Page 43 of A Whim and a Prayer

Beck swallowed hard, the moment way too real to suit. “So … so, all this time …” His hands burned hot as he carefully cradled her face in his palms, pulse taking off in a sprint, “you weren’t trying to beat me. You were trying to stand beside me.”

A single tear slowly slid down Winnie’s cheek, and it took everything in him not to crush her in a hug like always. Her lower lip quivered as she peered up, drawing his gaze to her mouth with a jolt. “I don’t need to be better than you, Frank. I just need to be with you.”

Beck stared, heart battering his ribcage as his palms slowly skimmed down to caress her arms, raw emotion swelling in his throat. “Well then, Annie Oakley…” he whispered, his breathing suddenly shallow and hoarse, “that’s one contest I’m happy to lose.”

Eyes sheathing closed, he pulled her close, and for the first time in his wildest dreams, his lips met Winnie’s, soft and supple against his, the taste of chocolate kisses she so craved tingling his mouth with a craving of his own. Thunderous applause broke out, but all Beck heard was her soft gasp as he leaned in, lost in one of the few kisses he would ever have with the girl he loved.

He lingered too long—and knew it—but he flat-out didn’t care, finally pulling back to see the same glaze in her eyes that he felt in his own. His gaze fixed on those amazing lips—wet and plump from their kiss—and his Adam’s apple ducked hard once again. “Well now, Miss Annie Oakley,” he said with a quirk of a smile, “it does appear that some things are better shared than won.” And then he kissed her again as the curtain slowly fell, along with Winnie’s jaw when he finally let her go. Her stance was so wobbly that he grabbed her once more. “You okay, Dennehy?”

She gave a shaky nod and pulled away, quickly rubbing her arms where he’d held her.

“Curtain call,” someone whispered loudly, and Winnie and Beck immediately faced the audience with the cast and ensemble as the curtain rose to booming applause from the adults and shrieks and shouts from the children, each and every one skittering as wildly as Beck’s pulse.

“Excellent job, people,” Mrs. Cullen shouted, beaming ear to ear as she clapped with her hands in the air. And, Beck and Winnie—I’ve never seen more spark and sparkle between two leads on stage in my life, so extra applause for both of you.”

More whoops and hollers rose from the audience as Winnie blushed near as red as her outfit, apparently speechless for the first time in her life while everyone onstage surrounded her and Beck with boisterous congratulations.

Beck took a bow, then turned and clapped for the ensemble and crew, who grinned and hugged and shook hands, faces flushed with the approval of a job well done.

Glancing at her watch, Mrs. Cullen blew her whistle, halting all the commotion with a tired smile. “All right, everyone, you’ve done a stellar job, one and all, but now it’s time to get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow and the next, so head on home, and we’ll see you here tomorrow evening at five o’clock sharp for makeup, wardrobe, and warmups, all right?”

The crowd below and onstage began to disperse as actors congratulated each other on a great rehearsal.

Abby flew across the stage to fling her arms first around Winnie, and then around Beck. “Oh my goodness, you two were absolutely amazing!” she shouted, practically jumping up and down, “and absolutely perfect together!”

Beck grinned and hooked an arm around Winnie’s shoulders, hoping the experience had affected her as much as it had him. “I’d say so, wouldn’t you, Pooh?”

“Sure,” she said with another pretty blush, her body somewhat stiff beneath his hold as she hugged her arms to her waist. But he only hooked her closer, seeing her discomfort as a good sign. Because Winnie was never awkward after a performance, soaking in the accolades like sun on a cold day, so her discomfort could mean his kiss had shaken her as much as it had him.

In a good way, I hope …

“And, Beck, I swear you must have some Frank Butler deep down inside because whew!—you sure took charge of both the stage and Annie! All I can say, mister, is—you sure can act!”

Beck’s smile dimmed a hair as Winnie pulled away, buffing her blasted arms again.

“Thanks, Abs.” He took off his hat and ruffled his hair before slapping it back on, giving Winnie’s braid a quick tug like usual before turning to exit the stage. “Despite being railroaded into it, I’d have to say it was pretty fun.” He shot a wink over his shoulder as he left before his smile slowly faded away.

Problem is … I wasn’t acting.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Oh my goodness, that was so much fun, I just know I’ll never sleep tonight!” Abby hugged herself as she all but bounced in the front seat of Beck’s jalopy between Beck and Winnie, as fidgety as a squirrel with a nut to crack.

Unfortunately, Winnie was just as jumpy, but not as chipper, still numb from the effect of Beck’s kiss.

Correction: kisses!

At the memory, her body flashed hot and cold all over again as utter confusion took up residence in her brain. What on earth had happened tonight? Why had Beck’s kiss affected her like it had? It was a play, for pity’s sake, not the real thing, so why did it feel real? Her eyelids weighted closed as her breathing quickened at the memory.

Warmth pooling at the base of her stomach and bones turning to mush. And enough heat tingling her skin to give her a bad case of heat rash.

Yes, that had happened with Brayden, but it wasn’t supposed to happen with her best friend, too, love scene or no!

A cold chill shivered through her, chasing all the warmth away.

No, this wasn’t good. Not good at all …

Abby elbowed her. “Hey, Dennehy, you’re awfully quiet for someone who just had a raging success on stage—what’s up?”