Page 30 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

I pulled away, taking her hands in mine. This wasn't a conversation I wanted to risk being overheard and spreading like cheap gossip. I nodded in the direction of the house and she followed me. Closing the door to her sitting room, I looked at her to continue.

"As I was saying, I overheard Meghan and Kennedy talking. Sharing the story of a kiss, in the center of a busy Atlanta sidewalk, the gentleman dressed in a military uniform and the girl wearing a shocked expression." I waited for the punch line, a clue as to where this was going.

"Kennedy confided in Meghan she had never been kissed in such a fashion. It seems certain emotions were stirred up by your kiss."

I remained stoic, still unsure of where this was going. I took a seat on the sofa with a clear view of the backyard. Upon examination, Meghan and Kennedy were still standing in the same spot, the smile still had not returned to her face.

“Okay, so I kissed her, big deal.” I shrugged.

“Perhaps it’s not to a mature man who is well trained and worldly. But to a shy young lady whose upbringing dictated a certain level of morals...”Silence fell jagged between us, her eyes pleading with me to understand.

"Kennedy is confused." My mother held her hand up when I tried to question her statement. "She was under the impression you had been a gentleman in helping get a certain letter to its owner and then continuing to be gracious by corresponding through emails and other forms of communication. She doesn't understand the feelings the kiss brought forward and is convinced you have one thing on your mind. Meghan explained to her the similar situation she found herself in and gave her what I would agree was solid advice." This couldn't be good, I knew what Meghan had put Zane through and the heartache he had experienced.

"She told her to avoid having sex with you. If sex was your true intention, then you’ll tire easily and move on to the next girl."

The sun had gone down and the sky was now a dark purple with oranges and dim yellows. I had watched the sun set in the desert many nights and wondered what Kennedy was doing at that moment. With determined steps, I flew out the back door, directly to where Kennedy was still standing. I passed many of my guests and even bid some of them goodnight. Meghan was wrapped in Zane's arms, the children in the house I'm sure. Kennedy's eyes met mine and I could swear she gasped as I reached out for her.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I've waited for quite a while to sit with Kennedy and have a discussion." I didn’t let go of her hand until I had insured she was comfortable. I made certain we were face to face as I wanted her to have no doubt about my desire for her. Not to one day warm my bed, but to own my soul.

"I know I should apologize for kissing you yesterday, but that would indicate I had remorse for it happening, which would be a lie."

Kennedy tried to look down at her lap, but I refused to let her run from me or change the subject. Zane was right, women like Kennedy are so closed off to themselves they miss out on what is right in front of them.

"I've wanted to kiss you since the first email I got back from you. I didn't care what you looked like or if you had three heads, I wanted to be near you and get to know the amazing creature half a world away."The smile I longed for so much returned to her face and it gave me the encouragement I needed to continue. Squeezing her hands in mine, our eyes reflecting what our hearts surely already knew.

"I want to make myself perfectly clear. I want to have a relationship with you, one in which kisses like the one we shared yesterday are expected and wanted. I want to be able to give you cute pet names and call you those names when we are alone or surrounded by our friends and family. To see the look of hope and contentment on my mother's face when I kiss you again as she watches from the kitchen window." Kennedys eyes and attention stayed with me, never turned her head to see if I was correct, seeing for herself my mother was indeed biting her nails as she watched this play out.

“When you told me about Ethan bothering you, my comment about being your boyfriend was real, not empty words to scare some creep away. I'm asking you to trust me, a man you barely know, a man who wants nothing more than to make you so happy you want to share it with the entire world. A man who would do anything, give anything, to be by your side."

With my words hanging in the air, I searched her face for any sign she was about to bolt. When I couldn't take it anymore, slowly and cautiously, I lowered my head to hers waiting until the last second to close my eyes before placing my lips to hers. There was no deepening of the kiss, or groping of body parts, just two sets of lips joined in agreement.

Kennedy was the first to pull away and for a second I thought this was it, this is the moment she gives me the 'just friends speech'. As the smile formed on her face, the light from the fire dancing in her eyes, I knew this was the beginning of the best thing to happen to me.

Only family remained as we sat around a now dying fire. Mom and dad had excused themselves an hour ago, insisting on giving the children baths, and then putting them to bed. Meghan rolled her eyes as Zane made a sexual gesture in response. I was content to have my arm behind Kennedy's head, my thumb rubbing up and down her shoulder. The first time I did it, she shivered and I knew it wasn't from any chill in the air as there wasn't any. Kennedy was talking softly with Meghan about Hercules and a big biker guy she was working with. Aunt Ella had already informed me of their new patient, so I was content to listen and continue touching her shoulder.

"Hey, Zach, before we head out, I got you those tickets for the home opener."I remove my arm from around Kennedy and stand up to say goodnight to my brother and sister- in-law, but capture Kennedy's hand, pulling her up with me. Now that she knew how I felt about her, I would definitely be reassuring her this was for real.

"It's Sunday, right?"

Zane confirmed the date and time and assured me he would be at the grand opening on Monday. Once I saw the taillights of Zane's car, I turned to Kennedy and offered to drive her home.

“It's all right, Jason said he would come by after he drops Savannah at her apartment." I shook my head and pulled her close, whispering softly in her ear. "Now what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let your brother come all the way back here to get you? Besides, it will give me more time with my girlfriend."

"You're serious about this?" Her nervousness was adorable.

"Well, if you would rather just be friends, I'll take what I can get. I mean, I know I'm not the most handsome guy on the block." Her eyes became huge as she immediately threw her hands up, tossing them from side to side in rapid movements.

"No, Zach, that's not what I meant! It's just that...well...it's just—"

She was so damn cute and I wanted to take her back in the house and lock her away forever.

"I just don't understand why you want me?"

"Well, I could stand here for the next week and give you reason after reason, or I can take my time and show you."

***

My mother was still awake when I returned from taking Kennedy home. I knew I wouldn't be able to just slip into bed without having a conversation with her. As I rounded the kitchen counter, she slid a glass of whisky in my direction. My mother was old school and believed in keeping things in the family. She was a great listener, but an even better disciplinarian.

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