The Road to Reunion

“I like this young lady, Kyle,” Mack said, sliding the much-treasured photo back into his pocket. “A smart man wouldn’t let her get away too easily.”

Kyle scowled as he entered the room, holding two clean casserole dishes. “Tell Jewel I said thanks for the food, and that I’ll be down to see her in a few days. And thanks for coming by, Mack. It’s always good to see you.”

Mack stood and held out his hand to Molly, who had risen when he did. “It was real nice to meet you, Miss Molly. Maybe we’ll have a chance to visit again someday.”

She smiled at him, liking him immensely. “Maybe we will,” she said, though they both knew it was unlike

ly. She doubted that she would have any reason to visit Kyle again after she left today.

It made her sad to think she would never see him again—so she decided to be optimistic, instead. After all, there was still a chance—however slim—that he would change his mind about attending the party.

Kyle escorted his friend to the front door, stepping out to chat for a few more minutes on the front porch. Molly couldn’t hear what they were saying, nor did she try to listen in.

Meeting Mack had made her feel a little better about Kyle, in some ways. Kyle had seemed so alone before; she was glad to know he had someone nearby who cared about him. And whom he obviously cared about in return. Despite his gruffness, he hadn’t been able to completely hide his fondness for Mack McDooley.

She understood a little better now why Kyle was so grim. Not only had he been seriously injured and forced to leave his chosen career, but he’d lost his best friend at the same time. It was no wonder he was angry with life in general just now.

Yet he had chosen to settle near his friend’s parents, so he hadn’t been able to cut himself off entirely from other people. Obviously, it had been a beneficial arrangement for all of them.

“I like him,” she said when Kyle came back inside and the sound of Mack’s car engine faded into the distance.

“He’s a good man,” Kyle said simply. “And his wife really is a jewel.”

“You were close to their son.” It wasn’t a question, but her tone invited him to tell her about his friend if he wanted to.

Kyle picked up the mug Mack had left on the coffee table. “He was the closest I ever came to having a brother.”

She swallowed, a little surprised he’d opened up even that much to her. “I’m sorry you lost him.”

He was silent for a long moment, perhaps to make sure his voice was uninflected when he said, “So am I.”

Without looking at her again, he carried the mug into the kitchen.

Remembering the two smiling friends in the photograph, Molly didn’t try to follow him immediately. The sizable lump in her throat made it doubtful that she’d have been able to speak steadily just then, herself.

Kyle wasn’t in any hurry to return to the living room where Molly waited. Though he was usually able to hold his emotions tightly reined around other people, seeing her looking at that photograph of him and Tommy with such sadness on her face had triggered his own grief again. He’d been able to push it back down, but it had taken a massive effort. He needed a few minutes to make sure the emotional barriers were firmly back in place before he rejoined her.

Before he could decide whether enough time had passed, she came to him.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked, standing in the doorway watching him too intently for comfort.

Though he was well aware she wasn’t talking about housework, he shook his head. “I’ve got everything cleared away in here. But thanks, anyway.”

She bit her lower lip, and he found himself aching to smooth the faint marks her teeth left. With his own lips. Which only went to show, he thought in disgust, that he wasn’t nearly as much in control of himself as he had hoped. Standing here wanting to kiss Molly Walker? Apparently he had temporarily lost his mind.

He had the odd sensation that the air was slowly escaping the room, leaving it hard for him to breathe. He tugged at the neckline of his gray sweatshirt. Glancing toward the windows, he cleared his throat. “Morning’s slipping away.”

She looked at her watch, then nodded slowly. “I suppose I should get on the road. It’s a long drive back to the ranch.”

“Too far for you to be making the trip by yourself,” he grumbled, genuinely concerned at the thought of her making that long drive alone. But what the hell was he supposed to do about it?

“I’ll be all right. I’ve got a car charger for my cell phone in case the battery goes dead, and a credit card for gas and expenses. My car’s in good shape, and the tires are brand-new. The only thing that doesn’t work is the radio, and I’ve got plenty of CDs.”

CDs and a credit card, and she thought she was prepared for anything. Hell.

“Call your brother as soon as you get a cell phone signal,” he ordered her. “Let him keep track of your progress this time.”

She nodded. “I will. Kyle—”