Two Days Of A Dream (28 page)

Pendle flashed through Kelly’s mind. "What do you mean?” She tried to move back but her pillow stopped her. “I never left my condo."

"Didn't you?" LaMans’ eyes, now slits, bore into Kelly.

"Only in my ..." Kelly stopped short. Something wasn't right. "You know something." LaMans’ eyes widened a little, and she backed up half a step. "What is it you're not telling me?"

There were more red flags and bells and whistles going off in Kelly's head. LaMans pursed her perfect lips while she looked hard at Kelly, a decision fighting to form.

LaMans dragged in a breath, still holding her stomach. "I know, that's why it's so funny." She wiped a tear from her eye with a long manicured finger.

She wasn't used to being the weaker in a pairing. Kelly growled in frustration. She was used to being on top, always right, and always in control. She didn't like her position. Kelly’s arms flopped to her sides and she closed her eyes. LaMans had won this round.

At first Kelly barely glanced over, but then her eyes flew wide. There stood a crisp green uniform, a hat clamped smartly under one arm. She blinked twice. Could it be? Yes, it definitely had to be. There stood her greatest dream and the deepest of all her hopes. There stood a miracle.

"Cap?" Kelly wanted to leap from the bed and jump into his arms, but all she could muster was throwing her hands up and almost sitting before the pain and LaMans grabbed her and forced her to lie back down.

Cap rushed to Kelly's other side. He took her hands into his large, strong palms and clasped his fingers tightly around them. She wanted to touch him, all of him. She wanted to make sure he was real. Maybe this was just another dream.

"Cap, am I still dreaming?"

He smiled. Oh, how she loved that smile. "No and you never were dreaming." His tanned face was torn between grinning broadly and frowning as his eyes twinkled with moisture. He got a tissue from the nightstand and wiped Kelly's tears. "There's no need to cry." She took the tissue and dabbed at the tears he had tried not to shed.

"I thought I would never see you again."

He dried a track of her tears with his thumb, then held her face tenderly. "Believe it or not you were wrong." He smirked as his eyes held hers.

"Yes, in my ..." Kelly was about to say, “in my dream” but the realization hit her solidly, and she blinked for a moment before she laid one hand on his cheek, looking deeper into his mesmerizing brown eyes. "It wasn't a dream."

He shook his head as he placed his hand over hers and dragged it to his lips. "No, not a dream." Closing his eyes he kissed her palm, his lips lingering until LaMans cleared her throat.

Kelly took hold of his tie and found no resistance as she pulled him to her. He willingly bent and kissed her.

Kelly moved her head only enough to speak. "But a dream come true, nonetheless."

The End

For the Epilogue go to my website:
http://www.kathrynagilmore.com
.

Kathryn loves feedback from readers! Send her an email at [email protected].

From the Author:

I’ve enjoyed writing this fun story for your enjoyment. Please, would you take a moment to write a review and post it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads or any other place you want. Every independently published author needs reviews. The reviews are what keep us going, learning and reaching new readers.

About the Author:

Kathryn Gilmore lives in Nebraska with her husband Ed. Born in Enid, Oklahoma she has lived in many of the states as well as Guam. Raised as an Air Force Brat, with no childhood home, she adopted Nebraska as home when her husband got out of the Air Force in 1979.

She enjoys spending time with her four children and ten grandchildren and writing in her garden.Presently she is working on her series, The Year of The Change. On the next page is a portion of the first book, July, for you to enjoy. The goal release is July of 2012.

You can find Kathryn at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorKathrynAGilmore

Website: www.kathrynagilmore.com

Blog:
http://kathrynherringgilmore.blogspot.com/

Email:
[email protected]

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KathrynGilmore

Look for her next book out this summer:

The Year of The Change: July

When Sylvia turns 16 she learns that her family hides a life-changing secret. Her plain-Jane existence changes drastically when guys start chasing her and her senses start to glitch. Part of the secret is a test she must pass if she wants to earn the wondrous gifts her grandmother promised her. Struggling to keep her eye on the prize, doubts about her ability to succeed plague her as her world goes from bad to really weird.

Excerpt:

Calvin's sweaty arms had me pinned to the ground as he tried to kiss me as I yelled for my dad. This wasn’t quite how I’d pictured our parting.

Calvin Thompson at six feet with bushy, unnaturally blonde hair and blue eyes to die for was the epitome of gorgeous. He was eighteen, popular and the boy next door that I’d had a mega crush on for six years. I’m not quite sure how I’d gone from totally hating him to the point where I worshiped the ground he walked on.

This whole problem started out innocent enough. The moving van had just left. Tim and I were loading the last of our suitcases into the cargo carrier on top of our minivan, on what had to be the hottest day of the year.

My red headed stepbrother Tim, now eleven, had become very helpful when he wasn't bugging the heck out of me. Tam, his twin, was helping their mother, Sue, in the house with the food basket and drink cooler. I was hoping Sue had remembered peppered jerky, my favorite. Dad was under the hood of the car checking all the fluids, again. He was hot and tired but was determined we would get as far as Wichita, Kansas today. Knowing him, we would do it or we’d die trying.

