Sweet Reunion (34 page)

The physical shock of it caused her to look up in
surprise, and when she did, she saw that he also looked taken aback. Their eyes
met, and he smiled, the dimple in full force. It was a grin so big and bright
and just flat out sexy, that she got the jolt again. This time, though, it was
in a place that was nowhere near as innocent as her arm.

Ryan drew his hand back slowly, trailing his fingers
along the inside of her wrist and palm, never lowering the wattage on his grin,
and never breaking eye contact. She heard a small gasp escape her, but was
powerless to stop it.

In a far corner of her brain, she heard Amanda
talking, but had to struggle to discern what she was saying.

“Ryan,” Amanda inquired, “Did you visit your grandma
here in Hope Falls one summer, maybe 15 years ago?”

Ryan reluctantly tore his gaze away from Karina's, and
replied, “Yes, I sure did. Great memory!”

Amanda slapped the table, “Yes, I knew it! I knew you
looked familiar. Karina, Ryan was here that summer you went to music camp. I
don't think you two ever met.”

“We didn't,” Ryan assured Karina, locking his eyes
back onto hers, “Trust me, I wouldn't have forgotten that.”

“Well, it wouldn't have mattered,” Renata said matter
of factly, “My granddaughter was very serious about her music then, as she is
now. No time for young men.”

“Grandmother!” Karina hissed, embarrassed.

“Were you not expressing that sentiment only moments
ago?” Renata responded placidly.

“Do you play music?” Ryan asked with interest.

Karina nodded, trying to get her bearings about her,
and hoping that this turn of the conversation to music, a subject that she was
more than comfortable with, would help her to get control of herself.

Sue Ann beamed as she clapped a hand on Ryan's
shoulder, “Oh, Ryan plays the guitar, and he writes the most beautiful songs! I
had him bring in his guitar to keep in the back, and he's been playing for my
customers when it's not too busy in here! I had actually been meaning to
introduce you two, because I know that you do music, and my boy here does
music, so I thought you might get along real well together!”

“Oh, I think that was a great idea,” Amanda enthused,
“I have a feeling they're going to get along
really
well together!”

Karina breathed deeply in an attempt to calm herself
down, and in an attempt to distract herself from her powerful wish that the
world would open up and swallow her right then and there. This was such a new
feeling for her. She was used to being completely in control of situations like
this. People got flustered when they met
her
, not the other way around!
This was nuts!

Amanda said, “Ryan, are you busy tomorrow? My fiancé
Justin and I are helping Kar move into her new house. We could use an extra set
of hands. And afterwards, pizza and beer?”

Ryan smiled widely, never taking his eyes from Karina,
“Sounds like a good time. I'd love to see where you live,” he said, with an
unmistakably sexy undertone to his voice.

“Great! We'll meet you here at 7. You bring the
coffee. We'll bring the...well, you just bring the coffee,” Amanda laughed.

Sue Ann beamed. She was clearly happy with this turn
of events. “Ryan, it's not too busy in here. Why don't you go get your guitar
and play a couple of songs?” she suggested.

At this, Ryan did blush again, much like he had when
Sue Ann had enthusiastically introduced him.

“I don't know, Grandma...” he started, but Amanda
interrupted him.

“Oh, no, Ryan, please do! We'd love to hear you!” she
enthused, “Right, Karina?” she added significantly, elbowing Karina in the
ribs. Ryan still looked unsure.

Karina opened her mouth to try to form some kind of
clever comeback. Something that would show this gorgeous man that she was a
powerful, clever, witty, strong woman. Something that would stick in his mind,
make him laugh later when he remembered it, make him start to think of her in
the way that she wanted to be seen.

“Um...yes...” was all she managed to get out.

However, to her surprise, this seemed to do the trick.
A slow smile spread across his features, and he seemed to stand even taller
than he was before. “Well, OK, then,” he said cheerfully, and disappeared into
the back to get his guitar.

Amanda followed Karina's gaze, “You hate to see him
go,  but you love to watch him leave,” she concluded.

Karina looked over at Amanda with a stupefied gaze,
“What the hell was that?” she whispered intensely, “I can't believe myself!
I've never behaved like that before! He must think I'm an idiot. Why. Do. I.
Care?? What is wrong with me?”

Karina slapped her palm to her forehead and Amanda laughed.
“You're fine! It's infatuation. It happens to the best of us.”

Renata looked disapproving.

Karina nodded furiously, “OK, yes, that must be it.
Temporary insanity. Look! Now that he's out of the room, it's disappeared
completely. I think I'm fine. I'm not in trouble....I'm good!”

Ryan came out of the kitchen doors carrying his guitar
and perched on a stool on the other end of the room. In one swift movement, he
slipped the strap over his neck and balanced the body of the guitar on his
knee. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he began to strum and pick
at the strings.

Karina recognized the expression on his face, she
frequently wore the exact same one. It was the look of someone lost in the
music.

Just then, he opened his mouth and began to sing. His
voice was gorgeous, rich and textured, and he used it expertly, exploring every
layer and nuance at his disposal. Silky one minute, gravelly the next, then
soaring into a falsetto that carried Karina to another world.

She felt the room around her slip away. She closed her
eyes and felt his voice wash over her – warm, velvety, powerful. She felt it
like a physical thing, surrounding her, and permeating her.

She didn't realize until she felt Amanda take her
hand, and then felt warm drops splashing onto her forearm, that two large tears
had rolled down her cheeks – she had been that transported by Ryan's voice and
music, she wasn't even aware that it had made her cry.

She looked over at Amanda and her eyes widened, nearly
in panic as she hastily wiped her face, attempting to be as subtle as possible.

“Oh, God,” she breathed to her friend, “Maybe I
am
in trouble!”

About the
Author

Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Sweet
Reunion is their debut novel. Originally from Northern California, they now
make their home in So Cal – but they wish they lived in Hope Falls!

You can keep up
with all the latest Melanie Shawn news, including new releases and contests,
at:

http://melanieshawn.com

and

http://facebook.com/melanieshawnbooks