First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

kept going, growing and building, burning between them. The sounds of other people in the maze and the wind through the corn began to fade away. Leah tried to reign it back in, tried to remember they were in a public place.

“Get a room!” someone called loudly from above. All the sounds came rushing back. Leah and Cade both swiveled around following the sound of giggles. Sky and Liam stood several yards away on a raised bridge.

“Hey, you two, how’d you get up there?” Cade laughed, pulling Leah to her feet.

“It’s not far, just around the next couple turns,” Sky pointed vaguely. “We found the spot. Hurry up!”

“Yeah, hurry up!” Liam parroted.

“Yeah, hurry up!” Leah joined in, pushing on Cade’s back. They could still hear both kids laughing as they rounded the corner out of sight.

Cade retaliated by spinning and pulling her close for another quick, hard kiss. His hands slipped into the back pockets of her jeans, pulling her extra-close.

The kiss ended too soon. Cade grabbed her hand to pull her along. Distracted by the kiss, she did not move as soon as he tugged and her wrist took the brunt of the force. She hissed as she sucked in her breath sharply.

“You are hurt!” Cade glared down at her with annoyance and concern. “And not just your wrist either. You aren’t tired from walking, you’re sore from falling.” He crossed his arms, waiting.

“Well, not hurt-hurt. But yes, I’m sore. Sorry.” She looked down at the dirt path. Kicked at a few stray kernels of corn. Wonder how they got there: human or critter? They seemed to be strewn everywhere.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cade’s voice was gentle as he raised her face to his.

“I didn’t want to wreck it. Sky is finally happy and we are having fun and—” He cut her off with a kiss.

“You kept your own pain quiet for my kids’ happiness. What am I going to do with you?” He kissed her again and took her arm, tucked it through his and led the way.

Sure enough, the kids had found the next marker. Cade brought out the map and Liam used his green crayon to rub the etching onto their paper. Leah inwardly sighed, thankful there were only two more left.

“Okay, I hate to say it but I think we should use the map. We’ve backtracked more than ever this year and I’m ready for donuts. Whaddya say?” Cade sounded casual but Leah knew he was doing this for her.

“Mmm, donuts,” Sky’s voice sounded dreamy. Her answer was obvious.

“Donuts sound really good to me too,” Leah agreed. “And I’m thirsty.”

“Mmm, donuts and cider,” Sky repeated, her eyes closing in reverence.

Liam looked from Cade to Sky before throwing his fist in the air and yelling, “Dooooooo-nuuuuutssss!”

The whole group laughed. Clearly, that answered that. Cade checked the map and found the quickest route to the next marker. He led the way and did the crayon rubbing himself.

Leah studied the map with Cade. The last marker was quite far away. When Cade made the announcement, everyone groaned at the discovery. As the children debated whether or not to skip the last marker, Cade continued to study the map. When he looked up, there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh no,” Leah laughed, “I remember that look.”

“Uh-oh. Dad, what are you thinking?” Sky asked, probably already guessing.

“Look,” he pointed at the map. “It’s not too far if we . . .” He looked around to make sure they were alone before whispering, “cut through here and here.”

Cade looked at Leah. Leah looked at Sky. Sky looked at her dad and smiled. “Let’s do this,” Sky said. “I’ll go first. Don’t come out until I say it’s clear.”

They scanned the path and when they were sure they were alone, Sky ducked under the barrier tape and disappeared. Cade lifted the tape as high as it would go. Leah took Liam’s hand and they entered the corn. She glanced back and saw Cade take one more look around before he followed. Leah had to admit that being sneaky and breaking the rules with Cade was fun.

After they returned to following the path, they found the second cheating spot and repeated the procedure. They were all having fits of giggles by the time they found the final marker.

“Okay, Sky, last one. Let ’er rip!” Cade held out their almost completed sheet. She took out her dark purple crayon and held it over the paper.

“Come on, Sky. Hurry up! Donuts!” Liam demanded.

Sky still hesitated. Finally she turned and wordlessly handed her crayon to Leah.

“I’d be honored, thank you,” Leah’s voice was quiet with emotion. She took the crayon and rubbed it on the paper creating the last mark. She handed the crayon back to Sky.

Leah watched as Liam whooped and danced around chanting “donut” over and over. Cade grabbed Sky in for a side hug, squeezed her tight and kissed the top of her head before releasing her. Sky went to her brother and corralled him along the path.

Cade and Leah stood silently for a second. Before they could follow, they heard giggling and hurried footsteps coming up behind them. Three little girls rushed past. They were linked arm in arm. Leah looked around for their parents but there was no one in sight.

Just before the girls hit the next turn in the path, the middle girl looked back. Caught off guard, Leah stumbled. Cade steadied her.

“You okay?”

“Yes, I . . .” She looked again but the girls were long gone. “I must have stepped funny.” It wasn’t really a lie, she told herself. She had stepped wrong when she thought she saw her niece. But Emmie could not be here. She would not be here without her Mom and sister. Leah shook her head. “I’m fine, really. Just tired.”

“Okay, come on, let’s get you outta here.” Cade gave her a quick kiss and grabbed her arm to lead her safely out of the maze.

Emerging from the path out of the