Undertow (38 page)

“I was thinking about you, too.” I glanced back in the direction he’d come. His house wasn’t too far from where we stood, from Mr. Kyser’s offices. I’d never considered the proximity before. “It must be nice to live so close.”

He shrugged. “Except when the storms come.”

We were quiet again, listening to the noise of the surf. I thought of his father back on that island, in that huge house alone. My dilemma was heavy on my mind, but more than that, I didn’t want to wait anymore. I’d read too much about people in love being kept apart. I was terrified of us getting closer and him finding out what I knew, but in this moment, with him standing right here in front of me, I didn’t want to think about Bill Kyser anymore. I didn’t want to worry about the past. I wanted to think about my future.

“School starts back Monday,” I said. “Are we still doing everything?”

A little grin flickered across his lips. “Correction. Everything
together
.”

I looked up at his blue eyes, and I couldn’t resist. I stepped to him and put my arms around his waist. He quickly wrapped me in an embrace, and soothing calm flooded my body. As if on cue, the fireworks show went off behind me, and I looked back at the green, red, and gold glittering lights illuminating the ocean.

My cheek rested on Julian’s chest, and we didn’t say anything as we watched. I felt him gently stroke my hair, his chin on the top of my head. I listened to his heart beat during the pauses. His breath moving in and out, mixing with the sound of the waves roaring behind me. Before long the whole sky burst into a nonstop display of lights and explosions. It was the signal for midnight, and I tilted my head up.

He looked down, and I lifted my chin higher, meeting his lips. My hold on his waist tightened as my mouth opened and I tasted his minty-sweet kiss. Delicious warmth flooded my body just like before, and I felt his lips curve into a smile. Mine did the same. It was exactly what we both wanted, our bodies close, this bond strengthening between us.

His kiss moved to the corner of my mouth, then my cheek, and he looked deep in my eyes. “I know, you still want to go slow.”

My face felt flushed with emotion. “I think we can pick up the pace.”

The twinkle in his eye made me so happy. He gave me another little kiss, and we turned and started walking back in the direction he’d come. I was very aware of our fingers laced together. I never wanted to let him go.

“Want me to drive you home?” I asked when we reached my car parked at the pavilion.

He squeezed my hand. “I think I’ll walk. It’s only a few blocks.”

“It’s a great night.”

“One of the best,” he said, pulling my hand to his lips and kissing my fingers. “You’ll wear my ring now?”

I nodded, thinking how the minute I got home, I would unwrap it, put it on again, and never take it off.

“Cool,” he smiled.

I was a little breathless. He pulled me closer, pressing his warm lips to mine again, his exhale whispering across my cheek. It felt like we were glowing in the darkness.

“Happy new year,” he said softly.

“Happy new year,” I whispered back.

He leaned in again for a longer, deeper kiss. Energy sparkled through me, just under my skin, and instinctively I held him tighter, pulled our bodies closer.

It was a new year. Julian and I were starting something new, and I was sure we could face whatever was coming and make it through.

My mind was on the future. Us together.

It was going to be amazing.

~ ~ ~

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Watercolor
, Book 3 in the Dragonfly series,
coming Oct. 2013
!

Watercolor

by Leigh Talbert Moore

Finishing senior year is supposed to be the best time in a person’s life.

Finishing senior year as Julian’s girlfriend should’ve been the icing on the cake.

Knowing the secret that could change his whole world is the only thing threatening to spoil it all.

Until Jack returns.

Anna and Julian are together at last, and it’s as hot and happy as they knew it would be. The only problem is the truth. And Jack.

But while Anna is determined to fight for the guy she loves, she could still lose him when he discovers the secret she’s been helping to keep.

Author’s Note

Writing a book that includes large portions of journal entries, my goal was to find a way to bring the recorded events to life. With that in mind, I added dialogue and descriptions to make it feel like the reader was there, watching the events as they occurred.

Obviously, most journals aren’t written this way, so I took some artistic license. I hope it enhanced your enjoyment of the story.

As always,
thanks so much
for reading!

Acknowledgments

First, I have to thank my friend Kim Secord, who was the first person to read this book and say to me, “I read it in one sitting,” way back in 2010. I knew right then this dream of mine might actually happen.

Thanks again to Magan, Jolene, Kim Barnes, Tracy, Sharon, and my sweet husband Richard for loving it from the start.

Special thanks to Jolene for the gorgeous cover design
.

Thanks to Susan and Tami for challenging me.

Thanks to KP for hanging with me through the down times and for saying you believed in me when I was so tired.

Thanks to my sweet daughters for trying to understand why Mom is always typing on the computer and saying, “One more minute!”

Thanks to my parents and my in-laws for tolerating my disappearing acts.

Thanks to the writing community for your unfailing support and encouragement.

Thanks to God for this blessing, and

Thanks to YOU—all my dedicated
readers
who keep me motivated by saying you love it and by asking for
more
!

Here’s to love conquering all. <3

About the Author

Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a former journalist, a former editor, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a lover of great love stories, a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps.

Also by Leigh Talbert Moore:

The Truth About Faking
(2012)

Rouge
(2012)

The Truth About Letting Go
(2013)

Dragonfly
, Book 1 in the Dragonfly series (2013)

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