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  “So what did you do last night?” Ali asks. She gives me a wicked grin and raises her eyebrow at me.

  “I wrote.” I grab the fruit I just cut and set it on the table. I really wanted to hang out with Ali all night, but she does have a stupid drive ahead of her, and it wouldn’t have been fair of me to keep her up for my own selfish reasons.

  “Can you write whenever or just when you’re inspired? Did you have an inspirational day yesterday?” she asks. Her voice is flirtatious, almost as if she is challenging me to talk about our date in front of Renee and Darren. I decide to flirt back.

  “Oh, definitely when I’m inspired,” I say. I can tell I’ve surprised her and she nods.

  “That’s really good to know. Well, I hope you finish your manuscript soon. I’m excited to start reading your books.” Ali smiles at me as she slides into her chair.

  “Her books are fantastic. You’ll really enjoy them,” Darren says. “Every so often she throws a twist in and the stories really make you think. I love them.”

  I can feel my cheeks burning as everybody in the room looks at me.

  “Hey. Don’t give anything away.” Renee smacks his shoulder. She sits on one side of Darren and I’m forced to sit right across from Ali. Ali looks at me smugly and I can’t help but grin back at her. At least I can look at her and not worry about getting caught staring.

  We spend most of breakfast talking about the rest of Ali’s tour. Her upcoming schedule is intense with very few breaks. She seems happy though.

  “What was your favorite part of the week?” Renee asks Ali.

  “The people. Everybody treated me like I was one of them. It’s nice to be Ali Hart, choir teacher, not Ali Hart, musician,” she says.

  “It’s been our pleasure. Now please don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s getting late and you need to get on the road.” Renee points at the clock. It’s eight forty-five already.

  Ali offers to clean up, but Renee shoos her away.

  “Give me a hug. I’ve packed a lunch in case you don’t want to stop,” Renee says. She hugs Ali and hands her a large basket. Ali holds it up and we all laugh. I can’t imagine what Renee packed in there.

  “Thank you. I’m sure it’s delicious,” she says. “Will you help me load my car, Beth?” she asks.

  “I can help you with that,” Darren says. He’s halfway to the door before Renee shoots him a deadly look. “Actually, Beth can help you. I forgot I need to do something very important for Renee.” He says good-bye to Ali and quickly disappears. The angelic look on Renee’s face doesn’t fool me. She ignores me and tells Ali good-bye again.

  We head toward her cabin, walking very slow, preserving our last few minutes together.

  “I can’t believe you’ve been up all night. You look great,” she says. She nudges me with her shoulder. “Did you get a lot written?”

  I look up at her and shrug. “Eh. I did all right.”

  “If you’d said no, I would’ve asked why you didn’t come back over.”

  I freeze and almost stumble. That was an invitation.

  “You needed sleep because you’ve got a long drive and an even longer night,” I say. I did think about going back to her cabin about nine hundred times throughout the night.

  “Thanks for looking out for me.” Charming Ali is back. I sigh with relief. She must not realize how hard this is for me. We reach the cabin, and as much as I want to stall just to be near her, I know she needs to get going.

  “I only have a few bags and my guitar,” she says.

  “Then I guess you don’t need my help,” I say. I playfully turn to leave. Ali grabs my hand and pulls me back to her. I want to smile at her, but I don’t because she has a very serious look. She brushes her fingers along the side of my cheek and down to my neck. She looks at me and I lick my lips, waiting. I want her to kiss me. I am incredibly turned on simply by her touch.

  “Of course I need your help,” she says softly. “I’m hoping you’ll keep me from dying of boredom on the road.”

  I know this is her way of asking me if I’m interested in pursuing this past five minutes from now. She’s still touching me and she’s waiting. She wants my decision. Time to be bold. I kiss her softly at first, forgetting and remembering how soft her lips are. She tastes like syrup and I want more. I move closer. This time the kiss is deeper and I slide my hands up to her shoulders. Every part of her body that I have touched is soft. She is so smooth, and I’m overcome with an urge to bite her. I don’t know why, but I’ll worry about that desire later. Right now, I need to taste her and feel my body against hers. I moan the second her body touches mine. I’ve forgotten how wonderful a woman feels. How soft she is and how her curves seem to mold with mine. Ali fits me like a puzzle piece.

