When the Heart Falls (21 page)

“
Hello, Misty,” he said with a smile that was intended to be warm and friendly.

Misty ignored the gesture and replied stiffly, “Hello, Brad.”

Before she had a chance to sit down Brad asked, “Misty, can we talk for just a minute please?”

She looked at Brad with irritation and confusion. With a deep sigh she replied, “Alright.”

“
Excuse us for just a moment gentlemen,” Brad said in his smooth voice.

Brad escorted them to a private area in the hall and turned to look at Misty. “Did you have time to think about what I asked you?” he asked in a hopeful tone.

“
Yes, Brad, I did.”

“
And?”

“
The answer is no,” she said firmly. “I can’t forget everything you’ve done, Brad, and I’m not going to forgive you that easily. You lied to me for years.”

Brad’s jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. “It’s that guy from the hospital, isn’t it? He’s brainwashed you.”

Misty looked at him confused yet amused. “Brainwashed? Are you being serious right now? I mean, do you really hear these words as they are coming out of your mouth? No one brainwashed me, Brad, except for you. You brainwashed me into thinking that you loved me all those years that we were married. You made me think that we would one day have children.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m not doing this anymore,” she said calmly. “There is a room full of men waiting to finalize this divorce and I’m going in there so it can be done. With or without you; you choose.” She stared him in the eye for a moment and walked past him.

“
Misty, I still love you,” he called out after her.

She turned in his direction. “That’s not my problem anymore.”

*** 

Dylan sat in the truck, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel while he waited for Misty outside the courthouse. A glare from that direction caught his eye, and he noticed the door of the courthouse open and Brad walk through with his lawyer. As they walked down the steps of the building he saw Brad look in his direction and give him an evil glare. Dylan stared right back, but couldn’t hold back the smirk on his face. As Brad continued to walk towards the parking lot, Dylan saw the door open once more. Misty walked out with her lawyer and stopped once they reached the bottom of the steps to shake hands. When she turned to walk to Dylan’s truck, he noticed that she had this glow that wasn’t there this morning. It was the glow of a free woman. He hopped out of the truck and rounded the front to open her door for her. Before he had a chance to open the door, she had flung her arms around his neck and kissed him like she hadn’t seen him in years.

“
What was that for?” he asked when the kiss ended.

“
That’s all I could think about while I was in there,” she said and kissed him once more, short and sweet.

“
I take it things went well then.” He chuckled and opened the door.

“
Damn straight it did. I…” She stopped right as she was about to hop in the truck when she noticed the simple bouquet of wild flowers sitting on the seat. She turned to Dylan and noticed for the first time that he had changed his clothes from the blue jeans and t-shirt he wore on the drive there this morning, to black jeans, black boots, and a white western cut shirt, topped off with a black cowboy hat. He was smiling at her, and the sight was so unbelievably beautiful that it pulled at her heart and made her want to cry.

“
I thought since we were out already and seeing as how you look so pretty, well, I figured I could take you out on a formal date,” he explained.

“
I’d love that,” she said and let Dylan help her into the truck. She picked up the bouquet and breathed in the wonderful scent as he walked around to enter the driver’s side. Her first few moments of being Misty Donovan again were the most amazing moments she had had in a very long time. As she watched Dylan get into the truck and start the engine, she wondered if things would always be this wonderful with him. A warm feeling filled her body, starting from her heart and extending to her fingertips and toes. Without a doubt, she knew that this is how life would be from now on.

*** 

“
Can I interest you two in dessert this evening?” the waiter asked as he cleared the plates from the table.

Dylan looked to Misty and smiled. “Yes I think we will have dessert, but can we get it to go please?”

“
Very well, sir. And what would you like?”

Dylan handed Misty the dessert menu and after a moment of scanning it she had decided to go with the chocolate cake with chocolate covered strawberries.

“
Excellent choice, miss. I’ll bring it right out,” the waiter said and walked away.

After the waiter had brought them their dessert to go in a brown bag with a handle, Dylan escorted Misty to his truck. Once they were in and seated Misty asked, “Where to now?”

“
It’s a surprise,” Dylan winked.

She scooted her way across the seat and curled up next to him as he drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road. Soon they were out of town limits, and Dylan turned off of the main road and headed down a tree lined dirt lane.

“
Where are we going?” she asked as she peered out the windshield confused.

“
You’ll see,” he said.

Moments later, they came to a grass clearing surrounded by trees. There was a small pond near the edge of the tree line, and the sun laying low in the sky was casting glimmers of orange all along the ripples in the water.

Misty’s mouth popped open slightly. “Oh, Dylan, this is beautiful. How did you find this place?” she asked, astonished.

“
I had some free time today,” he said, happy that she liked the view. “If you’ll grab the dessert, I’ll grab a blanket and we can go sit down by the water.”

Once they were out of the truck, Dylan tucked the quilt under his arm then took Misty’s hand as they walked down to the water’s edge. He opened up the quilt and in one fluid motion had it spread across the ground. He held her hand as she sat down on the quilt before joining her.

“
How about that dessert?” he asked.

She opened the bag and pulled out a white box and two plastic forks. She handed one to him and opened the box. They each took turns digging their forks into the cake.

