Page 107 of Second Time Around

“I’m going to start looking at flights right when we get home,” Barb said excitedly.

And so it went. While Nick and Stacy were bombarded with comments, questions, and well-wishes, Jenna spied an opportunity and nabbed it.

Taking Beck’s hand, she pulled him into the kitchen and then out through the patio door and into the backyard.

“Where are you taking me?” he asked, sounding amused.

“Behind that tree.” She pointed to a mature oak tree in the back corner of the lot.

It reminded her of when they used to sneak away from family events as teens, mostly so they could steal a kiss or ten. They were adults now, but it still gave her a thrill.

“There,” she said, leaning her back against the oak tree and breathing hard. It had rained recently, and her heels were caked with mud, but she didn’t care. They were alone, and that was all that mattered.

Beck penned her in with his body, cupped her face in his hands, and then tipped his head down and kissed her.

Of all the kisses she’d had, his were still the best. Afterward, he gazed at her like he was the lucky one.

“They’ll wonder where we are,” he said with a smile.

“They’ll be occupied for a while.”

“What did you think of Stacy’s announcement?”

“Florida sounds great, if you’ll be my date.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“We might need to take dance lessons.”

“How come?”

“We didn’t get to dance together much before...”

“Our prom night was cut short,” he finished for her.

She nodded, but for once, the memory didn’t make her sad. “Now we’ll have another chance.”

“I promise it’ll be even better the second time around.”

“I believe you,” she whispered.

They kissed again and, holding hands, went back into the house.