Once Bitten, Twice Shy

"It was just a kiss, Alex. Don't let your head swell up that way. It's unsightly."

He silently followed her up the trail and then fell in beside her as they crossed the field. He gazed down at her reflectively.

"Just a kiss?" His expression was pensive.

Hiding her desire for him seemed a wise thing to do a few minutes ago, but maybe he thought she kissed every man like that. In truth, she had never kissed any man like that, and it troubled her that he might think she was easy. She stared up at him, struggling over her next move.

Slowly a twinkle started in his eyes and a smile plucked at the corners of his mouth. He knew.

Warmth flooded up her neck and she smiled.

"Katie is going to be worried. I've been gone a long time."

He chuckled. "Bill picked Katie up a half hour ago."

Her heart lurched. They were alone? She wiped sweaty palms on her jeans and swallowed a lump in her throat. How could Katie run off like that?

Alex cleared his throat. "I thought we might go out for lunch and do some site seeing."

"That would be nice," she answered quickly.

This time the car he rented was a little white 4-door car. It was simple and comfortable. Lunch was at a rustic little seafood place in Rogers called Catfish John's, and afterward she directed him to the War Eagle Mill. The narrow black highway ribboned smoothly down hill under a canopy of trees. Soon a green river winked at them playfully between rocks and bushes, and roared impressively as they entered the clearing at the mill site. Three stories tall, the old mill stood picturesquely at the edge of the river, an old metal one-lane bridge at one side beckoned travelers to visit the lush pastures on the other side.

They spent the next fifteen minutes exploring the inside of the mill, and then they went out to the bridge. Alex took her hand as they started up the wooden ramp, and laced his fingers through hers. She glanced up at him and he pressed his warm palm against hers. Somehow he made it seem so intimate. He gazed down at her somberly. What was going on behind those dark eyes?

They found a place on the side of the bridge and stared down at the water as it roared over the spillway. A car crossed the bridge behind them, leaving a wake of squeaking and groaning metal and wood.

Alex slipped a protective arm around her waist and gazed at the mill.