“
Oh my God,” Misty said when she placed the cake in her mouth. “This is like heaven.”

“
What is?” Dylan asked with his mouth full.

“
All of this,” Misty said and swallowed. “The cake, this place…you.”

He smiled at her and reached his hand up to her face. He placed his fingers under her chin and pulled her towards him, gently kissing her. Maybe it was the effects from the drinks they had with dinner, or maybe it was this place, he wasn’t sure. But he couldn’t think of anything being more perfect than this moment.

Every time Dylan kissed her, she seemed to lose all sense of time and space. She hadn’t realized till now that she was pressed against Dylan so tight that a piece of paper couldn’t squeeze between them. Every kiss sent her senses reeling. Raging hot desire filled her body with every touch. Before she had time to think she spouted out the words that brought Dylan’s kisses to a halt.

“
What did you say?” Dylan asked catching his breath.

She thought about it for a moment and bit her bottom lip as she looked him in the eye.

“
Make love to me, Dylan,” she requested with a hopeful look in her eye before leaning in to kiss him once more.

“
Here? Are you sure?” he asked between short breaths and long kisses.

She moved her hands to the top of his shirt and started to un-do the buttons slowly. After the first few were undone, she let her hands run over the smooth texture of his chest and he let out a soft moan.

“
Yes, I’m sure,” she whispered against his lips before pulling him down on top of her.

He hovered above her for a moment and stared into her eyes. “Tell me you love me,” he said and pressed his lips to hers.

“
I love you,” she replied and his lips claimed hers once more.

“
Then your wish is my command.”

CHAPTER 18

Dylan laid on his back with one hand behind his head while the other stroked Misty’s long brown hair.

“
You’re quiet,” he said, twirling a strand of her hair.

“
Hmm? Sorry, didn’t mean to be. I was just thinking,” she said, letting out a content sigh.

“
What are you thinking about?” he asked, leaning his head to look at her face.

She lifted her head from his chest and leaned up onto her elbow to look at him. “Oh, just about how this is the most perfect thing I’ve ever experienced. That was amazing.”

Dylan grinned. “You’re going to make me blush,” he teased.

She smiled back and stroked her fingertips very lightly down his torso. “I mean it though.” She leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his.

The evening sky that had once surrounded them was now giving way to the night. And the crickets and frogs had started to begin their nighttime symphony. A cool breeze started to blow, and as the air hit her bare back Misty shuddered.

Dylan pulled at the edge of the blanket, attempting to cover her more. “I guess we should probably be heading back home now,” he suggested reluctantly. He would love nothing more than for the two of them to stay this way forever. Holding her in his arms and being in this place, life seemed perfect.

She nodded and reached for her clothes that were lying on the grass next to the blanket. “Guess we should.”

After they were dressed and Dylan had the blanket all folded, he took her hand and they walked back to the truck. He tossed the blanket in through the open passenger window and wrapped his arms around Misty’s waist.

“
I love you,” he said and tenderly kissed her forehead.

“
I love you too,” she smiled.

***

The drive home was a fairly quiet one. No words were necessary. They shared simple glances from time to time, both knowing that they were thinking of the same thing. Remembering every touch and every kiss they shared just a few hours ago. As Misty rested her head against Dylan’s shoulder, she couldn’t help but wonder if all of this was too perfect. She knew it was a silly thought but she wondered that if one day, down the road, Dylan would tire of her the way Brad had. Would he ever leave her for another woman? Would he ever cheat on her? Would he ever stop loving her? He had said himself on the drive to Colbourne that he was in a serious relationship for two years, and ended it when he fell out of love. Granted, he had told her that he had loved her from the moment he laid eyes on her. But was she going to live up to his expectations of the Misty he’d dreamed of?

“
Dylan?” she asked quietly.

“
Yea,” he responded keeping his eyes on the road.

“
Are you sure that I’m 
the one
?” she asked and waited for his reaction.

“
What do you mean?” he asked confused.

“
Just that, are you sure that you love 
me
 
and not this dream girl you’ve created in my image in your mind?”

“
Misty.” He sighed. “Of course I love 
you.
 Yes, I may have loved you from a distance all these years, but now that we’re together, well, it’s everything I could have wanted and dreamt of. You’re the perfect woman for me, Misty. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend and lover,” he explained and laid a kiss on the top of her hair.

“
I feel the same,” she said and curled up to him closer and closed her eyes.

“
Do you see that?” Dylan asked with a combination of excitement and confusion in his voice.

“
Hmm? What?” Misty asked as she opened her eyes and sat straight up to look out the windows of the truck.

“
That,” Dylan said and pointed. They had pulled onto the dirt lane that led to his ranch, and through the blanket of night there was a dark cloud of smoke billowing in the sky.

She squinted her eyes and replied, “It looks like smoke.”

Dylan pressed the gas pedal and drove faster down the lane, leaving a cloud of dust trailing behind him. As they grew closer to the ranch they could begin to see the faint orange glow beneath the dark cloud.

“
Oh my God,” Dylan almost whispered and pushed the gas pedal to the floorboard. He fish tailed when he turned into the driveway and brought the truck to a skidding halt fifty yards away from the house.