Fourth of July (23 page)

“You said you had a brother. Does he live close by?”

“No, my brother and his wife live in the family home in Iowa. They have five children. Can you imagine that? Five?” He shook his head, laughing.

Alexis knew the laugh was probably more relief that they were discussing a different topic than mirth.

“They’re great,” Chris continued. “It’s absolutely crazy at their house, but it’s so...I don’t know how to explain it...there’s a lot of love there.”

Alexis sighed. “I think I can understand. My parents had six children.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it was nonstop craziness at our house but I didn’t know any different. I loved it. I miss my family.”

“Where do you fit in?”

“I’m the youngest.”

He inclined his head, studying her. “Aha, the baby. That explains a lot.”

Alexis glared at him. “Are you insinuating I’m spoiled?”

“Okay, maybe you’re not completely spoiled. You don’t seem to pout too often and you do manage to hold down a decent job.” He grinned at her.

“Actually, my brothers and sister would tell you I’m terribly spoiled. They all catered to me but now it’s fun because I get to spoil their kids.”

“That’s great, I can’t wait to have my own kids...” His voice trailed off. “Do you see them often?”

“Only at Christmas, or if I take vacation.”

“That must be hard.”

Alexis uncurled her legs, swinging them over the water. “Yeah. I miss the Sunday dinners and helping Mom watch everyone’s kids on Friday nights so the couples can have a date night. My mom is in love with her grandkids. She’s campaigning for Granny of the Year.”

“That isn’t really a competition.”

“It is. We have an honorary Granny of the Year in my hometown. She gets to be the Grand Marshall in the Christmas parade. It’s a coveted position.”

Chris leaned back on his hands, laughing. The muscles in his arms cut grooves through his olive skin. “I’ve heard it all. Granny of the Year, what a title.”

“My mom adores her grandchildren. The title would be the icing on the cake. She’d spend every day with them if their parents didn’t protest.” Alexis plucked a few blades of grass and rubbed then between her fingers. “My brothers and sister have this crazy notion children need to be fed something other than sugar, their screen time needs to be limited and they have to be in bed by eight o’clock.” She ticked off the list on her fingers. “What is it with parents these days? I agree with my mom. I think they’re completely out of line.”

“Oh, yeah. Your mom should take over raising those children. You’re only young once. It’s a childhood right and privilege to rot your teeth out with sugar.” Chris laughed. “So what about your dad? What’s he like?”

“My dad’s a great man. He worked long hours to provide, and he loves us all so much. It’s just hard because there’s always tension between him and mom.” Alexis stopped. She didn’t need to explain every aspect of her family’s infrastructure.

“Why?”

“Oh, you don’t need to hear all the gritty details.”

“Hold on,” Chris protested. “You just drug my sob story out and now you won’t even tell me about your parents?”

Alexis gazed at the red and orange hues streaking the skyline, unsure how to answer Chris without divulging everything. She wasn’t ready to talk with him about her parents’ relationship struggles. She tried to deflect his question.

“They just have a different relationship.”

“I’m waiting.” Chris drummed his fingers on his leg.

Alexis tried to wait him out. Slow minutes ticked by as Chris stared intently at her.

“Okay, okay.” She caved. “Good heavens, you are persistent. I can see why the bad guys always confess to you.”

“That’s right.” Chris grinned.

“My parents love each other very much,” Alexis began. “But my mom is extremely committed to her religion. Her entire life revolves around serving others and emulating the Savior.”

Chris nodded. “That’s the way my parents were. But what about your dad?”

“Well,” Alexis hedged once again. “My dad.” She stared away from his gaze, watching a young couple saunter by holding hands. “The problem is my dad has never converted.”

Her gaze swung back to Chris. His lips compressed. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” Alexis said, when Chris didn’t offer any more. “It’s been hard. They love each other, but I could always feel the tension. I had a great childhood, but I can’t imagine how Mom persevered. She towed all six of us to church every Sunday and glossed over my Dad’s reluctance every time Mom called us together for family prayer and scripture study. I promised myself at a young age I would never marry someone who didn’t share my faith.”

Chris recoiled from her. Alexis was afraid of this reaction, but she had to be truthful with him.

Chris stared into her eyes. “So that’s your dream? Marry a solid Christian man, move back to Idaho, and raise six kids?”

Alexis looked into his dark gaze, hating that he now knew they couldn’t pursue this relationship. “I doubt I’ll move back to Idaho.” She tried to smile. “I’ll probably marry some politician and never leave D.C.” She tried to laugh off the awkward moment.

Chris didn’t even smile. “It’s getting late.”

He stood, offered her a hand, and then pulled her to her feet. Alexis cringed at his abrupt movements. She wished there was a chance for them, but she was who she was and she couldn’t change, not even for Chris.

Chris thought about what Alexis had said as they walked to his truck. She wouldn’t marry someone who didn’t share her religion. The thought stung. He couldn’t be that someone.

On the drive to her apartment, the mood lightened. He talked with her about some of their friends from work, pretending to himself this was just another date. He’d enjoy the time they had together. He didn’t care about a long-term relationship, at least that’s what he told himself.

“Thank you for dinner,” Alexis said as they sauntered to her door. “It’s been a wonderful night.”

At least she seemed unaware of the tension he felt.

“You’re welcome. Thanks for,” Chris paused, “um, letting me cry. If you let one word of this leak,” he pointed his index finger in her direction, “I’ll never call you again.”