  She slows the kiss down and we break apart, both of us slightly panting. Okay, I’m severely short of breath, but I can’t let her know that, so I try to cover it up by looking down and taking deep breaths. We both just stand there. I’m surprised Ali is quiet. She’s the big flirt, and right now, her silence is golden. I kind of like throwing Ali off her game. She leans down and kisses me again, quick and softly. “Mmm. I certainly wish I had more time for that,” she says. And now she’s flirty again. “I don’t want to, but I really need to go.”

  I nod, but I don’t say anything. I still can’t talk. I’ve caught my breath, but now I don’t know what to say. I help her with her bags, but I don’t touch her guitar. It’s in a soft case and I’m afraid I would break it. I’ve already pictured myself tripping down the stairs and crushing it. Or banging it on the side of the car, or scratching it on the cabin door or post. Nope, I’m going to let her carry it.

  “Get some sleep, okay? I’ll talk to you soon,” she says. She turns to me for a quick hug. I brace myself for the contact, reveling in her warmth. She smells good, feels good, and a big part of me is regretting not visiting her last night. I hug her for a little bit longer than socially acceptable and pull away when I feel her smile in my hair.

  “I’ll talk to you soon. Be safe.” I found my voice! I watch Ali drive off and can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen with us. We have such different lives, but so much in common, too. Not that all relationships are predetermined, but this one is so completely different than anything I’ve experienced before. I’m suddenly very nervous about the outcome.

  Chapter Ten

  Time has stopped since Ali left eight days ago. Why does it feel like four months? We have been communicating via phone calls and text messages since the day she left. She seems excited to talk to me, but we really haven’t had a lot of time. I know that I’m opening up to her, and I can’t stop this want no matter how hard I try. My attraction to Ali is powerful and raw.

  “It’s good to see you out and about with a smile on your face, Beth,” Renee says. She’s looking at me intently, silently prodding me for information. We’re hiking with a handful of campers, but we’re trailing the pack so we can speak in private.

  “Yeah, I’ve been pretty happy this week,” I say. It appears that she already knows why. Strangely, it doesn’t bother me that Renee is Crystal’s aunt. I think we’re closer than she and Crystal.

  “It’s Ali,” she says.

  “We had a good weekend before she left and we’ve kept in contact,” I say. I shrug, but we both know this is a giant step for me.

  “I like her a lot. She’s wonderful and I knew you’d get along. You both are beautiful and smart women,” she says. I nod a thank you.

  “I might go see her July Fourth weekend down at the Lake of the Ozarks. She has a few days off during the tour, and her aunt and uncle own a lake house.” Renee doesn’t say anything, just puts her arm around my shoulders and squeezes. “It feels good again, you know? I just hope that I don’t screw it up or get screwed in the process.” I’ve got to give Robert credit for pushing me to go for it. He’s definitely more in tune with my daring side and going for it than Em is.

  “Just let things happen naturall
y. Do what you need to do for you. If you want this and you think this will make you happy, then go for it,” she says.

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen. We couldn’t be more opposite. She’s on the road a lot and I like to stay at home and write. She performs for other people all the time and I’m fine not being the center of attention. But I’ve never been this drawn to another person before. It’s scary. I don’t know if I’m this excited because it’s been so long for me, or if we really do have a connection,” I say.

  “So what happened last weekend?”

  “We only kissed, but it was so nice.” I take a moment to relive our first kiss. What a great first kiss. Possibly the best. “I’m just a wreck around her all the time. Even on the phone. I can’t be calm. It’s like I’m an awkward, klutzy teenager again. It’s embarrassing.”

  “When Darren and I started dating, we were both that way. He almost burned down his dining room trying to light candles. He knocked over the candle and it lit a napkin on fire. The napkin lit the tablecloth and we were racing around trying to put it out and it was so chaotic but perfect all at the same time,” Renee says. She laughs. “We shared our first kiss in that smoky dining room.”

