Page 63 of Rumors in Bayberry
Still, she’d made him take it easy at the festival.She even got him a folding chair to sit on.Was it wrong that she wanted just a few more hours with him?
As she drove him back to Kate and Wes’s house, her heart ached.She wasn’t ready to say one final goodbye.And yet that was all they were left with.
Her car pulled to a stop at the curb.She got out of the car at the same time as he did.When she met him on the sidewalk, Reed sent her a look that she couldn’t quite decipher.
“You didn’t have to get out,” he said.
“But I wanted to.”
He looked into her eyes.“You do know that sooner or later we’re going to have to say goodbye and mean it?”
She lowered her gaze to the sidewalk as his words caused a pang in her heart.“I know.”
He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze.“I’m going to miss you.”
Her gaze rose to meet his.“You are?”
He smiled and nodded.“Yes.”
“Good.Because I’m going to miss you too.”
They made their way up the walk to the front door.He turned and looked at her.“You’re coming in, aren’t you?”
She shook her head.“I need to be going.”
“But it’s still early.”There was a pleading tone in his voice.
She wanted to go inside and talk the rest of the evening, but she knew she would never want to leave—never want to end this thing between them.
Before she had a chance to change her mind, she said, “And you need your rest.”
“I’m fine.”He smiled, but it didn’t hide the tiredness that was so obvious on his handsome face.
“Uh-huh.Is that why you’ve been yawning for the past hour.”When he yawned again, she said, “See.I’m right.”
“I know.Let’s go to Mel’s Grille.I can get some coffee, and we can get an order of fries to share.”
“You don’t know how tempting the offer is, but you know that eventually we have to say goodbye and mean it.”She’d turned his own words back on him.And then before she changed her mind, she stepped forward and hugged him.
Her head came to rest on his broad chest.And for a moment, she could hear the steady beat of his heart.She inhaled the light scent of his spicy cologne.She tried to memorize everything about this moment because it was all she would have left of him.
And then she peeled herself away from him.Her gaze met his, and tears stung the backs of her eyes.She wanted to say something—anything—but a ball of emotions clogged the back of her throat.
She turned and fled.Reed called out behind her, but she didn’t stop until she reached her car.Once she was in the driver’s seat, she fumbled around in her purse until she found her keys.Her hands trembled as she tried to start the car.Tears threatened to splash onto her cheeks.
With nothing but raw determination, she drove off into the night.Her mind and heart were at odds.Her mind said this was the way it had to be.Her heart begged her to turn around and go back to him.
She kept driving…
Chapter Twenty-One
Hehadhisanswer.
The newspaper was gone.
Any chance he might have had with Sadie was gone.
The following day, Reed awoke at Kate and Wes’s house.It took him a moment to gain his bearings.Once he did, his thoughts turned to the most amazing woman he’d ever known.And he smiled as he thought of her.
