Full Moon (21 page)

When we stopped skating for a moment to take
in all the panoramic beauty, I turned to meet Jesse’s gaze. His
thumb brushed across my skin, sending ripples of excitement through
me where he’d touched. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him, and in
that moment, I truly imagined what it would be like to kiss him, to
be held lovingly in those strong arms of his. I could tell by the
longing in his sky-blue eyes that he was looking for a sign that I
wanted more, and that made the moment all the more thrilling. He
cradled my hand ever so gently in his as our eyes locked. I was
fixated on his piecing stare; even the sky behind him paled in
comparison to the glory of his gaze, and the heat from his hand
felt like a thousand suns. I could have sworn my heart almost
stopped.

His gaze sizzled with challenge, as if he
was just daring me to go ahead and kiss him. I desperately wanted
to, as red-hot flames of arousal burned through me like a raging
forest fire.
How can I resist such temptation? How could any girl resist
him?
I thought. But then
I tore my gaze away and stared at the water trying desperately to
regain my composure. Everything was silent other than the blood
gushing through my temples from the excited and hopeful beat of my
heart. I wondered what he would do if I got up and pulled him into
my loving arms and engaged him in a deep kiss.

However, it was our first date, and I didn’t
want him to think poorly of me in any way. As badly as I wanted to
kiss him right then and there, in that place that looked like a
postcard, I knew it was better to wait. I wanted to be different
than the girls he’d met before, and I wanted him to see that I
was.

* * *

Over the next week, I hung out with Jesse
every chance I got. When we weren’t together, he still lingered in
my head. We went for walks, long hikes, kayaking, and even
jet-skiing. We chatted on my porch for hours and talked about
everything.

One day, I was painting in our back yard,
which was its own little paradise, thanks to Fred’s hard work. The
sun was shining high in the sky like a bright yellow beach ball,
and the birds were chirping in perfect harmony, with the crickets
singing backup. I set up my easel and paints by the pond, where I
could see all the ducks and ducklings gliding across the water. I
was eager to paint a beautiful natural landscape, and, inspired by
the breathtaking view around me, my hand with the paintbrush in it
just glided over the paper, pouring all my creative energy into a
work of art.

My mom approached from behind. “It’s
stunning, Taylor,” she said.

I smiled. “Thanks, Mom, but it’s not done
yet.”

“Are you coming inside for lunch?”

“Sure. Just give me ten more minutes.”

“I know very well that your ten minutes is
an hour to anyone else,” she said, crossing her arms.

I smiled at the woman who knew me so well.
“I know. You’re right. I’ll come now.”

“I haven’t seen you this happy in a long
time, Taylor.”

“I just love it out here,” I said. “The sky
is a deeper shade of blue, the grass is greener, the sun is
brighter, the—”

“And the boys are cuter?” she asked, then
winked. A big smile grew across her face.

It was evident all over again that I
couldn’t hide anything from my mother, and I blushed. “Mom! I’m
seventeen. I don’t meet boys. I meet
guys
.”

“You don’t have to tell me who he is, but I
know you’ve met a nice young man—guy, boy, or otherwise. It’s
written all over your face as clearly as that paint on your
easel.”

I sighed in defeat. “You’re right. I have
met someone, and he has shown me just how beautiful it can be out
here. I don’t ever wanna leave.”

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear
that. Pulling you out of your old school like that…well, I know it
had to be hard to start over in your senior year.”

I grinned. “I don’t mind.”

“You’ve really adjusted well, honey, and I’m
sure meeting new friends has helped.”

“Mom, this place is amazing. I love the
forest. There’s fresh air to breathe. The birds sing beautiful
songs. All this nature…and great people too! Who could ask for
more?”

“Good! I wanted a fresh start for us, and I
think we’ve found it. Your father and I love this place just as
much as you do.”

“I’m finally over Sean. He’s nothing but a
figment of my imagination.”

“
I think that has to do with a
certain
boy…er, uh…
guy
you work with at the zoo.”

