She knew what he had been thinking and felt a tinge of amusement at how young heseemed.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"A couple of minutes."
Noah brushed his hands on his pants, then pointed to the kitchen. "Can I get yousome tea? I started the water while you were upstairs." Small talk, anything to keephis mind clear. But damn, the way she looked...
She thought for a second, saw the way he was looking at her, and felt the old instinctstake over.
"Do you have anything stronger, or is it too early to drink?"
He smiled. "I have some bourbon in the pantry. Is that okay?"
"That sounds great."
He started toward the kitchen, and Allie watched him run his hand through his wethair as he disappeared.
Thunder boomed loudly, and another downpour started. Allie could hear the roaringof the rain on the roof, could hear the snapping of logs as the flickering flames lit theroom. She turned to the window and saw the gray sky flash lighter for just a second.
Moments later, another boom of thunder. Close this time. She took a quilt from thesofa and sat on the rug in front of the fire. Crossing her legs, she adjusted the quiltuntil she was comfortable and watched the dancing flames. Noah came back, sawwhat she had done, and went to sit beside her. He put down two glasses and pouredsome bourbon into each of them. Outside, the sky grew darker.
Thunder again. Loud. The storm in full fury, winds whipping the rain in circles.
"It's quite a storm," Noah said as he watched the drops flow in vertical streams onthe windows. He and Allie were close now, though not touching, and Noah watchedher chest rise slightly with every breath, imagining the feel of her body once againbefore fighting it back.
"I like it," she said, taking a sip. "I've always liked thunderstorms. Even as a younggirl."
"Why?" Saying anything, keeping his balance.
"I don't know. They just always seemed romantic to me."
She was quiet for a moment, and Noah watched the fire flicker in her emerald eyes.
Then she said, "Do you remember sitting together and watching the storm a fewnights before I left?" "Of course."
"I used to think about it all the time after I went home. I always thoughtabout how you looked that night. It was the way I always remembered you."
"Have I changed much?"
She took another sip of bourbon, feeling it warm her. She touched his hand as sheanswered.
"Not really. Not in the things that I remember. You're older, of course, with morelife behind you, but you've still got the same gleam in your eye. You still readpoetry and float on rivers. And you've still got a gentleness that not even the warcould take away."
He thought about what she'd said and felt her hand lingering on his, her thumbtracing slow circles.
"Allie, you asked me earlier what I remembered most about the summer. What doyou remember?"
It was a while before she answered. Her voice seemed to come from somewhere else.
"I remember making love. That's what I remember most. You were my first, and itwas more wonderful than I ever thought it would be."
Noah took a drink of bourbon, remembering, bringing back the old feelings again,then suddenly shook his head. This was already hard enough. She went on. "Iremember being so afraid beforehand that I was trembling, but at the same timebeing so excited. I'm glad you were the first. I'm glad we were able to share that."
"Me too."
"Were you as afraid as I was?"
Noah nodded without speaking, and she smiled at his honesty.
"I thought so. You were always shy like that. Especially in the beginning. I rememberyou had asked if I had a boyfriend, and when I said I did, you barely talked to meanymore."
"I didn't want to get between the two of you." "You did, though, in the end, despiteyour professed innocence," she said, smiling. "And I'm glad you did."
"When did you finally tell him about us?"
"After I got home."
"Was it hard?"
"Not at all. I was in love with you."
She squeezed his hand, let go, and moved closer. She put her hand through his arm,cradling it, and rested her head on his shoulder. He could smell her, soft like therain, warm. She spoke quietly:
"Do you remember walking home after the festival? I asked you if you wanted to seeme again. You just nodded your head and didn't say a word. It wasn't too convincing."
"I'd never met anyone like you before. I couldn't help it. I didn't know what to say."
"I know. You could never hide anything. Your eyes always gave you away. You had themost wonderful eyes I'd ever seen."
