Page 93 of The Scars We Heal

With a loud boom, all the lights above me flickered out, shrouding the house in darkness. From my view out the kitchen window, I saw the power had also gone off in the guest house.

I had a few lanterns and flashlights lying around, but I wasn’t sure what the guest house was equipped with in terms of candles or flashlights.

Pursing my lips, I debated whether or not to take action. Colter had told me not to go to her, but this was an emergency, and he told me to give her the rest of the day. It was evening now.

I could just run over to the guest house, drop the supplies on the porch, knock and go back home. I wouldn’t even have to stay.

Yeah, I thought. That’ll work.

Scooping up a few flashlights and a lantern, I mentally prepared myself to go outside. Taking a deep breath, I emerged from the safety of the house’s overhang, rain and wind pelting my face the moment I stepped on the lawn.

Even though the houses were close together, I was so focused on making it to the guest house that I didn’t notice the figure standing on the grass in the middle of the downpour.

It was Caitlin in a navy-blue rain jacket, hair drenched with rainwater.

“Hi,” she squeaked out.

The front pieces of my hair clung to my forehead, and I pushed them back. “Hey.”

Her eyes dragged down my rain-soaked body then back up. “What are you doing?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I laughed before holding up the flashlights and lantern. “I wanted to bring these over. I didn’t want you guys to be in the dark over here with the power out, and I didn’t know if there were flashlights or candles or anything inside.”

A blush creeped into her cheeks as she admitted, “Oh, well, I was headed over to your place. You’re right. There aren’t many things over here to use for light. I was going to see if you had anything. At least a flashlight so I could put it in Whitley’s room. She doesn’t like the dark.”

“Ah.” I nodded.

Neither of us said a word as the rain soaking through our clothes.

“It’s really coming down. I…here.” I started to hand over the supplies. “I should let you get back to the house. You’re going to be—well, you’re already drenched, and I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Spinning on my heel, I took a step toward the main house.

Cait’s hand pressed down on my shoulder, and I looked back at her.

“Do you want to come back with me?” she blurted. “So you can dry off, and then you don’t have to be alone. We’re also closer to mine.”

I glanced between the guest house and the main house. We were only about two feet closer to hers, and I fought back a grin.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine, too, I just thought maybe…” Caitlin stumbled over her words.

“Do you want me to? Come over?”

Worrying her lip between her teeth, she nodded.

“Come on, then.” I threw my arm over her shoulder, water squishing between our layers.

She paused abruptly, halting before we could get very far. “Jake.”

I lifted my arm off her and turned so I was facing her. “Cait?”

As quickly as the flash of lightning overhead, the lights tumbled out of her hands onto the ground. Then her lips were crashing onto mine, fingers tangling through my hair.

My hands found her waist, and I tugged her toward me. My tongue swiped across the seam of her lips, requesting access. She opened for me, and the kiss deepened, desperate and wanting. Like my life was dependent on kissing her, and if I stopped, the air in my lungs would cease to exist.

Cupping her face with my hands, I nipped at her lip, pulling a soft moan from her.

The storm still hadn’t eased up, thunder cracking and rain pelting our faces, but neither had we, continuing to kiss like long-lost lovers reunited.

When we finally broke apart, our breaths mingled together in the air, our warm exhales a stark contrast to the bitter Montana wind.