  “You two are so happy together. I hope I can have that kind of relationship.”

  “I’m sure you will, doll. You have too much to give to somebody, and I can’t imagine you not getting snatched up in a heartbeat. You just need to let go of the past and focus on the possibilities of your future,” Renee says. She’s so smart. I always go to her for advice. She’s Dr. Phil, Oprah, Suze Orman, and Aunt Bee all rolled up into one.

  The hike ends about noon and the counselors march the kids to the lunch hall and I’m able to make my escape. I left my phone in my cabin because I knew if I took it on the hike, I would be on it the entire time. I have four text messages from Ali. They’re lighthearted and fun. The last one is a photo of Ali and a cow. The bus stopped to fix a flat, and Ali had Brian take a photo next to a very friendly cow. It makes me laugh out loud. I text her back.

  Looks like you’re having more fun than me. Who’s your new friend?

  Ali texts me almost immediately.

  Do you have time to talk now?

  I call her. I have her number already stored in my favorites and memorized. All ten digits and I’m horrible with numbers.

  “Hi! Looks like you’re having a crazy, busy day so far.” I can’t keep the giddiness from my voice. I roll my eyes.

  “It’s definitely been crazy. We’re a little bit behind schedule, but we’ll be fine. How are you? Did you get any sleep?” she asks.

  “I slept about five hours. I got up early and went on a hike with Renee, Val, Rob, and a ton of kids. They needed an extra body. We actually walked the trail that you and I hiked.”

  “That was a great hike. I took a lot of pics that day. It’s the only photo I have of you. You should email me more,” she says. I cringe. I hate having my picture taken. I would much rather be behind the lens than in front of it.

  “I can probably send you something later today,” I say. We talk for about ten more minutes, and, by the time we hang up, I’m completely stressed about what photos to send her. I don’t have anything recent. If I ask an adult, they will question me and I’m still not ready to share. I don’t want to ask Renee. That would be weird. Looks like I’m going to have to bribe a camper to take my picture. I grab my camera and head out, snapping random photos of the camp. I see Matthew, Ali’s favorite camper, and grab him. I tell him I want to send a photo of us to Ali. He agrees and we set the timer on the camera and snap a bunch of photos together, some silly, some serious, and some normal. Phew. I think I also have a photo from one of my book covers that we never used hidden somewhere on my laptop. I can probably send that because I haven’t changed much since last fall. Except for the suntan.

  I open my email to send Ali a message when I see that she has sent me an email. The subject line says Missing You. When I click on it, my stomach flutters and my heart jumps. It’s a picture of Ali sitting in tall prairie grass holding her guitar. I have to remind myself to breathe. She’s so beautiful. I automatically save the photo as my desktop wallpaper. Yeah, a bit stalkerish, but nobody gets on my laptop so I’m okay with it. I send Ali a total of three photos. The one of me and Matthew smiling, one of us being silly, and my book cover. I hit send. I don’t expect to hear from her for a while. This is the time she naps. I smile because I know her schedule so well already. I’m opening up to her, but I have to remind myself that she’s putting a lot of trust in me, too.

  Chapter Eleven

  Chalk it up to divine intervention, but Ali and I manage to arrange a dinner date. Her tour bus is passing through St. Louis headed north. That’s less than a three-hour drive from camp. I have to convince Ali that I’m fine driving the distance to see her. She’s allowing about an hour and a half for dinner. I’m so excited. Our talks lately have been at odd hours, and I’m being patient because I know how frustrated Ali is with her schedule.

  After clearing my own schedule with Renee, who wholeheartedly supports this date, I scramble around trying to find something to wear. Most of my clothes are summer casual. Ali’s already seen my nice dress, the one I wore a couple of Fridays ago when I had dinner with Tom and Patty. I settle for a semi-fitted yellow dress with thick shoulder straps. It rests right above my knees. It’s sexy, but in a subtle way. It shows off my toned body and my summer tan, and makes my hair look even lighter, if that’s even possible. Grabbing Renee’s keys off the counter, I sneak out before anybody can see or question me. My nerves are on high alert. This is my first date in over a year. The closer I get to St. Louis, the more the butterflies flutter in my stomach. I call up Mr. Frost for the tail end of this journey because I need to calm down and get my mind on something soothing. We dwell on words and the importance of poetry and ways we can revive it. I know that if I try Emily, we will end up talking about death again, and that really isn’t going to put me in the best frame of mind for my date. My date. I smile at that and try not to veer off the road in my excitement.

