Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 53

There it was. The sound of the front storm door hitting the door frame. "Three. Two. One." Kristin counted under her breath as she turned around in her bedroom doorway with a big smile on her face, only to be met with confusion from Heath.

"What was that all about? Huh, Kristin?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you talking about, and good for you for changing your mind to come tonight. You'd better take care with what you wear though."

"What? Yeah." He replied, even more confused. "I'll figure something out." he said, "But what just happened?"

"I don't know. I really wasn't a part of the conversation. Just window dressing." She batted her eyes at him just once. "I really do need to shower though."

Heath reached around her to block her from getting away from any direction. "I don't know if I like you going to hang out, that's why I changed my mind."

"How much is my uncle paying you to babysit?" Kristin squinted her eyes at him. "You were dead-set on not coming at all and now--"

"He said you're probably as safe as anyone can get while you're here, but I don't trust your boss."

She slapped his shoulder playfully, "You ARE jealous!"

"I am not! And your uncle says he trusts you and your judgement so..."

"So, what?" Her breath hitched as she realized how close Heath was and how broody his eyes were.

"I don't know." He must have realized it too, because his clarity of mind had just been swept out the window as he looked at Kristin's lips, then her eyes and slammed his lips to hers.

He laced his fingers through her hair at the nape of her neck and she wrapped her arms around his waist, and when she thought he was going to deepen the kiss, right as Kristin noticed some kind of electrical surge pass through her body, they heard Grandma Johnston.

"Oh, my goodness gracious, you two! Well, isn't this nice!" She exclaimed as the couple parted and grinned as if they'd been caught, well, because they had been caught, making out. "Don't mind me, I just need to go get my laundry out of the closet. She tapped Heath on the back and said, "Excuse me, Heath." and she went on her way down the hall.

Heath checked his watch and raked his hand through his hair and Kristin sucked her top lip between her teeth. "You'd better go shower." He reminded her as he backed up into the hallway. "I promise I won't lurk in your doorway."

"Yeah." was all she could manage as she waited for him to pass so she could get to the bathroom.

*****

Kathleen was sitting at the kitchen table drinking an herbal tea when Heath walked in. She immediately arched her right eyebrow in his direction.

"I know, I know, Gramma! I went against all the things I told you since we got here." He rubbed his face with both hands, pulled out a chair from the table and turned it around to sit on it backwards.

"It's not only that, Heath Johnston, you yourself told me she's vulnerable. That she's in a bad place. Be careful with her feelings, young man!"

"I'm 30, Gramma. I'm not that young."

"But Kristin is what? twenty-six?"

"Twenty-four." He said after a pause in conversation so he wouldn't mess up her cover.

Gramma put an old, wrinkled hand on top of his. "If you need to get away, get away. It's best to have a clear mind about these things, if you ask me." She nodded her head and took a sip of her tea and squeezed her grandson's hand. "Have you talked to your Father lately?"