Chapter Thirty-Two
Kendall
The connection between me and Jude was like a pebble dropped into a pond, with the ripples endlessly looping into each other.
I hadn’t expected him to kiss me when he showed up, and my body was on fire, liquid and melting, as we drove the short distance from the rescue barn over to Heartfire Falls Resort.
“You expect me to play it cool and have dinner with your family?” I finally managed to say, still breathless from that kiss.
His chuckle spun through me, throwing sparks in the fire banked inside. He reached over, catching my hand in his and lifting it to his mouth to dust a kiss on the back of it.
“Yes, I do.” He turned into the parking area in front of the resort. “I’m just realizing it’s important to grab this with both hands and hold on tight. I don’t want to take it slow. I don’t want to play it cool. I already knew I loved you. Back to your place tonight?”
When his eyes met mine as he brought the truck to a stop and put it in park, the heat there sent my belly into a spinning flip.
“Haven knows,” he added.
“He knows?” I squeaked.
“I think everybody’s already known we’ve been in love with each other for years. Let’s not play it secret. Let’s walk in there and just be what maybe we should’ve been a lot sooner.”
“What’s that?” I asked breathlessly.
“Two best friends in love.”
The emotion rushed up inside of me so fast I had to blink away the tears.
“Hey,” he said, leaning over to palm my cheek, swiping a tear away on one cheek and then the other with his thumb.
“It’s okay. They’re happy tears. I’m just—” I sucked in a shaky breath. “Overwhelmed.”
As I held his gaze, it felt as if he was trying to pass the confidence he had about us into me. “If you feel differently—” he started.
I shook my head. “I don’t. It’s what I want too. I really mean that.”
Jude gave me a quick, firm kiss. When we walked inside a moment later, he was holding my hand. Cole happened to be coming down one of the side hallways and saw us. His eyes dropped down, and his lips stretched into a slow smile.
“About time, you two,” he said with a chuckle.
I was caught in the current of emotions—a sense of rightness settling inside, a sense of almost boundless joy, and laced within all that was a hint of self-consciousness, realizing that everyone but Jude and I had watched and waited.
When all along, I could’ve just told him how I felt, or maybe he could’ve told me how he felt.
But then, maybe the time was right, and that was why this had finally happened for us.
Grady came walking down the hallway behind Cole, flashing a quick grin when he saw us. “Finally,” he said, clapping Jude on the shoulder when he stopped beside us.
“Was it that obvious?” I looked between the two brothers.
Grady rolled his eyes. “It’s been obvious to me since I was in middle school. I was just wondering when y’all were gonna catch up.”
Asher came walking out, chiming in as he heard Grady’s comment. “Maybe it was obvious, but then things happen when they’re supposed to, right? I try to believe that dumb shit about life.”
Jude snorted and squeezed my hand. “Sure, it happened when it was supposed to.”
“Do you know what’s for dinner?” Cole asked, smoothly shifting gears.
“Let’s talk about what’s important.” I giggled. “Please. I’d much rather discuss what’s for dinner than us.”
“No idea,” Jude said dryly.
Cole, Asher, and Grady began walking toward the kitchen.
Jude began walking more slowly. When he came to a complete stop, I glanced up.
We were now in the middle of the public area of the resort, with guests milling about.
With Chloe’s help, they had the guest kitchen up and running, along with the family kitchen in the back.
“What?” I asked.
“I think this happened exactly when it was supposed to,” he said, his voice low and solemn.
“You do?”
He nodded. “Think about our lives. We weren’t ready in high school.”
“And, you’ve had so much going on with your family,” I pointed out.
“So have you,” he chimed in softly. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and I thought my knees just might give out.
Savoring how secure I felt with him simply holding my hand, we slipped through the guest kitchen, where a new cook was busy chatting with Maggie. She said something to him as Jude and I passed by and reached out to squeeze him lightly on the shoulder. “So glad to see you both.”
I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, but I felt giddy as I smiled at her. “Hi, Maggie,” I said, clearing my throat to speak. Even then, my voice came out breathless.
“Finally!” Maggie fell into step beside us.
“You’re not the only one who’s said something along those lines,” Jude noted dryly.
Maggie’s eyes crinkled at the corners with her wide smile. “Because we’ve all been waiting. Tommy’s probably going to be the most excited, you know.”
Jude chuckled as Maggie fell into step beside us and we continued walking. “You think?” he teased.
“Of course. That boy loves Kendall so much.” She glanced toward me. “He loves working with the animals, and you let him do that. I know you wouldn’t do that for just anyone his age.”
“Tommy is my best employee,” I said, meaning it.
“Isn’t he your only employee?” Maggie asked.
A laugh slipped out. “Well, yeah, but even if I had more, he would be my best. I can count on him completely. We have a few volunteers from the main rescue program to cover weekends, but that’s it.”