“Oh, the threats,” Alexis teased. “I wouldn’t dare say a word about your tear duct ‘leak’. I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t call again.”

Chris smiled, but inside he churned.
Why does she say things like that if she isn’t interested? This woman is harder to read than Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

She licked her lips and his entire focus changed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her mouth. For a moment he felt like an uneasy teenager at the doorstep. Should he kiss her again? She’d made it clear he wasn’t the kind of man she wanted to have a long-term relationship with. Maybe he could conceive of a way to change her mind and make her seriously consider him, even though he wasn’t religious. He loved every moment he spent with her. How could he convince her he was the man for her?

Alexis stared at the floor as if unable to meet his gaze.

Chris found the inner fortitude to inch a bit closer to her. He tilted her chin; his hand trembled. She looked at him, her sweet lips parted in anticipation. Chris would’ve committed to anything at that moment, just for the privilege of staying close to her. They could work through their religious differences. They had to.

“I like you, Half-pint.”
Wow, that was eloquent. Good job, Chris, you imbecile.

Her dark eyes shone. “You do?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Then he was kissing her. Chris wasn’t sure how it had happened, but he didn’t waste time thinking about it. He enjoyed every second.

Alexis melted into his arms. This kiss was more powerful than the previous night, if that were possible. Chris wished it would never end, but he didn’t want to go too far. Releasing her mouth, he caressed her hair and back. She trembled against him like a fragile butterfly, leaning into his chest as if the contact had weakened her. Chris felt protectiveness surge through him. He would do anything for this woman.

He held her close, relishing her curvaceous form molded against his. Several minutes later, she reluctantly pulled away from him. At least he hoped she was reluctant.

“I’d better let you go home and rest,” she said. “I know you have to work in the morning. I can’t believe it’s been over a week since the attacks. Have you received any more leads?”

“No.” Chris shook his head, tracing her face with his fingertip, hoping to shut out the terrorists for just a moment longer.

“I’ve been praying for you and for the victims’ loved ones,” Alexis murmured. She closed her eyes.

“You have?” He didn’t know why he would be surprised. Of course she would be praying.

“I pray for you all the time.”

“Thanks, I guess.” Chris moved back a step, dropping his hand from her face.

Alexis’ eyes flew open, her body stiffened. “What do you mean, you
guess
?”

Chris shrugged. “I’m not sure prayer is going to help much.”

“What?” Alexis’ full lips pressed together. “How do you know?”

Chris looked down the hall, studying the gray door of another apartment. “Believe me, I know,” he muttered. “Prayer didn’t do much good for my parents.”

Alexis shrank against her apartment door. “Chris, that’s not fair. The Lord can’t control everything but He will help us if we ask.”

Chris held up a hand. “Please, not another lecture on religion. I get enough of them from Dylan.”

The mood on her doorstep had gone from romantic to icy. Chris considered just walking away. Why had he gotten into this conversation with Alexis?

“You need a lecture. What would your parents say if they were here?”

His mouth dropped open. “Don’t even try that. They aren’t here and that’s all that matters.”

She stared at him. “Chris, you’ve got to let your anger go.”

“Alexis,” he warned, ready to tell her where she could go.

“No, wait.” Alexis held up a hand. “Listen to me for a second. You claim prayer doesn’t work but I can promise you it does.”

“Yeah, right,” he muttered.

Alexis’ eyes flashed. “I can prove it to you.”

A harsh laugh escaped his lips. “Oh, you can?”

“The morning that you rescued me from that guy.”

Chris shook his head, folding his arms across his chest. “What about it?”

“When he had me, I was praying the entire time that you would turn around and come rescue me, and you did.” A few tears spilled over, she angrily brushed at them. “How could that not be the Spirit working on you? You saved me, Chris. You have to believe in that.”

Chris stared at her. How could he tell her he’d turned around because he wanted to see her? He hadn’t heard any voices, felt any promptings. He looked into her beautiful, trusting face. His heart melted.

“C’mere, Half-pint.” He gathered her into his arms. She came willingly. “I don’t want to fight with you. It’s just...” He tried to think of some way to change the subject. “I’ve been stressed about the bombings. I shouldn’t take it out on you. Forgive me?”

She gazed up at him. “Sure.”

Alexis looked like she intended to say more, but Chris didn’t want her to. He didn’t want to fight with her. He wished he could just convince her that no one was watching over his life. He’d left his beliefs behind and he wasn’t picking them up again.

He stroked her back, focusing on the work excuse as the reason for their argument. “I just wish Dylan and I could get some kind of break with this case—a location, business, name, anything.”

“Me too,” Alexis said against his chest. “I’ll bet it’s hard to find a business or name that hasn’t been fabricated.”

Chris continued making small circles on her back with his hands. It seemed they’d formed a truce, hopefully she wouldn’t bring up the religious issues again.

“Yeah, especially a name,” he repeated. Minutes passed. He held Alexis close thinking how thrilled he was to be with her instead of Danielle, even if Alexis was an overboard religion lover.

Flashes of his last angry conversation with Danielle swirled in his head. Wait a minute. A name. Danielle D’Artagnan. There was something so familiar about D’Artagnan. He remembered the reports he’d read about a terrorist named D’Artagnan being killed a few months ago. Could there be a connection?

“Alexis.” He reached for her face with both hands, kissing her hard in his excitement. “That’s it. Thank you.” His next kiss lingered. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. I’ll call you tomorrow or Sunday.”

“Okay,” Alexis said, her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Another brief peck, and he rushed down the steps.