Daveny packed up, taking her time about the task, lingering but content in the silence as he gathered up items of his own and prepared to call it a day.
Meanwhile, a ripple slid against his senses, pulling him relentlessly forward. To Daveny—and much, much more.
“Can I walk you to your car?”
Collin's offer had her looking over her shoulder with a nod as she crouched to pick up a carry-all for her props. Open toed heels afforded a peek of pink-tipped nails. Well-tailored slacks snugged and released against her body as she moved.
Daveny stowed everything except a few extras of the cards she had handed out at the end of her presentation. With a look that touched Collin intimately she stepped up and gave him one.
“For you. Keep it close.”
Collin fingered the gift, drawn to the words and image all over again. Because of Daveny and a heart he could all but feel beginning to shift and change.
God was showing up in his life, whether he wanted Him to or not. Hope built, despite Collin's most stalwart efforts to tamp it down.
But what was he supposed to do with that recognition?
Typically graceful, Daveny didn’t intrude upon his introspection. They walked to her car, one of the few left in a parking lot that tended to empty faster and faster as summer swept in and the end of the school year quirked its finger like a temptress to students and faculty alike.
She loaded her car and opened the driver’s side door. Collin stepped into the space before her and murmured, “Daveny, come here.”
He skimmed his fingers light and slow down the length of her slender throat, and then kissed and nuzzled, capturing her scent by breathing in deep. Need became a craving that battled to override restraint.
Her head tilted back in welcome; fragrant strands of her hair, tossed by a gentle breeze, slid across Collin's face as his explorations continued along her cheek, then found her waiting, trembling mouth. He kissed, provoked, enticed.
Dipping her head, she slid her fingertips along his forearm, the affection ripe with promise and longings potent enough to leave Collin's equilibrium in shambles. Reluctantly, he pulled back. “I wish you could stay,” he remarked quietly.
“Me, too. I’ve got to get back to the office though.” She looked up, eyes luminous and seeking.
“I’ll call you later about dinner.”
She nodded, and he kissed her one last time, their lips gliding together in a natural, satiny dance. They parted slowly, with reluctance. Once Daveny was in the car, Collin closed the door but leaned in through the window she opened.
“By the way—you were fantastic. Thank you.”
“Thanks for asking me to present. To be honest, I was flattered. Despite the bout of nerves, I enjoyed it, too.”
Her smile accompanied that comment; its power left him temporarily unable to draw a normal breath. A few seconds later she was gone, and Collin's mind promptly went on a timer of sorts, ticking off the minutes until he'd see her again.
9
A few days later, Collin went back to work on the Woodland project. The grounds swarmed as final plantings and polishing touches took place. Seemingly, the entire parish showed up to help and partake in a final work-a-thon and food-fest. Antonio's Brasserie catered the burgers, hot dogs and fries—the scent of which began to fill the air with appetite enticing aromas.
Stationed at the pond, Daveny saw to the final placement of trees and shrubs. Collin knelt at the flowerbeds, his usual spot, digging holes for a batch of multi-colored snap dragons set to be placed.
“Hey, Col—just to give you warning—Sandy's back in town.”
Collin's brother Marty stepped up and spoke the jarring words. Collin was so focused on Daveny that hearing Sandy's name was, in a way, like trying to work through a foreign translation.
“She's back, meaning?”
“She's back…meaning heads up, bro, your ex-fiancée is standing right over there, with Pastor Ken, by that
Meanwhile, a ripple slid against his senses, pulling him relentlessly forward. To Daveny—and much, much more.
“Can I walk you to your car?”
Collin's offer had her looking over her shoulder with a nod as she crouched to pick up a carry-all for her props. Open toed heels afforded a peek of pink-tipped nails. Well-tailored slacks snugged and released against her body as she moved.
Daveny stowed everything except a few extras of the cards she had handed out at the end of her presentation. With a look that touched Collin intimately she stepped up and gave him one.
“For you. Keep it close.”
Collin fingered the gift, drawn to the words and image all over again. Because of Daveny and a heart he could all but feel beginning to shift and change.
God was showing up in his life, whether he wanted Him to or not. Hope built, despite Collin's most stalwart efforts to tamp it down.
But what was he supposed to do with that recognition?
Typically graceful, Daveny didn’t intrude upon his introspection. They walked to her car, one of the few left in a parking lot that tended to empty faster and faster as summer swept in and the end of the school year quirked its finger like a temptress to students and faculty alike.
She loaded her car and opened the driver’s side door. Collin stepped into the space before her and murmured, “Daveny, come here.”
He skimmed his fingers light and slow down the length of her slender throat, and then kissed and nuzzled, capturing her scent by breathing in deep. Need became a craving that battled to override restraint.
Her head tilted back in welcome; fragrant strands of her hair, tossed by a gentle breeze, slid across Collin's face as his explorations continued along her cheek, then found her waiting, trembling mouth. He kissed, provoked, enticed.
Dipping her head, she slid her fingertips along his forearm, the affection ripe with promise and longings potent enough to leave Collin's equilibrium in shambles. Reluctantly, he pulled back. “I wish you could stay,” he remarked quietly.
“Me, too. I’ve got to get back to the office though.” She looked up, eyes luminous and seeking.
“I’ll call you later about dinner.”
She nodded, and he kissed her one last time, their lips gliding together in a natural, satiny dance. They parted slowly, with reluctance. Once Daveny was in the car, Collin closed the door but leaned in through the window she opened.
“By the way—you were fantastic. Thank you.”
“Thanks for asking me to present. To be honest, I was flattered. Despite the bout of nerves, I enjoyed it, too.”
Her smile accompanied that comment; its power left him temporarily unable to draw a normal breath. A few seconds later she was gone, and Collin's mind promptly went on a timer of sorts, ticking off the minutes until he'd see her again.
9
A few days later, Collin went back to work on the Woodland project. The grounds swarmed as final plantings and polishing touches took place. Seemingly, the entire parish showed up to help and partake in a final work-a-thon and food-fest. Antonio's Brasserie catered the burgers, hot dogs and fries—the scent of which began to fill the air with appetite enticing aromas.
Stationed at the pond, Daveny saw to the final placement of trees and shrubs. Collin knelt at the flowerbeds, his usual spot, digging holes for a batch of multi-colored snap dragons set to be placed.
“Hey, Col—just to give you warning—Sandy's back in town.”
Collin's brother Marty stepped up and spoke the jarring words. Collin was so focused on Daveny that hearing Sandy's name was, in a way, like trying to work through a foreign translation.
“She's back, meaning?”
“She's back…meaning heads up, bro, your ex-fiancée is standing right over there, with Pastor Ken, by that
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