Moving On (Rolling Thunder #7) - P.J. Fiala Page 0,18

watched the water flow on by, still creating the mesmerizing flickers and glints, the sun now beginning to come closer to the horizon. In fifteen minutes, the sun would go down. It was breathtaking and awe inspiring.

"It was great. He's always so easy to talk to. Whenever I see him, I can see why you two are such good friends."

"He is, isn't he? No pressure. Great advice, while making you think it was your idea in the first place. And a great Pastor, too. Instead of preaching to you on Sundays, he's like the best storyteller. Making the bible seem like the book of a hundred stories, which is what it is, but he tells it in a way you can understand."

"I can see that. I think I'll go on Sunday and hear him firsthand."

Chase reached over and took LuAnn's hand in his and they sat for a long time watching the sun move ever closer to the horizon. A comfortable silence fell over them for a long time and he loathed to break it.

"I think it's great, LuAnn. I'd be happy to pick you up and bring you with me. We can ride with Greg after church and have lunch somewhere if you like."

She giggled and it sounded amazing. "I'd love to, but I don't want to take away your alone time with him."

He squeezed her hand then took a deep breath. "Rolling Thunder is in the last weeks of planning for the Veteran's Ride. I won't be available much in the next couple of weeks, so Sundays may be the only time we can get together. I hope you understand."

She was quiet for so long he turned his head to see if she'd heard him. Turning to him, just her head, not her body, she softly said, "Of course, I do."

Swallowing the nervousness that had risen to the top of his throat, he croaked out, "I'm sorry."

Clearing his throat, he hesitated before saying, "I'd bring you along if I could, LuAnn."

She lifted their linked hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles.

"I know you would, Chase. I certainly know why I can't be there. I'll keep myself otherwise occupied and it'll all be fine.” Lifting his right hand, he cupped her jaw and kissed her lips. Softly. Just enough to taste her lips. He'd been thinking about them for so damned long.

She kissed him back, softly, eagerly, but not over the top. Just her soft full lips against his. His tongue dipped along her lips and he was surprised to feel her tongue dance along his. It was almost shy and reverent, and it felt like the first time in so many ways. For one, neither of them was drunk nor playing at just getting laid. This was different, he wanted her to enjoy kissing him. He wanted her to want him. He wanted her to want him as he'd always wanted her. Was that too much to ask?

13

In her mind, she knew this was the way it would be. She'd likely never be welcomed at Rolling Thunder, or its events, ever again. But, just now, hearing Chase more or less say it, well that just hurt. She gave herself a moment to ensure she wouldn't cry. She’d done enough of that over the past three years. Crying herself to sleep at night just to let it out. She'd cry in the bathroom sometimes, but mostly quietly in her bunk, because it was dangerous in prison to let the others see you cry. They'd dig and find your weakness and use it against you, sometimes physically, and she couldn’t allow that, so she'd wait until deep in the night and smash her face into her pillow and let it all out.

Lost in her thoughts, she was surprised when he kissed her. It was so different this time. It was almost as if he were shy, or unsure of himself or maybe her reaction. In so many ways they were starting over now. They were both different people now. All the times they'd been together in the past, her head had been somewhere else on someone else. With Chase, she wasn't sure where his head had been. He liked getting laid. She saw how other women looked at him. She'd begun recently to look at him in a different light. He'd filled out a bit since she'd been gone. His muscles were more defined, his back broader and solid. As they rode here and she pressed herself against him,