet, the song of water striking home within a vase filled the silence.
She finished quickly and crossed the threshold of the kitchen to join him. His gaze traveled the length of slim, bare legs, feet shod in white sandals and toes that popped with a vibrant, fresh coating of pink, sparkly polish. Jodie liked nail color, he registered, and she seemed to enjoy shifting the shades often. That indulgence, for whatever reason, gave his heart a jump.
“You’re sporting a suit coat and tie.” Subtle, floral spice moved through the air as she approached. “I like the look very much.”
“I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“I suppose this is quite a change from our usual jeans and t-shirts, isn’t it?”
In a tentative, unexpected motion, Jodie gently adjusted the knot of his tie, fingertips slipping lightly against patterned silk as she smoothed the fabric. Kevin opted to not rush past the warmth of the moment, especially since her eyes tagged his and didn’t let go right away.
At last the spell broke, and she stepped back, fingering a beaded necklace of silver that circled a long, creamy neck. Kevin’s mouth watered, and not at all from possessing an empty stomach.
Outside, sunlight spilled over them and the heat of the day hit at once. Kevin guided Jodie to his car, and she looked up at him. “I hope I didn’t overdo the wardrobe. It’s been a while since I’ve had a night out like this. It’s a wonderful feeling, being out and dressed up and enjoying wonderful company.”
The light, breezy comments certainly formed a start, but she seemed to shy away from the idea of their dinner date being an entrée into the world of romance. That was fine. For now.
“I’m looking forward to it as well, Jodie.”
Kevin intended to woo her away from reticence, but kept mum on that count. Opening the car door, he steadied her with a touch to the elbow as she slid into the passenger’s seat.
****
“Time out. You mean to tell me you actually like mussels?”
Jodie giggled. “Yep. I’m of Celtic blood. Dad got me hooked on them when I was a little girl. I’m weird like that.”
She slid a morsel into her mouth and sighed. They were seated across from one another, bathed by candlelight, their locale a linen draped table at Viviano’s. A small white plate, artfully decorated by purplish black shells rested between them. The shells were half opened to reveal small chunks of yellowed sea-meat that, to Jodie, tasted divine, especially bathed in white wine sauce and perfectly blended seasonings.
“Amazing.”
His astonishment only made her enjoy her appetizer all the more, though she gifted him with a sweet and heartfelt smile. “Thanks for letting me order them.”
“No problem.”
Kevin had sampled the appetizer with a less than enthusiastic reaction. Jodie wiped her fingertips on the napkin spread across her lap. “So, back to our discussion. Angels.”
“Yep. Uncle Andy is somewhat of a legend around here because of them.”
“You mentioned something about that a while back. Care to explain?”
Kevin relaxed against the back of his chair and sipped from a goblet of water. “He talks to the angels that seem to always be present around Heart’s Haven.”
“Really?”
“Oh, it gets better. You see, when it comes to matching up soul mates and helping people find their way to love, and faith, you can’t beat the track record to be found at the complex he created.”
It was Jodie’s turn to be astonished. “Fascinating. I could probably dedicate an entire show to the topic.”
“Yeah, you could call it truth is indeed much stranger, and more amazing, than fiction.”
Jodie paused from eating. Folding her hands against the tabletop, she leaned toward him. “It seems to me your spirit is pretty finely attuned to the brushstroke of those wings. You pick up on nuance. That’s a beautiful thing.”
Kevin edged forward as well. “Do you think you might ever embrace a mystery like that? A world full of angel-speak, romance, and a call to faith that’s led by heaven itself?”
Air caught in her lungs. She went still, lost to him. “Given the right circumstances, yes.”
“Meaning?”
Jodie attempted a smile, but her lips wobbled. Emotional longings, a wish for love that even her practical side couldn’t completely refute, rode in on a strong wave. “I’m still finding my way, so I don’t see the angel theory holding true for me in particular, but that’s OK. That doesn’t mean the truth doesn’t exist. After all, look at Kaci and Ryne. Something wonderful is being created there. Love stories are fine, for some.”
“Fair enough, but would you answer a question for me?”
“I’ll try.” A second, powerful undercurrent sailed into place, enveloping Jodie’s body in no more time than it took to look deep into his dark brown eyes.
“Why not you? In spite of the obstacles, why not you?”
Kevin reached for her hand where it rested against the tabletop and took loose hold of her fingertips. The gesture was casual enough that Jodie stayed put, allowing the connection to linger. Still, vibrations of uncertainty crept into the moment. They slid closer and closer to territory of the deepest heart, and she wasn’t certain of what should…or could…come next. She nipped at the inside of her cheek, hesitating, and her heart flipped a couple of times, beginning to pound a bit faster. Jodie tried to still her spirit but failed miserably. She drew in a breath, shuddering, trying to wrap her head around his challenge, and the beautiful way he made her feel.
“Because what I want most in my life are friends like you and Kaci. I need wonderful people to share with—not romance. At least…not right now. Besides, I wouldn’t want to shortchange a potential relationship by not being everything they want or need. I’ve got too much shifting sand built up along the ground floor of my life. No one would be interested in sharing my crazy life. At least, not at this point.”
By deliberate design, she kept her tone light and easy, especially at the end, but humor covered a multitude of truths that resided in her soul—truths Jodie couldn’t confront while in the company of this remarkable man.
Needing to ram her point home, for herself as well as Kevin, she formed a conclusion to her statement. “I enjoy the companionship I’ve found since moving back to Angel Falls. Now I realize I need more than just me and my television set.”
“Friendships are great. So is companionship, but don’t close off your mind to the possibilities that come your way, OK? God’s speaking to you even in circumstances you find to be chaotic. Look beyond what you think you know, and what you think you need. You just might discover that despite all the outward chaos of your life and all the shifting sands you’ve talked about, that you’re being given the opportunity to find an even deeper happiness.”
Slow and steady, Kevin slid his thumb against the back of her hand. A betraying layer of gooseflesh skimmed against her arms, vivid testimony to her pleasure, and his effect on her searching spirit.
He tilted his head, intensity morphing into friendly care when he concluded. “Evidently we’re meant to travel this shaky road together and support each other through whatever comes next. Whatever the reason our lives came together, I don’t even truly care—I’m just glad it happened.”