Free His Healing Touch by Loree Lough

spasms were evidence enough that his friend knew who Kasey was. What could he be thinking, suggesting a thing like that!
    Wade must have read the heated expression on Adam’s face, because he quickly threw in, “Well, I guess that’s a pretty stupid idea, considering it’ll take a while to finish at Marcy’s.” He punctuated his statement with a burst of nervous laughter, then changed the subject. “The road’s all but washed out just around the bend to your place, Adam. All I can say is, I’m thankful for four-wheel drive.”
    Kasey groaned.
    Which made Wade say, “What?”
    “I don’t have four-wheel drive. In fact, I don’t have two -wheel drive.”
    He looked from her worried face to Adam’s. “Huh?”
    “She drives a car so small you could carry it in your pocket,” Adam explained, “and it’s stuck in the mud.”
    Wade waved the problem away. “We’ll get you unstuck and have you on your way in no time. Right, partner?”
    Getting Kasey on her way didn’t seem nearly as important as getting Wade on his way, before he spilled the beans. “Sure. Why not?”
    Grinning, Kasey got to her feet. “‘Here’s your hat, there’s the door, so what’s your hurry?”’ She began stacking plates. “Never let it be said Kasey Delaney doesn’t recognize when she’s worn out her welcome!”
    Despite Kasey’s wide smile, Adam couldn’t tell if she was kidding. Maybe she’d gotten good at pretending to feel what others expected her to feel, same as he had. True, he wanted to be rid of her, fast as possible, but only because he couldn’t bear to have her know about his past. If his and Wade’s conversation had hurt her feelings….
    He grabbed her hand without a thought as to how itmight look to Wade, or to Kasey, for that matter. “You could never wear out your welcome,” he blurted.
    From the corner of his eye, he saw Wade’s eyebrows rise. But it didn’t matter, because Kasey had tilted her head, smiling so warmly that she could have melted the ice in the freezer without opening the door.
    “What a nice thing to say, Adam.”
    She tilted her head the other way, and gave his hand a squeeze before turning to load the dishwasher. “Were you guys serious—about helping me get unstuck, I mean?”
    “’Course we were,” the men said in unison.
    Without facing them, Kasey said, “Then, when you’re finished at Marcy’s, the three of you can come to my place. I’ll fix you all a nice dinner, to thank Adam for taking me in last night, to thank both of you for getting my car out of the mud.”
    Adam opened his mouth, intending to say, Thanks, but no thanks, when Wade spouted, “Hey, that sounds great! What time should we be there?”
    Hanging his head, Adam heaved a sigh. Well, just this once. But after tonight—and after he had a moment alone with Wade—that’d be it.
    No more Kasey Delaney in his life—at least not up close and personal….
     
    Kasey’s mother had left an hour earlier to help her Ladies’ Auxiliary friends prepare for the upcoming silent auction. And moments ago, Aleesha had climbed into the Resurrection van, headed for a Halloween costume party in the basement of the church.
    Kasey had spent the better half of the morning cleaning the house, part of the afternoon shopping for groceries, and the past few hours preparing the meal she’d serve Wade, Marcy and Adam. The table had been set since three, andshe’d been dressed and ready since four. Hopefully, the threesome would arrive at five, the scheduled time, because the lasagna would be ready to come out of the oven by then. She wanted to have everything cleaned up before the trick-or-treaters began to—
    As if on cue, the doorbell chimed. Drying her hands on a blue-and-yellow plaid dish towel, she hurried to the door. One last peek in the mirror. Yes, her lipstick was fine, and no, her hair hadn’t slipped out of the loose braid. Taking a deep breath, she felt reasonably ready to let them in. Smiling, she threw open