Aboard the Wishing Star (25 page)
Read Aboard the Wishing Star Online
Authors: Debra Parmley
His hands caressed the planes of her back as her tension eased away, replaced by a different kind of tension. One that built slowly as his fingertips traced a gentle path over her body, followed by kisses which raised that hum within her.
They kissed and touched each other, celebrating the gift of life, the gift they brought to each other until soon they both rode on a great wave of passion. She rose to meet him and together they crested that wave until it broke, leaving them both panting in each other's arms like the edge of the sea drifting in and out across the sand once the wave had moved on.
He rolled onto his side and gathered her into his arms kissing her forehead. "I love you, sweetheart."
His cell phone rang.
Nate answered the phone. "Hello?" He listened for a moment. "Hold on, I want Kara to hear this." He turned on the speaker and handed the phone to her. "It's the police."
"Yes?" Kara said, holding her breath.
"Ms. Worth, Daryl Swinford has been picked up and he's being processed as we speak. You can rest easy now."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God."
"With the evidence we found at his house, the probability of conviction is high."
"Oh, thank God." She exhaled a great sigh of relief. "What was at his house?"
"Let's just say he's been watching you for some time, ma'am. We have enough photos and video along with the other evidence to put him away for a long time."
Thanking the officer, she hung up the phone and turned to Nate with a huge smile. "Let's celebrate."
He smiled back at her. "And just how would you like to celebrate, sweetheart'?"
She leaned in for a kiss. "Like this."
*****
She'd fallen asleep again after hours of lovemaking and she woke to Nate showering kisses all over her body.
He paused, seeing she was awake.
"Kara, I love you."
Nate's words of reassurance while snorkeling came back to her. "Take a chance Kara. I've got you."
She'd take a chance and move to be with Nate. They'd talked about it. It was amazing how much talking they'd done in between making love.
Nate would take care of her. He already had. He was a very capable man, but he wouldn't take care of her the way Neil had, doing everything for her, treating her like a child without expecting anything of her.
Nate expected her to do things for herself. He believed in her, believed her capable of things she'd never even dreamed of. And that belief strengthened her.
She now had a strength she'd never even realized, but Nate saw it in her all along. He'd stand by her side supporting her in everything she did.
What more could she ask for?
Again his words repeated in her head. "The only way to live life is to face your fears. If you don't they will control you."
She was aware of how fear could control a person.
"I want to share my life with you. I'll stand beside you each step of the way. But only if it's what you want."
"Oh, Nate, I love you. Yes, I want to be with you, however long our forever turns out to be. One moment of this is worth everything." She closed her eyes as she tears welled up.
She dared the biggest risk of all, her heart. Then Kara was in his arms, releasing all her hesitation, her fears, her thoughts as his arms closed around her, holding her tight.
Love and life could be a great adventure with the right man by her side.
*****
Kara sailed the seas with Nate and painted portraits of the nighttime sea.
The secret dream that had been buried beneath her predictable, safe life spilled forth like the most precious shell washed onto the sand. Painting became a part of her life and she found, to her surprise, she was quite good at it.
And in every painting she painted, up in the right hand corner was a small but bright, wishing star.
The End
About Debra Parmley
Debra Parmley is the author of two western historical romance books,
Dangerous Ties
and
A Desperate Journey
. For more about Debra's books as well as her poetry and short stories please visit her website. http://www.debraparmley.com
Originally from Ohio, Debra now lives in Tennessee, just outside Memphis. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two sons. Debra enjoys history and in her spare time is a living history reenactor with the Society for Creative Anachronism where she enjoys primitive archery, embroidery and dance. A former travel consultant who has set foot in thirteen countries, Debra enjoys setting her contemporary romances in many of the places she has visited.
It is with infinite love and gratitude that she gives thanks for this opportunity to fulfill her dream of sharing her stories with readers all over the world. One of Debra's greatest joys is hearing from her readers.
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