Free Across the Creek by Jeremy Asher Page A

sensation to kiss her came over him.
    “That was a long time ago, Jesse. But I think about that place often,” Sarah said, looking back at the photograph. The sincerity in her voice played on Jesse’s heart strings, making it even more difficult for him to keep from wrapping his arms around her. She stared at the picture the same way an art collector might gaze upon a Rembrandt. In that moment, Jesse wanted nothing more than to kiss her.
    She turned back to Jesse and their eyes locked in silent communication. Jesse felt it and he knew she had to feel it too. Her lips pressed tight and then parted, the tip of her tongue wetting them. He leaned in closer, waiting for her to pull back, but she didn’t. Eyes still locked, he turned his head.
    “SURPRISE!”
    Jesse and Sarah quickly pulled back and looked toward the front door. And just like that, the moment was lost.

 
Chapter 9
    Sarah
    Sarah pushed her way through the crowd of congratulating people. She had spent weeks planning and putting this thing together and now she was missing it. The surprise, the look on his face, everything was happening while she was reminiscing with Jesse. And as much as she enjoyed seeing him after all these years, it was time to focus on the future, and Kevin.
    A bright smile covered Kevin’s face. “Did you put all of this together?” he asked, placing his hands on Sarah’s hips.
    “Of course I did. Are you surprised?”
    “Totally. I had no idea.”
    “Well, I’m glad you like it.”
    “Like it?” Kevin pulled her closer to him. “I love it.” He reached down and gave her a slow, gentle kiss. People around them clapped and cheered. “They approve.”
    Sarah leaned into Kevin and whispered, “So do I.”
    Kevin grabbed Sarah by the hand. “Come on, I want to say hi to everyone.”
    Together they made the rounds, Sarah by Kevin’s side. She knew most of the people here. Most were guys Kevin had worked with or had gone to school with. Some of the women looked familiar, too, but most were the guys’ dates, people Sarah had never met until tonight.
    Kevin had always been good with people. He had a way about him. A politician’s smile and an actor’s good looks made him easy to talk to. In fact, he was the one who had made first contact over two years ago. She and her father were having lunch at a restaurant, sitting outside on the sidewalk, enjoying the sun and their meals. Kevin had just finished up a work lunch with a client and was saying goodbye.
    Sarah had noticed him looking her way. At first she thought that he must have been looking at someone else who happened to be in her direction, but when she realized that all the tables around her were empty, it was evident that he had been checking her out.
    On his way out, Kevin walked up to her table and first introduced himself to her father, telling him that his daughter was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. When he introduced himself to Sarah, he kissed her on the hand, like some European gentleman. He left her with his business card and said he hoped to hear from her soon.
    It took her four weeks to work up the nerve to call him.
    “Sarah did this.” Kevin kissed her on the cheek, bringing her back to the party. “She put this together for me,” he said to Fred, one of his work colleagues.
    Fred was like Kevin: charming, wealthy, and very confident. “She’s quite the catch.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know.”
    “You guys are too kind,” Sarah said, looking away, trying to hide the embarrassment she felt heating her cheeks.
    She caught Jesse staring at her. Something in his eyes said that he was unhappy—lonely. Although he was just as handsome as anyone else in this room, he didn’t fit this crowd. She wondered if he would fit into any crowd. He had a loner quality to him, the type that came from a rough upbringing.
    But there was something else about him too. Something pure.
    “I have a surprise for you,” Kevin said.
    “And what might that