Hold Me Forever: a feel-good romance (The Maxwell Brothers)

‘Tyler, can we play Twister?’ Tim asked as soon as we got back to the cabin.

The honest answer was no. All I wanted to do was go upstairs with Kendra. But Tim was looking at me with huge eyes. It was a tactic kids often used; I knew it from Paisley. I’d always assumed it worked on me because she was my niece, but no, it seemed to work generally, because I suddenly couldn’t tell him no.

‘Sure. Who else wants to play?’ I asked loudly.

It turned out that everyone wanted to play. There were two sets of Twister, twenty kids, and four adults, so we took turns. I couldn’t take my eyes off Kendra. The woman was beautiful inside and out. I wasn’t attracted to her just because she was smoking hot. She was also a kind soul. She radiated happiness and inner strength that I admired. For some reason, she’d held back while we were in Chicago, but she’d opened up this weekend, and I wanted to use every opportunity to spend time with her.

It was midnight by the time everyone went to bed. Everyone except me and Kendra, who was sitting on the couch, looking at her phone. I sat next to her.

“Want to stay down here longer or are you tired?” I asked.

“I am tired, but I want to stay.” She turned the phone to me. “I was looking at pics of my new home. I’ve already packed some boxes with stuff I don’t need on a day-to-day basis and will move them there as soon as possible.”

“Congratulations.”

“I’m so happy about it. I’ve wanted to be a homeowner since I was like eleven, I think.”

He smiled. “Thanks for telling me that. I want to learn more about you.”

“More what exactly?”

“Everything. What’s your favorite food?

“Steak.”

“What do you like to do in your free time?’

‘In cold weather, I’m a homebody. I have my reading nook, though I’ve always wanted to have one of those fancy rocking chairs with a remote, where you can relax and stretch out.’

I made a mental note about that.

“And in the warmer weather,” she continued, “I spend a lot of time around the lake. Swimming, sunning, kayaking, just doing summer stuff. You?”

“I typically don’t have a lot of free time during the fall and winter seasons. I make sure I see my family regularly, but that’s about it.”

“Stop making me swoon. It’s unfair.”

“No it’s not.” I leaned in, dragging the tip of my nose up the side of her neck. “And I’ve got all day tomorrow to do the same.”

Clearing her throat, she placed her hands on my chest, pushing me away a few inches. “I’m supervising this event, so I have to pay attention to stuff.”

“And you will. But in between all those walks in the canyon, I’ll have plenty of time to interrogate you.”

The corners of her mouth twitched, even though she was fighting to stay serious.

“I bet you will.”

Next morning, we woke up early, and we were one of the first visitors in the national park. Mr. Dawson was leading the group of kids. Kendra and I were in the rear. The kids were throwing question after question at me, just like last night.

‘Okay, we need brochures,’ the teacher said as soon as we reached the information point.

‘I can get some,’ Kendra said.

‘I’ll come with you,’ I added, looking at her intently. She blushed. All morning, all we’d done was exchange glances, but now I wanted more. I knew the kids were going to ask about hockey during the whole trip in the park, and that was fine by me, but right now I wanted a few minutes alone with Kendra.

‘Sure. Let’s go,’ she said. ‘We’ll be back right away.’

‘Okay. Come on.’

We walked side by side.

‘Are you afraid I wasn’t going to find the way by myself?’ Kendra asked in a teasing tone once the group was out of earshot.

‘Yes. That, and I’d eyed those trees there ever since they came in my visual field.’

She followed my gaze. ‘What for?’

I leaned in, right in her ear. ‘Kissing.’

‘Tyler,’ she whispered, but laughed as I took her hand and brought her right behind them. You had to step through three bushes to get there. That’s how I knew no one would bother us.

‘You are full of ideas in the morning.’

‘To get what I want? You bet I am.’

I captured her mouth, putting my right hand on her cheek, keeping it in place so I could kiss her the way I wanted. Oh, fuck. The more I kissed her, the more I wanted. I groaned, pulling back.

She looked at me through hooded eyes, but then cleared her throat. She smiled. I was proud that the look in her eyes was dazed. ‘I think this will be the last kiss you’ll get today, mister. The kids seem obsessed to keep you talking.’

‘That’s possible. But Kendra, on Sunday, we’ll be back in Chicago, and then all bets will be off.’