| Chapter Nine Bright sunlight woke me the next morning and I groaned as I buried my head under the covers. It took all of a minute for that information to register and I sat bolt upright in bed. Warily I looked around my room and I frowned. I don�t remember coming back upstairs last night, I thought as I peeked under the covers and sighed in relief. The clothes I had changed into the night before still covered my body. I still couldn�t figure out how I had gotten up here, but I knew I had responsibilities waiting for me downstairs. I took a quick shower, changed clothes and went downstairs, peeking in the dinning room on the way. A few guests were seated around the tables eating, talking softly and I waved good morning as I entered and crossed to the kitchen. I could hear the normal morning noises coming from inside long before I opened the door. However the sight that greeted me wasn�t normal at all. Kevin, Brian, AJ, Nick and Howie along with my sisters were seated at the kitchen table, munching on breakfast and talking as if they�d known each other forever. I stood in the doorway and watched and a slow smile crept up at the corners of my mouth. After everything Kevin and I had been through the last two days, having them in the kitchen really didn�t seem like that big a deal. I pushed away from the doorjamb and announced my presence. �Save any for me?� I asked as I went to pour a cup of coffee. �Hey good morning sis. Sleep well?� Callie asked as I moved towards my seat. �Yeah. I just have one question though. How did I get upstairs?� I watched as their faces lit up and everyone looked towards Kevin. His cheeks were red and his head was hanging. �Kevin?� He looked up and our gazes met and held. I remembered what it felt like to have his lips on mine and I quickly looked away before anyone could see the beginnings of the blush that was creeping up onto my own cheeks. �You fell asleep on the swing last night, so I carried you upstairs,� he answered. I looked up at him and thanked him before turning my attention to the food before me. Noticing how quiet everyone was, I launched into the day�s schedule and soon everyone was talking. Breakfast was finished quickly and I excused myself, heading towards my office. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hours later, a knock at the office door brought my head up. �Come in,� I called as I waited for the door to open. Kevin pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind him. I smiled at him and waved to the seat in front of my desk, indicating he should sit, and then turned my attention back to the computer screen. After a moment, I saved my work and turned it off, giving Kevin my full attention. �What can I do for you?� �You�re sister�s were telling me that there�s a barn dance tonight at one of the neighbors,� he began, �and I was wondering if you�d let me escort you?� At first I was a little shocked, but then the thought of spending the evening on his arm flowed over me. I remembered the feel of him pressed against me and I wanted to experience it again, so I answered the in the only way I possibly could. I said yes! �You will,� he asked, almost as if he didn�t believe I would give him the answer he had wanted. �I mean that�s great. Callie told me that it starts at six, so I guess I�ll come get you around five-thirty or so.� �Sounds good,� I replied as he stood. �Well, I guess I�ll let you get back to work,� he said, and then headed for the door. �Five-thirty,� he reminded me before slipping out of the room. As if I would forget he would be coming for me, I thought, as a smiled creased my lips. My mind began to wander to the dance that night, and I wondered how it would feel to dance a two-step in his arms. Just being held within the circle of those strong arms left me feeling giddy and weak, so I knew that dancing with him was sure to leave me breathless. The anticipation that rolled over me left me feeling like a young girl waiting for her first date and I laughed softly. I hadn�t felt this lighthearted in years. I had almost forgot what it was like. It felt good, really good and I found myself wishing the rest of the day would hurry past. CCC Index Chapter Ten Main Page |