Kelsey traced the tip of one finger along the line of his jaw, making him hungry for her all over again. “I know you well enough to know you aren’t going to believe me when I tell you that what happened in the kitchen is never going to happen again. Call it intuition if you want, but sometimes I just know these things. And one of these days that we’re about to take one at a time, you’re going to trust me on this.”
“My grandmother was a strong believer in intuition. My grandfather always scoffed until he was proved wrong, so I’ll refrain from comment.”
“Good.” She sucked in her cheek a second. “So, uh, I know we just talked about taking it a day at a time, but I was wondering if you’d like to go to Megan’s reception with me. It’s in three weeks. She’s probably my closest friend, and I’d really like to bring you with me.”
“I’d be honored,” he said, running his hand down the length of her arm and feeling the goose bumps that rose as a result, “as long as the only dancing we do is in a slow circle. Otherwise, I’d probably do more damage to your feet than I did to the back of your head.”
She smiled. “I’m good with that. And thanks. You gave me the dress-shopping motivation I needed.” She rose up and brushed her lips against his. “I should go. Promise me you’ll try to get some sleep.”
He gave her the promise she requested and went back in the house with her while she gathered her stuff. When they were back at her car, he savored another kiss and allowed himself to explore her phenomenal body until she started to moan and he was on the verge of exploding on the spot. Then he pulled away and closed his hands over her shoulders.
He might not have known her long, but he felt the permanency with which she’d entered his life with the deepest of certainties. He’d thought he was coming home to head west to lose himself in hard labor and wilderness. But here he was, falling in love with a girl and a house and a city and thirty-seven—no, thirty-eight—dogs all at once.
Rushing the next step would belie that permanency. He made a commitment then and there not to take her into his bed until he was certain he could not only fall asleep beside her, but also tell her this complicated truth without fear.
“Kels,” he said, using the nickname he’d enjoyed hearing her friends use. “Good night. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
A wide smile spread across her face. “Me too. In the meantime, sweet dreams.”
He gave her a wink as she slipped into the driver’s seat and tugged on her seat belt. “After what I did in the kitchen, you may not believe me, but I’m not lying when I tell you I’ve had some of the sweetest in my life after starting this with you.”
“After having a few of my own, I’m inclined to believe you.”
He watched her drive off, then headed toward the house, almost swearing he could hear one of Nana’s favorite tunes carried on the rustling night breeze.
Chapter 17
It was sunny, bright, and predicted to be a perfect late-September Sunday. Kelsey wasn’t surprised to find the streets of Webster Groves bustling with activity as she and Kurt neared the shelter. He’d driven the Mustang, commenting that he’d had more opportunities to get behind the wheel in the service than he had in the last week.
He paused on the street outside the shelter parking lot, waiting to make a left turn into it. The shelter wasn’t far from the town center, close to dozens of houses with perfectly manicured lawns, but also within walking distance of a number of shops, restaurants, and a park. It wasn’t uncommon, especially on nice, weekend days, for the tree-lined street out front to be lined with cars.
But this morning, that area was an unparalleled bustle of commotion. People were everywhere. Wondering if a Webster Groves fall event had missed her radar, Kelsey took in the crowds while Kurt waited for a young couple to cross the street so he could pull into the nearly full parking lot.
Kelsey gripped the door handle as she looked around. They couldn’t all be protesters, could they? She’d texted Megan earlier, asking if they’d shown up today, and Megan had replied that they had, but not to worry. Everything was under control.
Kelsey scanned the individual groups of people until she spotted the core group who’d protested in front of the Sabrina Raven estate for a few days. They were here, and their group had multiplied. Kelsey estimated there were close to thirty now. With their camping chairs and rolling coolers, they were making themselves at home on the sidewalk under the tall trees. At least they seemed to be keeping off shelter property.
However, this didn’t explain the bustle of commotion flowing out from the shelter. Two parking spaces immediately outside the main doors had been roped off, and people Kelsey had never seen before were covering a U-shaped row of folding tables with purple tablecloths. Another man was dumping a giant bag of charcoal into a portable grill.
“Looks like someone’s having a party,” Kurt said, pulling in and parking in an empty spot at the back of the lot.
“I saw Megan yesterday morning. She didn’t say anything about this.”
“From the looks of it, it’s coming together as we speak.” As they got out of the car, Kurt motioned toward two teen girls. They were huddled on the walkway near the main doors, making posters with poster board and marker. Ten feet away, a woman was dumping bags of ice into two large coolers. Two preteen boys were attempting to tie purple and green balloons to the concrete dog statue that stood alongside the big pots near the entryway. They didn’t seem to be making much progress because they kept pausing