  The restaurant we agreed on is on the outskirts of St. Louis. Ali can’t deviate too far from the interstate. I’m more than happy to oblige. In fact, I would meet Ali at McDonald’s in a different time zone if she wanted. I don’t see the tour bus when I arrive. Giving myself one last look over, I head for the door. It takes a few seconds to adjust to the darkness inside the place. It’s a sports-themed bar and grill with pennants and trophies and photos of athletes from way back when and the not-so-distant past. It’s still quiet and I’m glad. I hate when restaurants are noisy and you have to yell to have a conversation. As I’m explaining to the hostess that I’m meeting a friend, I see Ali sitting in a booth near the back. I’m pretty sure I’m going to melt right there. Ali’s look is that of pure hunger, and my stomach flip-flops back and forth. A slow smile spreads across her face as she stands up to greet me. I brush past the hostess and meet Ali beside the booth. I brace for the jolt as I lean into her for a quick, tight hug. Ignoring my lecherous thoughts of her long, firm body pressing into mine, I break the hug and settle into the booth across from her.

  “You look wonderful,” she says. She reaches out to squeeze my hands. I know I’m turning red from the excitement of seeing her again, not to mention from the heated look she gave me a moment ago. That was a fantastic look.

  “So do you. I’ve missed you.” We grin at each other and Ali finally relaxes and leans back in the booth. I can’t get over how calm she is. My legs are shaking under the table, and she looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world. Here’s when I wish my super power would work. I want to stop time and just look at her. I’m noticing all the familiar things, but I’m also finding different things about her. A tiny scratch on the back of her hand, how her hair is about three inches shorter and parted differently, the tiny freckles on her forehead. She’s wearing straight jeans that accentuate her long legs and firm butt. The chocolate-brown V-neck
sleeveless shirt shows off her toned arms. Her wavy hair is down, resting right below her breasts, and I’m respectfully trying not to look. Ali’s skin is glowing and I have an urge to rub my hand across her arm just to feel her again. I bite my bottom lip and stare at her mouth, remembering our first kiss. I notice Ali’s eyes widen in surprise and narrow immediately. I quickly release my bottom lip and ask Ali how she’s doing.

  “Better now that I’m with you,” she says. “Sorry our time is so short. Thank you for coming up and being with me.”

  “I’m just happy that you’re within driving distance,” I say. I clench my teeth together to keep them from chattering because I’m jittery and excited to see her again.

  “You’re nervous,” she says. So much for being cool. I respond with a tight smile. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pointed it out,” she says. “I just meant that it’s only me and I wish you weren’t.”

  “Talking to you on the phone is different than seeing you in person.” What I really want to tell her is that I find her so incredibly lovely that she takes my breath away and I just want to feel her warm lips on mine again.

  “I can leave and call you from another booth.” She winks playfully at me.

  “No, no. I…I…” I sigh. I don’t know how to start or finish the explanation. Without scaring her off, how can I tell her I’m feeling something wonderful again? It’s too soon anyway. I’m almost positive she deals with stalkers, and I don’t want to be one. She surprises me by sliding out of the booth and standing next to me. I look up at her. She leans down and gently kisses me. It is so soft and sweet, but it leaves me breathless.

  “I don’t know if that helped you, but it sure as hell helped me,” she whispers against my cheek. I don’t care that everybody can see us. I can’t help but grin, and I’m surprised to find that it helped me. That electricity is still there between us. The same thing I felt when I first saw her. Ali sits back down. I focus on our conversation and try to keep my reactions in check. I fill her in on what’s going on at camp, and she tells me about the tour.