“Mom, Jesse is amazing. He loves animals and
wants to be a veterinarian when he graduates. He’s so charming and
friendly, not to mention so smart. We just have this fantastic
connection. We get lost in each other’s eyes. I’ve never met a guy
who has made me feel like that.”

“So…are you guys going steady?”

“What?” I shook my head at her. “Gee, Mom,
nobody says that anymore.”

She laughed, embarrassed. “I suppose you’re
right, but you know what I mean.”

“We’re just friends. I’d like there to be
more, for him to be my boyfriend though. He looks like a Gap model,
Mom! Can you imagine a guy like that on my arm?”

“I’m sure he’s adorable, dear, but don’t
rush into a relationship. For now, just have fun and date.”

“You’re right, and that’s what I plan to do.
We’ll take it slow and become good friends, then maybe move it to
the next level and—”

“Taylor!”

“
Dating, Mom! I mean I want to
date
him.” I let out a sigh. “I
can’t explain it, but I’ve never felt anything like
this.”

“I remember how I felt about your father. My
head was spinning from all the red roses and heart-shaped boxes of
chocolates he sent me. He was so handsome, and I was just
smitten.”

“Jesse is too handsome. I think he’s out of
my league.”

She shook her head and pushed a strand of
hair behind my ear. “Oh, my darling daughter, don’t you even
realize how beautiful
you
are?”

I smiled. “You
have
to say that. You’re my mom.”

She wrapped her arm around me. “You are a
work of art all your own, Taylor—inside and out. I’d say that
whether I was your mother or not.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I’d love to meet his parents.”

“It’s just him and his mother, his brother,
and his sister.”

She furrowed a brow. “Where do they
live?”

“Bear Lane.”

My mother’s eyes widened. “Really? Some of
the most expensive homes in the area are out there. His mother must
be wealthy.”

“I’ve never asked because I don’t care. Rich
or poor, I like Jesse for who the amazing person he is.”

“Well, that settles it. You’ve been shot
with Cupid’s arrow for sure.”

My face beamed. “Every time he looks at me,
I feel this burst of energy.”

“I remember that feeling. Believe it or not,
your father still gives it to me sometimes.”

“Gross, Mom,” I said, smiling at her.
“Anyway, when I talk to Julie about him, I just babble and babble,
go on and on, like I’m on a caffeine rush. I just can’t stop
thinking about him.”

“Honey, you’ve got it bad, but remember that
these heightened emotions and euphoria will eventually fade.”

“I don’t want them to—not ever. I’ve never
felt this wonderful before. I don’t even know how to explain it. I
just…I wish we could be together all the time. He makes me feel so
calm, so serene, so…safe.”

“I’m sure you’re feeling physical attraction
and some infatuation, but love has to be based on more than just
that. It evolves in time. You’re in the beginning stages, but it
has yet to blossom and grow before it will get stronger and
deeper.”

“I’m not saying I love him, Mom. He
just…”

“He’s swept you off your feet?”

“Yeah. Definitely that.”

“It sounds like a pretty severe crush to me,
but whatever it is that has made you so happy, I’m just glad to see
it. Your father and I are just as happy as you. I wasn’t so sure at
first, but now I know it was a great idea to move here.”

“Mostly, I can’t believe how well I seem to
fit in here, better than I ever did in New York. Maybe I was never
a city girl after all.”

My mom motioned toward the house. “Let’s go
get lunch.”

I smiled. “Thanks for listening, Mom.”

Chapter 10

It was Monday morning, time to go to work.
As I ate pancakes with my parents, my dad smiled.

“What?” I asked.

“I’ve never seen anyone so happy to go to
work.”

“I love working with the animals.”

“I’m sure the animals aren’t the only
perks,” he said.

“Dad!” I said.

“Don’t embarrass the poor girl,” my mom
admonished.

My dad set his newspaper down, folded it up,
and looked at me. “She has to have met somebody pretty special,
because I haven’t seen her eyes sparkle like this since…”

“Sean,” I finished for him since he didn’t
have the nerve to say it.

“I’m glad you’re over him. He wasn’t right
for you.”

