Sally stopped beside her with an expression that communicated, You kissed that man!

“Yes I did,” Finley replied. Boy, had she kissed that man.

She pulled out her phone and texted Meadow and Bridget.

Finley

Something integral shifted between Luke and me tonight. He finally told me how he felt about me, and I told him I felt the same way. I’m giddy. And a little frightened. But really happy.

Bridget

Oh, Finley! I knew it. I’m delighted for you two.

Meadow

You deserve all the happiness in the world. However, I’m speaking on behalf of your best interests when I advise caution.

Bridget

Let’s get together ASAP to discuss the details.

Meadow

Definitely.

Finley

Agreed.

A full minute passed before Bridget followed up with another text.

Bridget

Is this a sign from God that Derek and I are destined to be together?

Meadow

The short answer is no.

Not surprisingly, Meadow had responded to tonight’s turn of events by urging caution. Finley saw the value in that. Luke had agreed to nothing, after all. Best to temper her expectations.

Yes. Well and good. Expectations tempered!

That said, a little bit of celebration was merited. Luke Dempsey had created a trapdoor in his defenses just big enough for her to slip through. That trapdoor represented a sacred trust she could never betray.

Luke steered his truck through dark mountain roads. He’d probably live to regret the things he’d said and done tonight. But when it came down to it, he’d been unable to stop himself from saying and doing them.

He replayed it all. Then replayed it again and again. He worked to adjust to what had happened. To make himself believe it. To get used to the unfamiliar satisfaction . . . or hope . . . or happiness that had stolen over him.

Until a few minutes ago, he’d taken for granted that she’d had sex with Chase. They’d been in a serious relationship for years, then been engaged. He’d also assumed that she’d had sex with people before Chase.

He’d defaulted into thinking that her past was similar to his own. A mistake, because Finley was nothing like him. She was a quirky animal activist, a hippie for Jesus. Based on everything he knew about her, her view on sex made sense.

He came to a stop sign. Turned.

He’d never been with a virgin. Even the girls he’d slept with in high school had been experienced. So how come kissing Finley . . . just kissing her and nothing else . . . had been the most powerful physical experience he’d ever had?

He wanted to tell himself that he didn’t know the answer, but that wasn’t true. The power of kissing her had nothing to do with how worldly he was or how worldly she wasn’t. It was because of her and how he felt about her.

It seemed impossible, but she liked him back.