Small-Town Brides by Janet Tronstad

Prudy was so set on teaching him. The look in Mandy’s eyes was more than any man deserved, especially one who hadn’t even married her yet. Clay felt a sudden stab of envy for the man who inspired that kind of love, though.
    â€œI can only look for five minutes,” Clay compromised with his common sense. “I’ll take my high-beam flashlight and flash it in the direction he went. I might pick up something.”
    It would take a miracle for the man to see the flashlight. Clay knew that, but it was enough action to give everyone some hope. He reached over to open the glove compartment.
    â€œYou’re sure you’ll be okay?” Rene asked him.
    Clay looked down at her. She still held the smaller flashlight pointed to the ground at his feet, but it gave enough light so he could see her eyes. She might not be looking at him with love, but there was certainly concern in her eyes. He supposed that was something.
    â€œI won’t be long,” Clay said.
    â€œWait,” the woman inside the truck demanded, her voice strained.
    Clay and Rene both looked at her.
    â€œYou can’t leave without kissing each other,” Mandy said. She sounded a little frantic. “My Davy and I didn’t kiss. And now he’s out there lost and I didn’t even kiss him goodbye.”
    â€œBut—” Rene protested. “We aren’t. I mean—”
    Clay saw Rene’s cheeks pink up and he felt a wistfulness he had no right to even acknowledge.
    Sometimes, he told himself, a man lived his whole life without a drop of grace and then—just when he least expected it—the universe suddenly opened up and dropped a golden opportunity right into his hands. This was that moment.
    â€œWe don’t want her to worry,” Clay whispered as he stepped closer and cupped Rene’s face with his hands. He knew his fingers were rough and cold, but he traced the line of her jaw anyway. Her skin was soft. And she wasn’t pulling away—although that might be because she was in shock.
    He forced himself to be still for a moment so she could pull back if she wanted. Her eyes grew wide, but she stayed steady. The snow continued to swirl around them, but Clay didn’t mind. She probably expected him to give her one of those quick kisses on the cheek, just to satisfy Mandy. But Clay knew the odds. He’d never have a chance like this again.
    Clay knew he’d made a mistake the minute his lips touched Rene’s. He’d kissed hundreds of women, but it was never like this. His feet were frozen, but that didn’t stop his lips from heating up. He wasn’t doing very well in the breathing department, either. He needed to stop kissing her, but not as much as he needed to continue.
    â€œThat’s how I should have kissed Davy. I just—ahhh—” Mandy moaned again.
    Clay couldn’t move, but Rene pulled away from him at the sound of the other woman’s distress. The cold air blew on Clay’s face and he blinked. His time in the sun was over. He was almost surprised to find he was still standing on this deserted road in the middle of a Montana blizzard.
    â€œI need to make that search.” Clay was relieved his voice still worked. But since it did, he checked to see that he had the flashlight in his hand. What had he done?
    Rene was already turned away from him, talking softly to Mandy. He wished he could tell by the curve of her back how she felt about that kiss. Obviously, she wasn’t as shaken by it as he was, since she had already turned her attention to someone else.
    â€œI’ll be back in a few minutes,” Clay said, and he fled to the safety of the darkness. He needed some time to collect himself. He wondered if all of those hours spent with Rene in the truck were taking their toll on him. He prided himself on being level-headed. He only got emotional at rodeos and football games. He never thought a kiss would take hold of his