“Sean’s a jerk,” I said. “I’m so over him.”
I quickly guzzled down my orange juice as fast as I could. I didn’t
want to talk to him about Jesse or my love life, at least not yet.
“I’ve gotta go,” I said.

“You never used to keep secrets from me,” he
complained.

“Dad, it’s no big deal. It’s just someone
who—”

He smirked. “Is he cute?”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “I’m gonna be
late.” I kissed his cheek, then gave my mom a huge hug and kiss.
“See you guys later.”

“Have a great day at work,” Dad said with a
grin.

I smiled back at him. “I will.”

“Only one thing could put a look like that
on a girl’s face,” I heard my father say as I walked out and shut
the door behind me.

Like most seventeen-year-olds, I found my
dad so embarrassing. I was almost grown, perfectly capable of
handling my relationship without giving him a blow-by-blow
description. Shaking my head, I started my car and screeched out of
the driveway. I drove a candy metallic blue Ford Focus and loved
it. I rolled down the windows and the music blasted.

* * *

Jesse rushed over to greet me when I clocked
in at the zoo. “Hey, you!”

“Hi,” I answered, smiling up at him.

He smiled back. “I’ve been dying to see
you.”

Before I could respond, Ms. Aikers walked
straight toward me. Her hair was pinned up, and she was barely
wearing any makeup, if any at all. She always looked nice but in a
much more natural way than my New York bosses, who were always
elaborately made up, with their hair perfect, wearing only the
latest fashions. The people in Big Bear Lake dressed nice but
nothing over the top like the people in the Big Apple.

The truth was, my parents had never liked
New York. They’d only moved there when their books had taken off,
at the demands of their publishers, but they’d never really been
happy among all those skyscrapers. Big Bear Lake was different. My
parents were more relaxed, happier, and loving it, and I felt the
same. Of course it was more relaxing and scenic, but there was also
a hot guy with light blue eyes that I just couldn’t stop staring
at. Because of Jesse, I wanted to stay there forever.

“Taylor, I’d like you to work with Jesse
today to move the ducklings to a larger enclosure,” Ms. Aikers
instructed.

I nodded. “Sure. I’ll get right on it.”

She wrote something on her clipboard, then
handed Jesse a summary of what we had to do.

At first, we worked together on the items on
the list, but then we decided we could get things faster if we did
our own thing for a while.

“Where should I set this?” I asked when I
dragged the kiddie pool inside.

“In the corner,” Jesse said, “but let me
help you.”

“I can handle it. I’m not some dainty
daffodil. Besides, it doesn’t weigh much.”

“Wow. I’m impressed. I love a girl who can
handle her own.”

I smiled. “You have no idea what I can
handle,” I teased.

Jesse picked up the water hose and adjusted
it to fill the pool. “These little guys and gals are gonna love
their new swimming hole.”

“It’s so much bigger,” I said. “They’ll all
have plenty of room now.”

“I know. I love watching the babies grow up,
getting bigger and stronger every day.”

“There’s no better feeling than helping them
out.”

“Let’s go get ‘em,” Jesse said.

We quickly scurried to the other room and
each grabbed a fuzzy duckling. Jesse’s went right into the water,
but mine squeezed out of my hands. Jesse and I laughed as we chased
the squawking bird. Just as Jesse picked the stubborn little one
up, I reached for his hands and suddenly lost my balance when I
slipped in a puddle of water on the ground. In reaction, trying to
catch me while still holding on to the duckling, his body twisted,
and he tumbled backward. We burst out laughing when the duckling
looked at us like we were silly and just waddled away.

Heat rushed to my face as I looked over at
him. “Sorry,” I said.

“Don’t be,” he answered, pushing a long,
curly piece of hair out of my eyes. “You can knock me off my feet
anytime.”

When our eyes locked, my smile was
automatic.

“You have the most beautiful smile,” he
said.

“Thank you.”

He locked his fingers in mine and brushed
his thumb over my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

Suddenly, I felt tiny webbed feet walking
over my shoe. I gently picked the naughty duckling up and set her
in the water. She happily glided through the water, loving her new
pool, and the others looked just as happy when Jesse placed them in
with her.