“How did you know where I live?”
“The same way you know where I live.”
Hillary.“But you’ve never come before.”
“Not inside.”
“You’ve been outside?”
“Um-hmm.”
She made a small sound.“How did you know which room was mine?”
“I waited till it got dark, then watched.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“Oh, Cutter!”She hugged him again, and this time when she held him back, her mouth found his.If she’d had any lingering doubts, they vanished.No one kissedlike Cutter did.No one devoured and adored at the same time.No one else could arouse her with a breath.She gave herself up to it, floated, rose, until sheer excitement had her gasping for air.“Oh, Cutter,” she whispered, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I am.”
“After all this time.”
“Four years.”
“More.”
“Four and a half.”
“An eternity.I’ve missed you so.”She went into his arms again, and this time warm tears flowed against his neck.
He hugged her tightly.“Ahhhh, babe.”
She was in heaven.“For the longest time I didn’t know where you were, and when Hillary told me, I was angry that you hadn’t written or called.”
“I couldn’t.”
“She said you were afraid.”
“I still am.”
“But you have a name now.”She caught her breath at the reminder and, incredibly, felt a twinge of shyness when she drew back and looked up.“You’ve done so much.I see those magazine ads and pinch myself.I show them to my friends and tell them that I knew you before you were famous.You travel all the time.You meet lots of people.It must be an exciting life.”
“It’s a means to an end.”
“But it’s so glamorous.”She tried to make out more of him in the dark, without success.She would have turned on a light, but she feared she might find him a stranger.Soshe left the light off and ran her fingers through his hair.It was as thick and vibrant as ever and had the feel of casual disarray.The disarray was far more sculpted, though, than it had been in Timiny Cove.“You’ve changed,” she whispered timidly.
“No.”
“You must have.You’ve come so far.”
“I’m still me.”
“Do you love me?”
“I’ll love you till the day I die.”