His Promise

Chapter 2, His Promise

Chapter Two

Kim loved the drive into town, the rolling hills, the way the grass had turned brown from the heat of the summer sun. These fields were prime grazing land for cattle and horses. Before long, she was back in the town of Columbia Falls, where she'd grown up, fallen in love, and then gotten married and divorced. She had lived a lifetime even though she was only thirty-six. There were days she mourned how much time she'd lost.

She had to live with her choices and had given up a few years back on beating herself up and wishing for what she couldn't have. But she couldn't help wondering what could have been. At times, it hurt to breathe, loving a man so much that the thought of him had her lying awake for many lonely nights. Oh, she'd tried to move on, but there's something about your first love that makes you compare every other man to the one.

She pulled into the parking lot of a block-long strip mall and the grocery store she'd driven across town to visit. She had driven past a much better, bigger grocery store to get here, but then, this store was across the street from Bruce. She stepped out of her dark blue pickup and couldn't help looking up to the five-story red brick building where Bruce Siegel, now a pediatrician, had his office. She wondered if she'd catch a glimpse of him behind his desk, working through the mountains of paperwork that kept him for hours on end. Just the sight of his thick brown hair-shorter now, but still with a hint of messy from when they were teens-had her needing another look. There were times when she was so close that he'd happen to look out and see her, and he'd wave and come down. She always prayed for those times, like today.

"Hey, Kim." Just the sound of his voice still caused a flutter in her stomach.

She turned to see him walking her way across the parking lot in dark dress pants, a white dress shirt, and a blue tie. He had glasses on-thin, rimless-and they only made him look better, sexier, even more handsome, if that was possible. Then he smiled for her. Damn, her heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't always smiled at her, not when he'd first come back home.

She could feel the dimples in her cheeks, and she stepped to him as if there were an invisible cord attached to her stomach, pulling her forward. "Taking a break?" she teased as he gazed down at her with the mischievous look he'd had since they were kids.

"Lunch," he said. "I didn't pack anything today. This is quick, gives me a break to stretch my legs."

His legs...she remembered his long limbs, muscled thighs, and great butt. Evidently, nothing had changed. He was still a head taller. His chest was a little broader, more solid, a man's chest, one she'd love to feel pressed against her. One she could be held close to.

"What about you, Kim? What brings you down here?"

"Well, shopping, of course." She lifted the strap of her red purse over her shoulder and worried, for a moment, about how she looked. She had washed and brushed her long dark hair even though some unruly waves would always pop up out of nowhere. She wore her new blue jeans, the Levis that gave her an amazing ass. She had tucked in a white sleeveless shirt with a high collar that she knew showed her tanned arms, which, she was happy to see, were firm and toned. But then, Kim didn't sit around all day: She was always working her small farm, going out with her horse, weeding in her garden-always doing something.

Bruce was smiling. He glanced the other way before looking back at her. "You like driving all the way across town when the Food Mart's closer to you?"

"Maybe I like my stores smaller and more out of the way," she said, teasing him.

He laughed softly. Oh, man, did she love the sound of his deep laugh. It wasn't loud and obnoxious like some guys' but teasing and soft, causing all kinds of havoc to her insides. "You just want to see me, is all," he said. Still as arrogant and cocky as ever.

"Yeah, I do. You always make my day."

He was watching her, and something changed in the way he stared at her, something she couldn't make out. It wasn't happy or mad or sad, but it was confusing.

"So I didn't see you in church this week," she said. The community church their families belonged to was where they'd met again when he returned to Columbia Falls after staying away for eighteen very long years.

"Had an emergency. I was on call. So how is everyone? Heard Jamie rattled some of the old timers."

Kim had to suppress a giggle. Jamie Johnson, the dashing young blue-eyed, blond-haired single pastor, had moved in right before Bruce arrived and had taken over the congregation from the eighty-year-old minister who had been a mainstay in the community for most of Kim's life. The man had run his church with an iron fist, but Jamie refused to stick to formalities and liked to stir things up, including his own opinions. He was far more "new age" and relaxed than any minister Kim had ever met.

"Well, at least it was too hot for him to wear his leather jacket," she said. "Yes, after a few of the elders criticized the locals who never show up for church, Jamie asked what made a better Christian, someone who attends church every Sunday and believes all is well or someone who never sets foot in a church but treats everyone with kindness and respect, each day making an effort to make a difference? You can imagine there were a lot of red faces up front. I think he got the reaction he wanted. He says it often: he's a devil at times, but he really does call crap out when he hears it."

Bruce wasn't smiling, but he was giving all of himself to her in the way he watched her. It was so unsettling. She felt a thick lump building in her throat, and for a moment she struggled to breathe. It was difficult to swallow, and the air between them was electric.

"So how are things going out at your place?" he said. "I heard you had the vet out for your horse. Everything all right?"

"Yeah, everything is fine, he said. I was worried, as Chloe hasn't been keeping weight on. She lost a fair bit over the winter. She's going on fourteen, still good for a horse, but she's slowing down. He said everything looked fine, though. Could have been the quality of hay I had over the winter. With all the spring grass coming up, she usually puts on weight, just not this year." The vet really hadn't seemed worried, but Kim was positive he was missing something. After all, she knew her horse better than he did, vet or no vet.

"Well, trust your instincts," Bruce replied. "You know your horse. If you need anything, let me know."

She didn't want him to walk away, but they were at that moment she didn't like, when he was about to say he needed to go, and she would say the same thing and go into the store and pine away all week until she could see him again in town or at church on Sunday.

"Hey, would you like to come out for dinner?" she asked. Her hands were shaking, and her heart was hammering so hard she felt as if she were dying a thousand deaths as she waited for his response. Maybe he'd let her down gently, tell her no, but thanks anyway. Maybe he secretly had a girlfriend, even though he'd never shown up with a woman at church since he'd been back. She was positive he was alone. Lord, she hoped he was alone.

"You're inviting me for a home-cooked meal? Sounds great, when?"

She had to fight the urge to jump up and down and clap like the young girl inside who still pined for her lost love. Then he smiled again, brighter, wider, lighting up his face, his eyes, and she wondered what kind of silly grin was pasted on her own face.

"Well, you tell me. I know your schedule is busy. I'm free any time." Boy, did that sound pathetic. Did he have any idea how lonely she was?

"How about tomorrow?" He stepped to the side and touched her arm. He didn't pull his hand away, and she wished he'd leave it there forever. It was a touch that turned her into a seventeen-year-old all over again, into the girl who loved everything about Bruce. He was the first thought in her head when she opened her eyes in the morning and the last thought she had before she fell asleep at night.

"Five is probably too early for you with work. How about six?"

"Six is good." He took a step back and jabbed his finger her way. "Looking forward to it."

And she stood there for what seemed like forever as Bruce walked away before spurring herself into action, having an idea what she would make. She remembered what he loved and what he didn't and hoped nothing had changed. Yes, Bruce Siegel, I'm going to make you an amazing dinner.

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