I had been watching Calvin’s split level house hoping I would get to see him before we left. A farewell glimpse would be nice. I even cleaned the sweat and fingerprints off my glasses twice to make sure I could see him clearly if he did show himself.

He did come out and stood on his stoop watching us but went back in. I was grateful I had at least gotten a glance. He came out a few minutes later and walked down the steps but immediately turned around and went back in his house like he had forgotten something. Two glances.

I was so lucky.

I put the last suitcase in the carrier feeling like I was swimming upstream in the boiling humidity and hurt my hand trying to close the latch. I let a cuss word slip under my breath and Dad sighed from under the hood before he emerged and gave me a scathing look that made me wilt even more. He stepped around and latched the car top carrier without any effort. Of course it would close easily for him.

As Dad returned to the hood I glanced over to the Thompson’s beautiful flower gardens, that I would miss. Mrs. Thompson came out of their house with her arm through Calvin’s and they walked over to us. It looked as though she were pulling him along. I thought it was nice of her to make Calvin say good-bye. I had always liked his mom.

Sue and Tam came out of the house and Sue put on one of her sparkling fake smiles and greeted Mrs. Thompson. I knew Sue wouldn't miss the woman but she put on a good show as though she would, she even reached up to returned Mrs. Thompson's hug. Dad, always affable, smiled and said how he would miss this place. I was already missing it.

The adults talked but Calvin stared at our deep lush green lawn. Tam got bored and started a game of tag with her brother. Sue frowned but the twins were gone, dashing about the yard. I didn't see how they had any energy in this oppressive heat.

We walked over to the large flame bush on the corner of my house. It was just far enough away that we wouldn’t be heard but close enough that my dad could still keep tabs on me. I knew that the twins would be watching and I would hear all about Calvin and me at the bush all the way to Alaska. I didn't care; being alone with Calvin was worth it.

At the base of the bush was a large granite rock I’d brought back from a camping trip with my ex-friend Maggie and her girls church group. I was very proud of my rock but Sue wouldn’t let me bring it in the house. Dad, trying to make peace, relegated it to the bush then gave me his 'don't bring it up again' look. It had actually looked very good there all these years. It was something else I was leaving behind, something else I would miss.

It's odd what one thinks about during stressful situations.

I straightened my dull blonde hair and hoped Calvin couldn’t see the sweat that had trickled down my back and spread like an ink blot on my blouse.

The humidity was stifling but my adrenalin had me hyped up with Calvin so close. Before we reached the bush I took my glasses off so he could see the only really good feature I had … my pale blue eyes. My friends had told me that they were beautiful and I should play them up. If I had known how, I would have. Well, not this year. Maybe I’d learn how next year when my dad and The Change were done wreaking my life.

I was so overjoyed that Calvin had graced me with this private audience that I overlooked his fidgeting since everything Calvin did was worth whatever time it took to do it.

My mouth was dry as the desert but my arm pits were on overload, sweating out the last of the two liter soda I drank with the three sandwiches, bag of chips, two apples and three snack cakes … oh and the two liters of water I chugged to keep my stomach full. My stomach hadn't been fooled and was hungry again but my out of control appetite would have to wait. Calvin wanted to talk to me.

I was glad I wasn’t wearing a tank top where he could see the waterfall that had developed. I was thrilled that he wanted to talk to me but I could feel the tears working their way up from my throat and was afraid I might cry in front of him and ruin any chance – albeit slim - I might have.

I could barely breathe.

He had his hands in his jeans pockets, staring at his high tops as they alternated between digging his toe into the ground and scuffing it across the grass. I’d never seen him like this before. He’d always been so confident, so sure of himself. Some insensitive jerks might even say cocky. I found this side of him endearing. What am I saying? I found every side of Calvin endearing.

When he started kicking my rock I started to worry because he still hadn’t spoken. Plus I hated to see my rock abused even if it was by Calvin.

My dad broke the silence and I jumped. “Sylv we’re going to make one more run through the house then we’re out of here.

There was an edge to his voice even though he kept smiling for Mrs. Thompson's benefit.

“Okay.” I waved as the adults went into our empty, abandoned generic house. The twins were still playing tag although they had slowed down. I hoped they would wear themselves out and sleep in the car so I wouldn't have to put up with their incessant yammering.

My time was running out and I didn’t want to waste it like this. Not that being with Calvin in any way was a waste of time.

He didn’t saying anything so I found my voice and forced it to speak calmly hoping it wouldn’t squeak. “Well, I guess this is good-bye, you to college in Florida and me to Alaska.”

I was hoping he would at least shake my hand. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of our fingers touching … our palms squeezed together …

My knees went weak just thinking about it. Now there was a memory I could take with me to bolster me while I was stuck in our vehicle for six days. Maybe even help me through the two years I would be stuck in the wilds of Alaska.

He grabbed me in a bear hug and buried his face in my neck. The chill returned to my spine with added force and a heat wave rocketed through the rest of my body. I had to remind myself to breathe.